Rain fell softly through the trees. The scent of wet earth filled the air.

  Ryan slowly pushed himself up and wiped the water from his face. His body still felt weak. For a moment, he tried to remember what had happened.

  His tired eyes focused on the girl sitting near him.

  “You… were the one who saved me?”

  Eileen nodded, trying to keep her voice steady.

  “You were lying in the rain. You could barely breathe. I couldn’t just leave you there.”

  Ryan watched her carefully for a moment.

  “Why help someone you don’t know?”

  She looked a little surprised by the question.

  “Because that’s what I do. If someone is hurt, I help them. It doesn’t matter if they know me or not.”

  A faint smile appeared on his face.

  “Healing magic… so you’re a mage.”

  Eileen shifted nervously.

  “Yes… but it’s very simple magic. I’m not strong like you.”

  “Like me?” Ryan said quietly, almost amused. “You’re stronger than you think. Not many people would help a stranger in the middle of the forest.”

  He looked down at his hands. They were still shaking.

  Then he glanced at the wand lying beside him. It looked like nothing more than a piece of old wood now.

  He spoke softly.

  “Even the greatest power is useless… if no one wakes it when it falls asleep.”

  Eileen sat beside him and asked gently,

  “What’s your name?”

  Ryan hesitated.

  For a moment, he almost told the truth.

  But then he said,

  “Ray. My name is Ray.”

  For him, trust was still something dangerous.

  Eileen smiled warmly.

  “I’m glad you’re alive, Ray. For a moment, I thought you were dead.”

  Ryan let out a quiet laugh.

  “Sometimes I wish I was.”

  For a while, neither of them spoke. Only the rain and the wind moved through the trees.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Eileen looked toward the forest.

  “I’ve lived here since I was very small,” she said softly. “But I don’t know where I came from… or where I belong.”

  Ryan glanced at her.

  “I want to find my real kingdom,” she continued. “My family. Maybe they’re still waiting for me somewhere.”

  Ryan studied her face.

  “You’re searching for your family,” he said slowly.

  “And I’m searching for myself.”

  She tilted her head.

  “What do you mean?”

  Ryan looked away.

  “You probably wouldn’t like the answer.”

  He paused.

  “Let’s just say I’m trying to understand the power inside me… before it destroys me.”

  Eileen stepped a little closer.

  “Maybe… you should start by trusting someone.”

  Ryan didn’t reply.

  But for the first time in a long time, her words stayed in his mind.

  After a moment, he slowly stood up and leaned on his wand.

  “I have to leave.”

  Eileen blinked.

  “Where?”

  “Anywhere.”

  He looked at her again, more seriously now.

  “I don’t trust people,” he said. “But you’ll be safer with me than alone. This forest isn’t kind to travelers.”

  Hope appeared in her eyes.

  “Does that mean… I can come with you?”

  “For a short time,” he answered.

  She smiled.

  “That’s enough.”

  They began walking through the forest together.

  The rain continued to fall quietly around them.

  Behind them, deep within the mist, a shadow watched silently.

  A faint whisper moved through the fog.

  “Two lost souls… walking the same path.”

  The shadow’s voice became colder.

  “Let’s see… which one breaks first.”

  Ryan walked slowly, leaning on his wand. A faint glow had begun to return to it.

  Eileen followed beside him.

  Without turning, he said,

  “This forest is huge. And it doesn’t forgive people who wander without purpose.”

  Eileen answered softly,

  “At least… I’m not alone anymore.”

  Ryan stopped for a moment and glanced at her.

  Then he continued walking.

  Strange birds followed them through the trees.

  Eileen noticed them and smiled.

  “Those birds keep following you. Do you understand them?”

  Ryan shrugged slightly.

  “They don’t use words. But the forest speaks in other ways.”

  Eileen looked surprised.

  “I only hear silence.”

  Ryan answered calmly.

  “Silence speaks too. Some people just don’t understand its language.”

  They walked for a while.

  Finally she asked,

  “Ray… what are you really looking for?”

  Ryan didn’t answer immediately.

  Then he said simply,

  “Power.”

  Eileen frowned.

  “Why?”

  Ryan looked up at the grey sky above the trees.

  “Because power means freedom.”

  He paused.

  “Without it… you’re just another person the world ignores.”

  Eileen shook her head gently.

  “I think freedom comes from understanding, not control.”

  Ryan gave a faint, sarcastic smile.

  “That’s something only people who never lost freedom would say.”

  She fell silent.

  After a while, Ryan suddenly stopped and looked deeper into the forest.

  “This place is strange,” he said quietly. “There’s something here.”

  Eileen looked around nervously.

  “You mean… the whispers I heard?”

  “Maybe.”

  Ryan’s eyes narrowed.

  “Something lives in this forest. Something old… and aware.”

  Eileen shivered.

  “Is it dangerous?”

  Ryan’s answer was simple.

  “Everything hiding inside silence is dangerous.”

  He started walking again.

  “Stay close.”

  Eileen nodded.

  “I will.”

  They disappeared deeper into the misty forest.

  Far away in the darkness between the trees, red eyes opened slowly.

  A cold voice whispered through the wind.

  “Just one more step…”

  “And I will see what you really are.”