The forest felt like an endless maze. Every tree, every twisted root, and every shadow cast by the faint morning light seemed to conspire to leave him even more disoriented. Castian staggered between the trunks, his exhausted and battered body struggling to keep moving. The cold from the previous night lingered, piercing his bones like an invisible knife.
The backpack on his shoulders felt like it weighed a ton, but he didn’t dare abandon it. Inside rested the Celestial Pearl, a responsibility as heavy as his own life. He gripped the dagger in his hand, more out of instinct than necessity, as if it were the only thing keeping him anchored to reality.
As daylight filtered through the leaves, the forest revealed its dangers. Icy streams cut across the terrain, thorny bushes tore at his skin, and the sounds of animals lurking nearby made his heart race. Castian knew he needed a plan, but his mind was clouded by pain and hunger.
He leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. The wound on his leg, caused by a fall the previous night, throbbed intensely. The makeshift cloth he had used to tie around the cut was stained with dried blood, and the pain worsened with every step."I need to keep going..." he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse and almost unrecognizable.
The sound of his own voice startled him. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since fleeing the cabin, and the solitude was weighing on him more than he’d imagined.
Suddenly, the wind blew stronger, carrying the distant sound of running water. Castian lifted his head, trying to locate its source. A stream! It was the first bit of good news in hours. He began walking toward the sound, ignoring the pain that exploded in his leg with every movement.
When he finally found the stream, he collapsed to his knees by the water's edge. His trembling hands plunged into the icy liquid, bringing it to his cracked lips. The water tasted of life, of hope. He drank until he could no longer, then submerged his face in the current, trying to shake off the exhaustion clouding his thoughts.
For a few moments, he felt human again. But hunger soon returned, merciless, reminding him that water would not be enough. He looked around and spotted small bushes with red berries."This could be a mistake," he said aloud, hesitating as he examined the berries.
Hunger won over reason. He picked a few and brought them to his mouth, chewing slowly, fearing they might be poisonous. The taste was bitter but tolerable. He swallowed, hoping his luck wasn’t as bad as it had seemed lately.
Shortly after, a faint dizziness began to take hold of him. Castian staggered to a fallen log and sat down, pressing his temples with his hands."Damn it... are these berries poisoning me?"
The familiar voice inside him whispered, calm as always, "It’s not poison. It’s weakness. You need to rest."
He laughed, humorlessly, as his vision began to blur."Rest? I can’t. They’re still after me."
"If you keep going like this, you won’t have the strength to face anyone."
Castian knew the voice was right but hated admitting it. Every minute spent resting felt like an eternity, a missed opportunity to put more distance between him and his pursuers. However, his body no longer obeyed. He lay down beside the log, trying to ignore the cold seeping into his bones.
As fatigue overtook him, his mind began to wander. He remembered the village, the laughter of children running through the streets, the smell of fresh bread coming out of his mother’s oven. He remembered his father, patiently and wisely teaching him how to wield a sword. All of it seemed to belong to another life, to another person.
A distant noise jolted him out of his thoughts. He sat up abruptly, though his muscles protested against the movement.
The sound came from above. He looked at the trees and saw birds fleeing their nests, startled by something—or someone. Castian held his breath, listening intently.
Footsteps. Heavy and determined, heading in his direction."They haven’t given up..." he murmured, feeling panic creeping in again.
He tried to run, but his legs barely obeyed. Each step felt like a superhuman effort, and the pain in his leg grew with every movement. Still, he pushed forward, forcing himself to keep going.
The terrain became more treacherous. Exposed roots and slippery rocks threatened to trip him at every turn. Castian glanced over his shoulder and saw shadows in the distance. The soldiers were closing in."I need help... any help..." he said, more to himself than to the entity.
This time, the voice was silent. Castian felt a wave of despair. Even the mysterious presence that had guided him seemed to have abandoned him.
With one final effort, he reached a higher area where a clearing opened up. There, he collapsed to the ground, unable to go any further. The sky above was covered in dark clouds, threatening rain.
He pulled the dagger from his belt, holding it with trembling hands."If this is the end..." he began to say, but his voice faltered.
The footsteps were closer now. He could hear the soldiers’ voices, shouting instructions to one another. Castian closed his eyes, trying to summon some trace of courage within himself.
Suddenly, the wind blew again, stronger this time, almost like a scream. And with it came the voice."Stand up, Castian. You cannot fall now."
Something shifted inside him. An unexpected strength, a spark he didn’t know he possessed. With great effort, he rose, though his knees trembled.
The first soldiers emerged into the clearing, armed and ready to capture him. Castian faced them, breathing heavily but with renewed determination."Come on," he said, his voice surprisingly firm.
And then, the fight began.