The journey north had begun.
For the first two days, Evans, Olivia, and Leon traveled along the King's Road.
The road was crowded with merchants, travelers, and soldiers.
But on the third day, the road disappeared.
Ahead of them stood a massive forest.
The trees were so tall that their branches blocked most of the sunlight.
A wooden sign stood at the entrance.
WHISPERING FOREST
Leon stared at it.
"That's not a very welcoming name."
Olivia looked at Evans.
"Are we sure this is the right way?"
Evans held up the Shadow Compass.
The black crystal pointed directly into the forest.
"It's this way."
Leon sighed.
"Of course it is."
They entered.
---
The First Whisper
The moment Evans stepped beneath the trees, the world became strangely quiet.
No birds.
No insects.
Not even the sound of the wind.
Olivia looked around.
"I don't like this."
Leon nodded.
"Neither do I."
Evans suddenly stopped.
"Wait."
"What?" Olivia asked.
"Did you hear that?"
Leon looked around.
"Hear what?"
Evans listened carefully.
A faint whisper came from somewhere between the trees.
"Evans..."
His eyes widened.
"Someone called my name."
Olivia frowned.
"I didn't hear anything."
Then another voice whispered.
"Olivia..."
She turned around.
"Who said that?"
Leon immediately summoned lightning.
"Nobody move."
The three stood back-to-back.
The whisper came again.
This time, it sounded like hundreds of voices.
"Turn back..."
"Leave this place..."
"You don't belong here..."
Olivia's light began glowing.
Evans's shadow moved across the ground.
Leon looked nervous.
"Okay."
He stared into the darkness.
"Now I'm officially concerned."
---
The Shadow Beast
A loud roar suddenly shook the forest.
ROOOOOAR!
Something enormous moved between the trees.
Leon raised his hand.
"Get ready."
Branches snapped.
The creature emerged.
It was a giant wolf-like beast with black fur and glowing red eyes.
Evans stared at it.
"What is that?"
The instructor had warned them about monsters in the Forbidden Lands, but this forest was supposed to be outside the dangerous region.
Leon answered.
"A Shadow Wolf."
The beast growled.
"Don't let it touch you."
It charged.
Leon fired lightning.
CRACK!
The wolf dodged.
Olivia created a wall of light.
The creature slammed into it.
BOOM!
The barrier cracked.
Evans disappeared.
WHOOSH!
He appeared above the beast.
"Shadow Blade!"
A black blade formed in his hand.
He struck.
The wolf jumped away.
It landed several meters away and growled.
Evans smiled.
"That worked."
Leon shook his head.
"Don't celebrate yet."
The wolf's eyes suddenly turned completely black.
Its body began changing.
Dark energy surrounded it.
Olivia stepped backward.
"That's not normal."
Evans felt his Shadow Power reacting.
The mysterious voice whispered inside his mind.
"It recognizes you."
Evans froze.
"What?"
The wolf lowered its head.
Then, instead of attacking...
it bowed.
Leon stared.
"Did that thing just bow to you?"
Evans didn't answer.
The Shadow Wolf slowly approached.
Evans extended his hand.
The moment he touched its head—
FLASH!
A vision appeared.
He saw the Forbidden Lands.
He saw an enormous ancient temple.
At the center of the temple stood a black door.
Behind the door was a man.
The man was surrounded by chains.
He raised his head.
His eyes were glowing silver.
Then he looked directly at Evans.
"You took too long."
The vision disappeared.
Evans stumbled backward.
Olivia caught him.
"What happened?"
Evans looked at her.
"I saw him."
"The Shadow Sovereign?"
Evans nodded.
"He's trapped inside a temple."
Leon looked at the Shadow Wolf.
"And that thing knows where the temple is."
The wolf turned toward the northern part of the forest.
Then it began walking.
Evans looked at his friends.
"I think it wants us to follow."
Leon sighed.
"Why do I have a feeling this is going to be a terrible idea?"
Olivia smiled.
"Because it probably is."
They followed the Shadow Wolf deeper into the forest.
---
The Watcher
High above them, on a thick branch, a figure watched silently.
She wore a dark green cloak.
Her face was hidden beneath a hood.
A silver bow rested across her back.
She watched Evans carefully.
"So..."
She whispered.
"The Shadow Heir has finally appeared."
Her eyes moved toward Olivia.
"And the Lumina too."
Then she smiled.
"But they don't know what is following them."
Behind the three travelers, deep among the trees, something enormous moved.
The figure turned toward it.
"The Void's servants have already found them."
She reached for her bow.
"I suppose I'll have to intervene."
The forest suddenly shook.
Evans, Olivia, and Leon stopped walking.
The Shadow Wolf growled.
Something was coming.
And this time...
it wasn't alone.