The morning mist rolled thick and gray across the forest floor, veiling everything in a heavy stillness. The fire had long died out, and the forest was once again whispering in that low, uneasy way that made Kael's skin crawl.
Captain Roth stood before the group, his steel gauntlet glinting dully in the dim light.
"Pack up," he said. "We move at once. The air's too still. The nest is close."
Kael rose, shoulders aching. Lysander yawned, slinging his sword over his back. Rina silently tied her hair back and checked her arrows. She barely glanced at Kael.
But Kael caught her hand trembling as she adjusted her bowstring. He opened his mouth to say something—then stopped. She didn't need his pity. She was a Luster too.
They broke camp and moved deeper into the southern ridge. The ground grew soft and black beneath their boots, thick with decay. Every step squelched as if the forest itself were bleeding.
Vera's single eye flicked across the trees. "Keep formation. Don't wander."
No one argued.
After about an hour, a faint hum began to rise. It was almost too low to hear at first, like the thrum of a hundred wings behind the wind. But it grew louder the farther they went.
Lysander frowned. "You hear that?"
Rina's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's coming from below…"
They followed the sound until the forest floor dropped away — revealing a cavern split open by roots and fog. From within, that humming deepened, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Roth's face darkened. "We found it."
The smell hit first. Rot and blood and something sour, alive.
Torches flared as they descended into the chasm. The walls pulsed faintly — slick, covered in black veins that seemed to move.
Kael swallowed hard. "What is this place?"
Vera loaded a bolt, her voice tight. "A brood chamber. If the reports were right… then we're not dealing with common Shades."
They moved carefully, weapons drawn. Each step echoed in the cavern like the whisper of ghosts.
Lysander leaned close to Kael. "Tell me again why we volunteered for this?"
Kael's lips twitched. "You volunteered. I was drafted."
"You're welcome."
Before Kael could respond, Rina hissed, "Quiet."
Ahead, the tunnel widened into an open chamber.
And there it was.
A mound of flesh and shadow, writhing with movement — the Shade Broodmother.
Dozens of Shades clung to its body like parasites, crawling in and out of the pulsating mass. Its shape was vaguely humanoid but impossibly twisted — a torso like a tree trunk, limbs that melted into tendrils, a face that was no face at all, just a gaping maw glowing with dim blue fire.
Vera's voice trembled for the first time. "Ember save us…"
Roth's jaw tightened. "Formation!"
Instantly, the Lusters spread out. Lysander and Rina took the flanks. Roth and Vera held the front. Kael — hesitating only a moment — followed to the left, covering the side tunnel.
The Broodmother let out a guttural shriek, and the cavern shook. Shades poured from its body like liquid smoke.
"Hold the line!" Roth roared.
Lysander cut one down, spinning fluidly, while Rina loosed arrows that glowed faintly with light magic, pinning Shades mid-air.
Kael struck one down, but his blade passed through the mist-like body — barely dispersing it.
"Kael, aim for the cores!" Vera shouted. "The light within the chest!"
He tried again, focusing on the faint glow within the creature's torso — and this time, when his blade hit, it screamed and burst apart.
But more kept coming.
The air grew suffocating, thick with black smoke. Kael's lungs burned. Lysander fought like a storm beside him, slashing and laughing through the chaos.
"You still keeping up?" Lysander yelled over the noise.
Kael grunted, wiping sweat from his eyes. "Barely."
Rina fired another arrow — but a Shade lunged from the side, knocking her down.
"Rina!"
Kael dashed forward, cutting through two Shades, but too slow — the third slammed into him, claws tearing across his shoulder. Pain exploded, hot and searing.
He hit the ground beside Rina.
Her bow was splintered. Blood trickled down her cheek. She reached for a dagger — then froze as a towering silhouette loomed over them both.
It was the Broodmother itself.
Its maw opened, the sound like a thousand screams echoing through bone. The air warped. Kael's ears rang.
He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
He saw Rina close her eyes, lips trembling in silent prayer.
Then something snapped inside him.
That familiar cold — that hollow, burning pulse — surged through his veins.
He remembered his mother's fragile face. The wounded on the streets. His father's ghost.
The world dimmed. Time slowed.
Kael rose.
The Broodmother's strike came down, but Kael caught the tendril mid-swing. The force crushed the rock beneath his feet — but he didn't budge. His eyes glowed faint gold, veins pulsing faintly beneath his skin.
With a roar, he twisted, throwing the massive limb aside and slashing upward. His sword ignited with pale light — slicing through shadow and flesh alike.
The Broodmother shrieked, reeling back. Shades scattered in panic.
Rina stared, stunned. "Kael…?"
He didn't hear her. He stepped forward, every movement sharp, unnatural. His sword cleaved another tendril, each blow brighter than the last.
Roth shouted something — maybe an order, maybe a warning — but Kael was lost in the rhythm. The beast lunged again, but he spun under it, driving his blade through its chest.
The cavern filled with light. The Broodmother's scream rattled the world.
When it finally collapsed, the cavern walls cracked and trembled.
Dust filled the air.
Kael staggered, dropping to one knee. The glow faded from his eyes. His body screamed in pain, his limbs trembling violently.
Rina ran to his side, catching him before he fell.
"Kael! Kael, stay with me!"
He blinked groggily. "Did… we win?"
She let out a shaky laugh. "You idiot."
Roth approached, axe dragging behind him. His armor was scorched, his gauntlet cracked. Vera limped beside him.
Roth's voice was low but steady. "The nest's destroyed. Mission complete."
Lysander leaned against a rock, grinning through exhaustion. "Remind me never to spar with you again."
Kael tried to smile, but the world swam. "Guess I'm not… the weakest after all."
Rina rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her small smile. "You nearly died twice, Kael."
"Nearly," he murmured. "But not quite."
He passed out before she could respond.
When Kael awoke, he was back at the camp — his arm bandaged, his head pounding. The others were tending to wounds or resting in silence.
Lysander sat beside him, poking at the fire.
"Hey, sleeping hero," he said with a smirk. "You're lucky you didn't die. Again."
Kael groaned. "Feels like I did."
"Roth's been watching you," Lysander added quietly. "He won't say it, but he's curious. So am I. That thing you do—where does it come from?"
Kael stared at his hands. "I don't know."
Lysander studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, whatever it is, it saved us all. Guess that makes us even now."
Kael gave a weak chuckle. "Guess so."
Across the fire, Rina glanced at them. Her eyes softened for a moment — then she turned away quickly when Kael noticed.
Later, as the stars burned faintly above the mist, Vera spoke quietly to Roth.
"He's not normal. You saw the light — that wasn't human."
Roth nodded slowly. "I know."
"Should we report it?"
Roth looked toward Kael, asleep near the fire, his hand still clutching his sword even in rest.
"No," he said at last. "Not yet. Let the boy fight his battles first. The truth can wait."
He turned his gaze to the dark forest beyond. Somewhere far away, the walls of humanity still stood — but for how long, none of them knew.
And as Kael slept, the faintest flicker of golden light pulsed beneath his skin — unnoticed, but alive.