Chapter 10: Shadows of the Past

The forest had long since fallen into a heavy silence, save for the occasional crackle of the campfire. Zeryn lay awake, staring up at the jagged silhouette of the trees against the night sky. Sleep refused to come, her thoughts circling endlessly.

She got up quietly, stepping away from the fire and the others. The ruins loomed around her, their crumbling walls casting long shadows. Something about the place felt heavy, like the air itself remembered what had once happened here.

“Couldn’t sleep?”

The voice startled her, and she turned to find the leader standing a few feet away, his gray eyes reflecting the faint firelight.

“Didn’t mean to wake you,” Zeryn muttered.

“You didn’t,” he said, his tone neutral. “This place… it doesn’t let anyone rest easy.”

“What is this place?” Zeryn asked, gesturing to the ruins.

The leader glanced around, his expression distant. “It was a sanctuary, once. A haven for Eclipseborn seeking refuge from the Hunters. But even sanctuaries fall eventually.”

Zeryn shivered slightly at his words. The weight of their situation was becoming clearer by the day. Everywhere they went, the threat of the Hunters loomed over them like a storm on the horizon. But what did it mean for her?

“Why did you bring me here?” she asked, her voice softer now.

He looked at her, his gray eyes calculating. “Because you need to understand that what you’re running from isn’t just a group of hunters. It’s a force that has been hunting Eclipseborn for generations. This is bigger than just survival—it’s about what the world will become if they succeed.”

Zeryn’s heart raced, the enormity of his words sinking in. She had thought all she had to do was learn to control the shadows, but it seemed there was more to it. Much more.

“I don’t understand,” she admitted. “How does all of this connect to me?”

The leader sighed and sat down on a nearby stone, looking into the dark forest. “Because you are the one they fear most. You’re the key to the balance, Zeryn.”

“Balance?” She frowned. “I don’t feel like I’m holding any balance. I’m just trying to survive.”

“I know,” the leader said, a hint of sadness in his voice. “But the darkness you wield—it’s not just power. It’s a reflection of the world’s instability. When the Eclipseborn first emerged, we were a part of nature’s equilibrium. We kept the balance between light and dark, life and death. But something went wrong. Someone corrupted our purpose, tipped the scales. Now, the Hunters believe that eliminating us will restore balance. They’re wrong. You’re the last hope of restoring it, but only if you learn how to use your power correctly.”

Zeryn felt a wave of dizziness overcome her. She wanted to run, to retreat back into the simplicity of her old life. But there was no going back now.

“Who… who corrupted it?” she asked, though she feared the answer.

The leader’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, Zeryn could see a flicker of something—anger, or perhaps guilt. “The one who fell to darkness was someone close to me. A former protector. Their actions led to the war between the Eclipseborn and the world. A war that continues even now.”

Zeryn swallowed hard. “So, the people who hunt us—they’re not just some mercenary group. They’re the result of this war?”

The leader nodded grimly. “Yes. They believe that by eradicating the Eclipseborn, they can reverse the damage done. But they’re wrong. The balance cannot be restored by destruction alone.”

Zeryn felt her heart sink. The weight of the world was crashing down on her, and she wasn’t sure she was strong enough to carry it.

“I don’t even know how to control the shadows,” she said quietly.

“You will,” the leader replied. “We’ll train you. But it will take time, and you’ll have to confront the darkness within yourself. It’s the only way.”

Zeryn clenched her fists, determination rising within her. She didn’t know how to stop the war, or what role she was supposed to play in it, but she would learn. For her sake, and for the future of the world.

“I’ll do it,” she said firmly.

The leader nodded, standing up. “Good. We leave at dawn. There’s no time to waste.”

The dawn broke over the forest, a pale light creeping through the trees. Zeryn felt the weight of the day ahead pressing on her as she packed her things. The leader was already moving, his expression set in a way that left no room for hesitation.

“You ready?” the green-eyed figure asked, her voice laced with impatience as she approached.

Zeryn nodded, though she wasn’t sure if she was ready for what lay ahead. But there was no turning back now.

“We’ll need to move quickly,” the leader said, adjusting the straps of his pack. “The Hunters will be regrouping, and they’ll come for us again. We’ll head to the mountains, where you’ll begin your training.”

“Mountains?” Zeryn asked, the word feeling heavy in her mouth.

“Don’t worry,” the leader said, his eyes glinting. “You’ll be safe there. But it will be a test. Of your power. Of your will.”

As they set out, the terrain grew steeper and more rugged. Zeryn’s legs burned with the effort of keeping up, but she pushed through. She had no choice but to keep moving forward.

By the time they reached the foot of the mountain range, the sun was high in the sky. The leader stopped and turned to her, his eyes hard.

“This is where it begins,” he said. “The shadows you wield are no ordinary power. They are the remnants of an ancient force. To control them, you must first confront what lies within you. Your fear, your anger, your doubt. Only then can you begin to master the darkness.”

Zeryn’s heart raced. She didn’t know if she was ready for this, but there was no turning back now. The shadows stirred around her, responding to her emotions, and she could feel their power calling to her.

“Start now,” the leader said. “Focus on what you fear the most. Let the shadows bring it to the surface.”

Zeryn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She thought of the people she had lost—her parents, her home. The darkness in her heart flared to life, and she felt it. The cold, suffocating grip of loss, of helplessness.

She let herself feel it, truly feel it, and the shadows responded. They swirled around her like a storm, rising up with power she could barely comprehend.

“Good,” the leader said, his voice low. “Now, bend it to your will. Command it.”

Zeryn’s heart pounded in her chest, but she focused, reaching out with her mind to the shadows. Slowly, they obeyed, curling around her like a cloak.

She opened her eyes, and for the first time, she felt the power coursing through her—not as a force to fear, but as a force she could control.

The leader’s gaze softened slightly, a rare flicker of approval in his eyes. “You’ve taken the first step.”

But Zeryn knew this was only the beginning. The path ahead would be long, and the darkness within her would be the hardest thing to control. But for the first time in a long while, she believed she could do it.