The world vanished in silver. The light tore through the dark, cutting across the lake like lightning. The creature screeched in a distorted, human-like cry. It flinched, smoke rising from its skin.
[Purification failed: Resonance insufficient.]
[Emergency Defense Protocol: Light Veil activated.]
A thin barrier of shimmering light wrapped around Hana, humming like fragile glass. For a second, she could breathe. The monster was screeching in pain, but then, it lunged again. Trying to hit Hana, he got stopped by the barrier, but cracks began to spread.
Crack.
Crack.
The sound was soft at first, like ice breaking, then louder and louder. The barrier trembled. Hana's knees hit the ground as her body shook, the lantern flickering weakly beside her.
[Emotional fluctuation detected…]
[Analyzing emotional state: Fearful… impact on resonance -10–50%…]
[Projected resonance loss: -21%]
[Resonance check complete: 15%… Weak Glow established.]
Her breath came out fast and shallow. "No, no, no please!" she cried, pressing her glowing hands against the breaking barrier. Each hit from the creature shook her whole body.
[Warning: Resonance draining rapidly. Light Veil weakening.]
Another impact. The light shattered like glass, dissapearing instantly in millions of pieces. The monster lunged. Hana screamed, raising her arms instinctively. Her hands shimmered, and a light from the lantern's core darted towards the monster's chest, bursting in a flare. The Corrupted Soul howled, its form warping, smoke twisting off its body as it stumbled back into the water. Silence.
Only the faint crackle of fading light remained, leaving the place darker than before. Hana gasped, clutching her chest as her vision blurred.
[Resonance critical: Bearer consciousness unstable.]
She looked to the lantern lying beside her, its light flickered weakly.
She exhaled shakily. "I… I did it?"
Her voice trembled. The water was still, dark and glassy. No movement. No sound. Just stillness.
Then...
Ripple.
The lake shook. A soft, wet sound rose
Drip… drip… drip…
Followed by a low, guttural noise.
Hana's eyes widened. "No…"
Something stirred beneath the surface. It was coming back.
The water erupted.
The creature shot out of the lake, half-dissolved but still moving, black veins writhing across its body.
Hana froze in terror. Her limbs refused to move.
'Is this the end?' Her eyes flooding with tears as the monster approached her in seconds.
Then a sharp whistle sliced through the air.
An arrow of green light struck the monster in the chest.
The creature let out a cry before bursting into mist, its voice was echoing faintly before fading into nothing.
'What-' Hana asked shaken up from her near death experience. She looked around, trying to find where the arrow came from.
A figure stepped from the trees, tall, cloaked in green and brown clothes. His long white hair was braided with leaves. His bow, with faint glow of runic energy pulsing along the string, was still drawn.
For a moment, neither spoke. Only the lantern's low hum broke the silence.
The mist faded, leaving behind a small blue gem glowing faintly on the ground.
[Corrupted Soul neutralized.]
[Soul Core recovered – Purity 8%. Contamination 92%.]
[Purification recommended.]
"You shouldn't be here, human. The forest is dangerous right now." Hana flinched, clutching the dim lantern tighter. The man's voice was calm but edged like a blade.
"What was that thing? Who are you?" Hana asked, still visibly shaken.
"You don't know-" The elf's eyes flicked to the lantern.
"I should be asking you the same. But this isn't the time."
[New Entity Detected: Soul Resonance Compatible 56%.]
The faint system message made Hana's pulse quicker. The man noticed her shaking hands, his posture easing just a little. "Come." he said quietly. "You'll die if you stay here."
Hana hesitated, then nodded, realizing the forest became silent again.
The man led her through twisted roots and glowing underbrush, moving silently as his long hair moved with the wind.
After a few minutes, they arrived at a ruined shrine. Vines climbed its cracked stones, moss glowed faintly in green and blue. Hana exhaled shakily. The man knelt. He traced his fingers over the intricate runes etched into a tiny pouch, which shimmered as the gem that fell from the creature touched it. Light pulsed, gentle and contained, before fading. He placed the pouch into his bag, straps jingling softly with other strange relics. Hana's eyes followed every motion.
"What… is this place?" she asked quietly.
"This forest," he said, voice calm but heavy. "belongs to the elven Lands of Edolas." His gaze drifted to the broken shrine.
'Elven lands? Elves exist?' Hana's mind raced with concern and excitment at the same time.
"Wait!" Hana paused. "Did you just say Edolas?"
"Did I stutter?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.
"Oh no, sorry." She apologized smiling at him. 'This has to be just a weird coincidence. I mean, Edolas was the elven kingdom I created in my story, but still…' she got lost in her head, realising how weird she must sound.
Hana glanced at her lantern, still hovering at her side, and then at him. 'It's… amazing. Elves really exist here…' For the first time, she noticed his ears, slightly pointed above his hairline. Her eyes widened.
"You… you're an elf?"
The man smiled, bow still resting against his shoulder. "Yes. I am Eryndor, Guardian of the Sacred Tree… well, I was." His smile faded as the lantern flickered.
"I'm… Hana" she said, trying to ease the tension. "And the creature… that thing. What was it?"
Eryndor's eyes narrowed, and his tone sharpened.
"How is it possible that you don't know? Corrupted Souls are terrorising this world for a decade now." He paused. "Corrupted souls are monsters that rose from the dead. They are killing every living creature they come across, turning you into one of them." He paused, his jaw tightened, anger barely contained. Hana shivered, gripping the lantern as if it were the only thing keeping her together.
"I… I don't remember. Everything's… blank." she said rapidly. 'I cannot tell him about Lunara and my reincarnation. That would make me sound like a crazy person...'
The elf's eyes softened slightly, though he didn't lower his weapon.
"Then you have no choice but to trust me, human. This forest is no place for someone like you."
Hana swallowed.
"I… okay. But I don't even know where 'here' is." Eryndor kept quiet for a while, thinking about his options, then nodded.
"We'll leave the forest. I can lead you to safety, but you need to listen to every word I say." He said with commanding voice.
Hana happily nodded, knowing well she would die without his help.
[Emotional fluctuation detected…]
[Analyzing emotional state: Hopeful… impact on resonance +10–15%…]
[Projected resonance gain: +15%]
[Resonance check complete: 30%… Gentle Glow established.]
Then, a sudden rustle came from the trees. Hana froze.
"Stay behind me!" Eryndor ordered as he raised his bow. "Something is here."
The lantern floated higher, pulsing with faint silver light. Hana felt its warmth surge through her, but her heartbeat raced.
[Corrupted Soul detected.]
A grotesque slim silhouette came into view, body twisted, limbs bending the wrong way, eyes glowing faint red in the dim light.
[Purification potential: Low]
[Annihilation potential: High]
Hana's breath caught. It smelled of decay and blood.
[Warning: Soul irredeemable. Containment or combat advised.]
Eryndor stepped forward, carefully aiming at that thing. Hana tightened her grip on the lantern. 'I can do this… I have to.'
The creature lunged toward them. Hana flinched, her hands flickering.
The lantern shot forward, a silver streak of light shooting through the forest. It slammed into the creature's chest, hitting it with a burst of pure, piercing energy.
The monster screamed. The light wrapped around the creature, burning it whole. Hana's eyes widened.
"What the hell is that?!" she gasped, barely keeping her balance as the lantern floated back toward her, still radiating power. The corrupted soul writhed, dark mist exploded outward.
Then….Silence.
The forest seemed to breathe again, calm and clean. Only sound that pierced the quiet was a shimmer. A gemstone, similar to the one Eryndor had, was getting absorbed into the Lantern. Milions of pieces flew straight into it's core. The lantern hovered before Hana, pulsing gently, almost as if it were satisfied.
[Corrupted Soul neutralized.]
[Soul Core recovered – Purity 100%. Contamination 0%.]
[Annihilation confirmed.]
[Light Beam – Stabilized. Level 1.]
Hana sank to her knees, breathless. The silver glow bathed her hands, then disapearing. She looked up.
Eryndor was standing a few paces away, bow lowered, eyes wide.
"You… what did you do?"