Arin sat inside the largest tree in Silverleaf Village.
The inside of the tree was hollow, but someone had shaped it into a comfortable room. The walls glowed with soft green light, and thin vines formed natural chairs and tables.
The place felt strangely warm, almost like a quiet home.
After the chaos in the village, most of the fairies had returned to their homes, though Arin could still feel many curious eyes watching him from outside.
It was obvious humans didn't visit this place often.
Across from him floated Elder Sylvara.
Liora hovered beside her, swinging her tiny legs in the air impatiently.
Arin rubbed his hands together nervously.
"So… you said the path back to Earth is closed?"
Elder Sylvara nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Arin felt a heavy weight in his chest.
"But how did I come here then?"
The elder gently touched the wooden floor with her staff.
"Sometimes the two worlds drift closer together, and small cracks open between them."
She looked at him carefully.
When someone comes close to death, the shock can pull their soul through one of those cracks.
Arin remembered the bright headlights.
The sound of crashing metal.
The scream of his mother.
His hands slowly clenched.
"…So the accident brought me here."
"Yes."
The room became quiet.
Arin stared at the glowing floor.
"Then my mom…"
His voice became quiet.
"…she might think I'm dead."
Liora stopped swinging her legs.
Even she didn't know what to say.
Elder Sylvara spoke gently.
"Your heart is still connected to your world."
Arin looked up.
"What do you mean?"
When people truly love each other, that bond stays with their souls.
She smiled kindly.
"If your mother loves you as deeply as you love her… then somewhere, she can still feel that you are alive."
Arin felt his throat tighten.
He looked away quickly.
"…I hope so."
After a moment, he took a deep breath.
"Earlier you said something about my power."
The elder's expression became thoughtful.
"Yes."
"You scared away a Horned Dreadwolf."
Arin scratched his head.
"I didn't do anything."
Liora immediately spoke.
"You glowed!"
Arin looked down at his chest.
"I felt something… warm."
Elder Sylvara nodded slowly.
"That feeling is what we call Resonance."
Arin frowned.
"Resonance?"
"In Lunareth," she explained, "magic flows through every living thing."
She pointed toward the glowing tree walls.
The trees react to it. The rivers carry it. Even the wind moves with it.
Then she pointed at Arin.
"But humans are different."
"How?"
"Humans do not naturally belong to this world."
Her voice became slightly serious.
"When a human enters Lunareth, their soul can react unpredictably with magic."
Arin felt uneasy.
"So… that's bad?"
"Not always."
The elder studied him carefully.
Sometimes the result is a monster.
Liora shivered.
Other times… someone extraordinary is born.
Arin blinked.
"…I definitely don't feel like a hero."
Liora giggled.
"You screamed while running from the wolf."
"That was a tactical scream."
The fairy burst into laughter.
Even Elder Sylvara smiled slightly.
But then her expression slowly became serious again.
"There is something strange about your Resonance."
Arin tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Normally, magic responds to power."
She tapped her staff softly on the floor.
"But yours responded to emotion."
Arin thought back to the moment when the wolf attacked.
The fear.
The desperation.
And one thought that had filled his mind.
I need to go home.
I need to see Mom again.
His chest felt warm again.
Elder Sylvara noticed.
"Yes… just like that."
Arin looked up.
"Did I do it again?"
"Only a little."
Liora's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"You're like a walking magic mystery!"
Arin sighed.
"That's not comforting."
Suddenly—
A strange sound came from outside.
A soft whimper.
Everyone looked toward the entrance.
Liora flew to the doorway.
"Did you hear that?"
The sound came again.
A tiny cry.
Arin stood up.
They stepped outside the glowing tree.
The night air felt cool and calm.
But near the base of the tree…
Something small was curled up in the grass.
Arin walked closer carefully.
It was a tiny animal.
A wolf cub.
Its fur was dark silver, almost black. Two tiny horns were growing from its head.
Liora gasped.
"A baby Dreadwolf?!"
The cub looked weak.
One of its legs was injured.
It tried to stand but immediately fell again.
Arin slowly knelt down.
The little wolf looked up at him with bright blue eyes.
Not red like the monster earlier.
Just… scared.
The cub let out a soft whine.
Arin's heart softened instantly.
"Hey… it's okay."
Liora panicked.
"Arin! That's a monster!"
"It's a baby."
"But it will grow into a giant killer!"
The cub weakly tried to crawl away.
Arin gently placed his hand near it.
"Relax."
Something warm spread from his chest again.
The same soft silver glow appeared.
The cub froze.
Then slowly…
It leaned against his hand.
Liora's jaw dropped.
"…What."
Elder Sylvara watched silently.
The cub licked Arin's fingers.
Arin smiled slightly.
"Well… I guess we're friends now."
And far away…
Inside a dark castle buried in the Shadow Valley…
A huge black mirror suddenly began to glow.
The Shadow King watched the scene through the mirror.
The human.
The silver light.
And the baby Dreadwolf.
His deep voice spread through the dark hall.
"So the Resonance bearer has awakened."
He leaned forward slowly.
"Interesting."
A cold smile spread across his face.
"Find him."
Dark shapes along the walls slowly started shifting.
And the hunt for Arin Vale had officially begun.