A week has passed since the chaos with the dark mages, and the tension around Obsidian Academy was almost palpable. The students were on edge, whispering about the strange happenings and the deaths that had left the air thick with unease. But life at the academy moved on, and Nykara couldn't afford to be distracted for long. She had bigger things to focus on—like the Dark Forest. She stood in front of the mirror in her room, adjusting the straps on her black leather gear, the weight of her sword comforting against her back. Her reflection was sharp—eyes narrowed, lips twisted into a sneer. Her long, dark hair framed her face in a wild tangle, but she didn't care.
She wasn't here to impress anyone. She was here to survive. Sybil entered with a roll of her eyes, a playful grin pulling at the corner of her mouth. "You know, you're a pain in the ass when you're this serious," she teased, pulling on her own gear with ease. "I'm serious about staying alive,"
Nykara muttered, her eyes still fixed on her reflection. "If we're going into that hellhole, I'm not taking any chances." Sybil raised an eye brow, pausing to look at her friend. "That's the spirit." She gave a little shrug, but her eyes betrayed her worry. "I don't know, though... there's something off about the whole thing." Nykara's gaze flicked to Sybil's face. "Yeah? You don't say?" She turned away, grabbing the small assortment of knives she always kept hidden. "Don't worry. We'll be fine."
Sybil rolled her eyes again, muttering under her breath.
"Famous last words. But whatever. I guess if you don't mind risking your ass, I'll follow." Nykara smirked, securing the knives with practiced ease. "Smart choice." The two of them headed out, the sounds of the academy filtering through the hallways, a mixture of excitement and nerves. As they walked, they passed students whispering and glancing nervously toward the front gates, where the Dark Forest awaited them. It was strange—no one ever truly talked about what happened there. Every one knew that the forest wasn't just a place to pick companions—it was a deadly trial in itself. They reached the courtyard, where several professors were gathered, including the new instructor who was set to lead the group through the forest. Nykara's eyes narrowed as she studied him. He wasn't someone she recognized—his cold, calculating expression immediately made her wary. His black cloak flowed behind him like a shadow, his eyes glinting with an unnatural sharpness. There was something about him that screamed danger, but not in the way the professors usually did. This one was... different.
"Gather round, you two," the professor's deep voice echoed through the air, drawing Nykara's attention back to the group. Sybil stood beside her, leaning in slightly. "This should be interesting. I hear he's some kind of expert on magical beasts." Nykara didn't respond, her attention still fixed on the professor. There was something else about him—something she couldn't quite place, but it gnawed at the edges of her mind. As they approached, the professor spoke again, this time with an authoritative tone. "We're here to prepare you for the Dark Forest. The creatures within are as
dangerous as they come. And I mean that. They're not just wild animals—they're sentient. They choose you. And as quickly as they choose you, they can kill you. Make no mistake about that." He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words settle over them. Nykara could feel the gravity of what he was saying, her skin prickling. Something in his eyes told her that he wasn't just warning them for their sake. "You need to be prepared for everything. You'll face creatures of unimaginable power. And not all of them are as easy to defeat as you might think. Some... you won't be able to defeat at all," he continued, his gaze lingering over the students. "But the forest is also a place of opportunity.
If you make it through, if you survive, you'll be chosen. And that choice could shape the rest of your life." A few of the students shifted uneasily. Nykara's eyes burned with a dark, hungry fire. "What kind of creatures are we talking about here?" she asked, her voice sharp and direct. The professor's lips twitched, just the faintest of smirks forming at the corners of his mouth. "I won't spoil all the surprises. But I'll tell you this—some of them are ancient, and they're more powerful than you can imagine. One wrong move, and you'll find yourself on the wrong end of their claws." Sybil leaned toward Nykara, whispering. "You're gonna be fine, right? I mean, you've got that whole... dark vibe. It's got to count for something." Nykara smirked, her eyes cold. "We'll see." The forest loomed ahead, a dark mass of trees that seemed to stretch into an abyss of shadow. The air grew thick as Nykara and the others moved toward the edge, the excitement of the academy's grounds replaced by an eerie tension. Even Sybil seemed less carefree now, her eyes scanning the surroundings with wariness. As they passed the gates that marked the beginning of the Dark Forest, the air seemed to change. It felt heavier, charged with an energy that made Nykara's skin crawl. Her heart pounded in her chest—not from fear, but from the strange sensation that something was watching them, waiting.
She glanced at Sybil, who was muttering something under her breath, her eyes flicking between the trees. "This place gives me the creeps," Sybil muttered, her usually confident voice now laced with uncertainty. "Yeah, I noticed," Nykara replied dryly, her eyes narrowing as she studied the twisting trees. She could feel the dark pulse of magic in the air, the forest alive with an energy that was almost suffocating. The professor, still walking at the front, spoke again, his voice carrying with ease despite the oppressive atmosphere. "The forest is full of dangers. Not just beasts, but curses, illusions, and magical traps. Stay close to me, and follow my every instruction." Nykara's lips curled into a smirk. "Yeah, sure. You just lead the way, we'll follow." Sybil shot her a look, but Nykara didn't care. She was more concerned with the thickening sense of foreboding, the shadows around them growing deeper the further they ventured into the forest. The professor continued, his voice now tinged with something darker.
"This forest is ancient. It is said that the creatures with in it are drawn to power. They do not pick their companions lightly. If you are chosen, it will be because you have something they desire. If you are not—" He didn't finish the sentence. The warning was clear enough. Nykara felt the words sink into her gut. Something about the way he said it, the way his eyes flickered to her, made her wonder if he knew more than he was letting on. Just as the air grew even thicker, and the feeling of being watched intensified, a distant howl echoed through the trees. The sound was eerie and primal, echoing off the darkened trunks of the trees, sending a shiver down Nykara's spine. "What the hell was that?" Sybil whispered, clutching her arm.
"That wasn't any animal I've ever heard." The professor's expression remained unchanged. "That, my dear students, is the beginning of what you will face in this forest. It is not just beasts you'll contend with, but ancient forces. Creatures that are as old as this world itself. And they do not care for your mortal problems." Nykara's lips curled in distaste. "Great, ancient beasts. Just what I needed." Sybil gave her an exasperated look but said nothing more. They continued forward, deeper into the forest, the shadows growing thicker around them. The trees here were gnarled and twisted, their branches weaving together like the skeletal hands of giants. The underbrush was thick, making it difficult to move without tripping over roots or sharp thorns. Every step seemed to echo in the oppressive silence that followed the howl, the only sound now the crunching of leaves beneath their boots. Then, something moved.
At first, Nykara thought it was just a trick of the light—a shadow passing quickly through the trees. But as her eyes sharpened, she caught a glimpse of something large, dark, and swift. "Did you see that?" Sybil hissed, her eyes wide. Nykara nodded. "Yeah... stay close." The professor motioned for them to stop, holding up his hand to signal the group. "We're nearing a clearing," he said quietly. "This is where we'll stop for a moment. Take your bearings." Nykara scanned the area, her senses on high alert. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and her hand hovered near one of her knives. There was something in the air—something powerful, and it was only getting stronger the deeper they went. They reached the clearing, a small patch of open ground surrounded by thick trees. The professor turned to face them, his eyes cold and calculating.
"This is where the creatures of the forest will choose. And this is where you will begin your trial. Your survival depends on what you bring to the table. Some of you may leave with a companion, others may not. But make no mistake—whether you are chosen or not, you will leave changed." The wind picked up, and a cold chill swept through the clearing, making Nykara's breath catch in her throat. She had always known this moment would come—the moment the creatures would choose—but she didn't expect it to feel so... real. The professor turned and motioned to the trees behind them, his gaze sharp. "Look closely. Some creatures will hide, others will reveal themselves. Your task is simple—show them you're worth their attention. And remember, there's more at stake than just surviving the forest. You must prove you deserve to leave with a companion. Otherwise, you may not leave at all." Sybil glanced at Nykara, her face pale. "You think that's going to happen to us?" Nykara met her eyes, her lips curling into a smirk. "It's either that or we die. Which one do you prefer?" The wind howled again, this time much closer, and Nykara's instincts screamed that they weren't alone anymore. Something was watching them. She could feel it.
The clearing remained eerily silent after the professor's words, the thick canopy above blocking out most of the moonlight. The air was tense, charged with an unspoken challenge. Nykara didn't know if it was the creatures in the forest or something else entirely, but she felt a pull—something deeper, darker, calling to her. The students around them shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between the looming trees and the professor, who stood unnaturally still. Sybil, standing beside Nykara, crossed her arms. "Yeah, this definitely doesn't feel like a normal 'let's get a pet' kind of moment." Nykara snorted but didn't take her eyes off the professor. Something about him was off. There was something unnatural in the way he moved—or rather, how he barely moved at all. His breathing was too controlled, his presence blending too well with the shadows. The wind shifted suddenly, carrying a scent that sent a ripple of awareness through Nykara.
It wasn't decay, nor was it the damp scent of the forest floor—it was something... older. The professor's cold gaze swept over them. "That will be all for today. You have a week to prepare. Make no mistake, the creatures you will face are not kind, nor are they merciful." His voice deepened slightly, almost blending with the rustling leaves. "Dismissed." The moment he turned, the eerie tension snapped. Students exhaled, exchanging uneasy glances before breaking off in pairs or small groups, heading back toward the academy grounds. Nykara and Sybil lingered for a moment before Sybil nudged her. "Come on. Let's get the hell out of here before the trees start whispering or something." Nykara chuckled, but the feeling of unease didn't leave. Even as they made their way back toward the academy, her mind replayed every movement the professor made, every word he said. Something wasn't right about him.
They barely made it past the academy gates before a figure slipped out of the shadows. Nykara's instincts flared, her body tensing as she reached for her knife—but then the faint glow of blue skin caught the moonlight, and she sighed through her nose. The siren. Perched against the stone wall like she had been waiting for them, the third-year smirked at their reaction. Her creature—still an unknown species, sleek and coiled lazily on her shoulder—tilted its head at them, its glowing yellow eyes watching. "Nice to see you two haven't gotten yourselves killed yet," the siren drawled. Sybil scoffed. "Oh, so we're doing this in the open now? No ominous messages? No slinking around like a psycho?" The siren's smirk widened, clearly amused. "I was feeling generous." Her gaze flickered to Nykara, her amusement dimming slightly.
"We need to talk." Nykara's jaw tightened. "Why?" The siren glanced around, checking their surroundings before nodding toward a more secluded area between the stone walls of the academy's outer grounds. "Because if you don't listen to me, you're going to end up dead." Sybil exhaled sharply. "You really know how to set the mood, don't you?" Still, they followed. The siren led them through an old, unused passageway near the back of the academy, a narrow alcove hidden behind twisted vines and stone. The moment they were inside, away from prying eyes, she turned to Nykara, her expression more serious than before. "You need to be careful of the forest professor," she said. Nykara raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no shit. The guy moves like a damn specter." The siren didn't smile. "He's not human. He's not... anything, really." Silence stretched between them. Nykara frowned. "Explain." The siren exhaled through her nose, as if choosing her words carefully. "The forest doesn't just exist. It breathes. It changes. And every year, it sends something in its place to test the students. The professor? He's part of it. A piece of the forest that takes form and walks among us, teaching, watching. And when the trials are over, he disappears—just like the students who fail."
Sybil cursed under her breath. "Oh, that's fucking fantastic." Nykara crossed her arms. "So what? You're saying the forest itself is playing with us? That it's...alive?" The siren nodded once. "Very much alive. And it's watching you." Something cold settled in Nykara's stomach. The siren stepped closer, her voice quieter. "It's always been drawn to power. And you? You're something different." Nykara scoffed, trying to shake off the weight of those words. "Gee, thanks. That makes me feel so much better." But the siren didn't look amused. "You don't get it, do you?" she murmured. "It doesn't just choose students. It takes them. If it decides you're not worthy—if you're not strong enough—it will devour you. And not a single soul will remember you ever existed." A beat of silence. Sybil was the first to break it, her voice unnervingly quiet. "And if it decides she is strong enough?" The siren's eyes darkened. "Then it will never let her go."
The words settled between them like a warning, heavy and inescapable. Nykara should have felt defiance rise in her chest. Should have felt the urge to scoff, to prove the siren wrong. But deep down, something inside her—the darkness, the fire—whispered that she was right. The forest wanted her. And it wasn't going to stop until it had her.