The forest was alive in a way most places were not. I stepped onto the forest floor with deliberate calm, my boots sinking slightly into the damp earth. The air was thick, not just with moisture but with an ancient, unspoken tension. Vines clung tightly to massive trunks, their shadows coiling and shifting as though alive. A faint mist hung low, curling around my legs, but I pressed on without hesitation.

This place had been whispered about in every corner of existence I have visited, as deadly, and unforgiving. And yet, it was beautiful. The gnarled branches above me formed a canopy so intricate it seemed almost deliberate, the dim light seeping through in fractured patterns on the ground.

The air grew heavier as I moved deeper, the outer edges of the forest fading into memory. This was no ordinary darkness; it was alive, watchful. It clung to me, brushing against my skin like an old enemy.

"Beautiful," I murmured under my breath, my voice low and even. "Even in its hostility."

I felt the corners of my mouth twitch in a faint smirk. This forest was a reflection of me—misunderstood, feared, but undeniably powerful.

I let my fingers trail against a tree trunk as I walked. It felt strangely familiar. Yet before I could take another step, a sudden jolt of energy surged up my arm. I froze, the sharp pain cutting through my focus as a gash tore across my forearm. Blood trickled down, dark and vibrant against the muted tones of the forest.

The metallic tang of it filled the air, and a voice followed.

"You shouldn’t have come here, fallen one."

I turned slowly, not out of fear but calculation. Behind me, a man emerged from the mist, shrouded in shadows that seemed to ripple with his movements. His face was hidden, but the power radiating from him was undeniable. The very ground beneath his feet seemed darker, as if recoiling from his presence.

I straightened, keeping my injured arm steady at my side. My voice was calm, sharp like a blade unsheathed.

"I don’t recall asking for permission."

The man tilted his head, his laugh low and mocking. "You’re bold for a man who bleeds, and foolish for entering this forest even after knowing that the immortals who enter through this region on earth, loses their power for a specific period of time."

I met his unseen gaze with unflinching resolve. "And you’re bold for someone standing in my way."

His aura flared, the shadows around him growing denser. With a flick of his wrist, a pulse of violet energy shot toward me. I didn’t flinch. Instead, I sidestepped, the blast exploding against a tree behind me. The force shook the ground, scattering debris, but I remained steady.

The man didn’t hesitate, sending another wave of energy crackling toward me. This time, I moved faster, the attack grazing past me and leaving a searing heat in its wake. My arm throbbed, but I forced the pain aside. I had endured far worse.

The man growled, his movements becoming more erratic. He raised both hands, the air distorting as a sphere of energy began to form, its brightness a stark contrast to the oppressive darkness around us.

I stood my ground, muscles taut as I prepared to counter. But as the energy reached its peak, a presence moved behind me—a shadow within the shadows.

I didn’t need to turn; I felt it, the shift in the attacker’s demeanor. His focus wavered, the energy sphere flickering before vanishing entirely. His gaze wasn’t on me anymore, but on something—or someone—behind me.

It happened in a heartbeat. A figure passed from behind my back, silent and swift. The attacker froze, his stance rigid, his eyes flickered with something I couldn’t place—fear? Recognition?

And then, without a word, they vanished, dissolving into the mist as if they had never been there.

The silence that followed was heavy, yet I stood unmoved, my breathing steady despite the tension lingering in the air. I turned my head slightly, but the figure that had passed was already gone. Whoever it was, it hadn’t come for me.

The forest pressed closer now, as if testing my resolve. My arm burned, the blood sluggishly slowing as the wound began to clot. I glanced down, flexing my fingers experimentally. It would hold—for now.

I pushed forward, deeper into the forest, the air growing colder, the shadows thicker. The weight of the place bore down on me, each step heavier than the last.

Eventually, I reached at the heart of the forest. The air here was different—still heavy, but quieter, calmer, as if the forest itself had been holding its breath. But what caught my attention was a lake, surrounded by lotus and fireflies.

Beautiful.

The ground was softer, almost inviting, and I sank to my knees, exhaustion finally catching up to me.

Leaning back against a twisted tree, I let my eyes close. For the first time in a long time, sleep pulled at me, relentless and overpowering. The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was the faint shimmer of mist curling through the clearing, watching.

~

Sleep had claimed me without warning, pulling me into an abyss of darkness that was strangely comforting, like the forest itself had decided to cradle me.

But then, a sudden sensation against my arm jolted me awake. My eyes snapped open, my body tense, ready for whatever threat awaited. What I wasn’t prepared for, were the eyes that met mine.

Those familiar grey orbs....beautifully, hauntingly grey. They weren’t just a color; they were a storm, an ocean, a quiet night filled with secrets. Serene yet turbulent, they pulled me in, leaving me momentarily stunned. Words failed me. I could only describe them as something beyond human, beyond words, too raw and beautiful to exist in a place like this.

Her face came into focus—delicate features framed by strands of hair that fell over her cheeks. Her expression wasn't calm, though there was an intensity in her gaze that spoke of curiosity and restraint. My arm throbbed faintly, and I realized her hands were tending to my wound, careful yet purposeful.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice low and gravelly from the fatigue, but before I could finish, she shifted slightly, reaching for a bandage. The movement caused her to lose her balance on the uneven bed of moss and grass beneath her.

I reacted instinctively. My hand shot out, pulling her toward me by her wrist before she could hit the ground. My other arm encircled her waist, steadying her against me.

Her warmth pressed against my chest, the faint scent of something earthy and sweet filling the air between us. Her hands pressed lightly against my shoulders, and our eyes met again. This time, the intensity was different. It wasn’t just her gaze—it was the way the world seemed to narrow to just the two of us. Time stilled, and the forest around us faded into insignificance. Her breathing hitched, and for a moment, neither of us moved. The touch of her hands, the way her body felt so fragile yet strong in my arms—it was disarming in a way I hadn’t experienced in centuries.

Fuck.

"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice low but sharp.

She hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line before she finally spoke. "Does it matter?"

"It does when I wake up in the middle of a cursed forest with a stranger hovering over me." My eyes narrowed. "Why are you here?"

Her gaze flickered, a fleeting crack in her composure. "Not for you."

"Yet here you are." I countered, leaning closer.

Her chin tilted up, defiant. "I thought you might need help. Clearly, I was mistaken."

"And now you’re avoiding my questions." I said, my voice laced with suspicion.

She held my gaze, something unspoken lingering between us. "Some answers aren’t yours to have."

The words stung more than I expected, but I refused to let it show. "Then why stay?"

A beat passed. She didn’t answer, instead she chose to run, but before she could take a step ahead, my grip got tighter.

"You’re not walking away from this." I growled, trying my best to keep her steady.

Her eyes widened, and she tugged against my grip, but I held firm, ignoring the nervousness building in her eyes. With one sharp pull, I threw her momentum off balance, and she stumbled forward. I wasn’t prepared for the force too, and we both fell.

I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring, and she landed over me, her palms braced against my chest. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, her wide grey eyes locking onto mine, startled and unguarded.

"Let me go!" she said, her voice low, but there was an edge to it, less of a plea and more of a warning.

I smirked, ignoring the ache in my back. "You don’t seem like someone who gets scared easily. So why are you running?"

Her gaze flickered, betraying just a flicker of uncertainty. "You ask too many questions."

"Because you have too many secrets." My hand, still around her wrist, loosened slightly but I didn’t release her. "What's your purpose?"

Her lips parted as if to answer, but she stopped, her gaze dipping to where her hands rested against me before snapping back to my face. "I don’t owe you anything."

"And yet, you stayed," I said, my voice softer now, carrying a note of curiosity that cut through the tension. "Why?"

For a moment, she didn’t move, didn’t speak. Then, her voice came, barely above a whisper. "Maybe I should’ve let you bleed."

I chuckled, the sound low and unexpected. "Too late for that."

Her breath hitched, and for just a second, her resolve seemed to waver. But then she pushed off me, steadying herself as she rose to her feet.

This time, I let her go—but not without watching the way she lingered, as if deciding whether to look back or not.

◍⁠✧⁠*⁠。

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