Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Bound by Shadows

Selene’s cottage was nestled deep within the forest, almost invisible under its blanket of ivy and moss. Aldric carried her through the doorway, his muscles tense. The warmth of her against his chest made him uneasy. A hunter had no business feeling protective of a witch.

The interior of the cottage was modest yet enchanting. Shelves lined with jars of dried herbs, books with faded spines, and strange trinkets filled the space. A small cauldron bubbled over a hearth, emitting a soothing aroma of lavender and mint.

Aldric placed Selene gently onto a wooden cot near the fire. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "You didn’t leave me in the forest," she said, her voice soft with surprise.

"I need answers," Aldric replied gruffly. "Why did you save me? And why do you live so close to a village that wants you dead?"

Selene sighed, sitting up slowly. She brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I saved you because it was right. As for the village… I don’t live to harm them. I live to help them, even if they fear me."

Aldric frowned, leaning against the doorframe. "Helping them hasn’t earned you their trust."

"No," she admitted, "but it has kept their children alive. Their livestock healthy. Fear is a powerful thing, hunter. It blinds people to the truth."

Her words lingered in the air. Aldric had spent years chasing witches, fueled by the belief that their magic corrupted and destroyed. Yet here was a woman who wielded it to heal—a stark contradiction to everything he’d been taught.

"You’re not like the others," he muttered.

Selene tilted her head. "Others?"

"Witches," he said. "The ones who conjure plagues, hex families, summon demons. I’ve seen the chaos they bring."

Selene’s lips tightened. "And have you ever wondered why they turn to such darkness? Desperation, pain, injustice… magic can corrupt when wielded by the wrong hands, yes. But it can also be a force for good."

Aldric didn’t respond. Instead, he studied her—how her fingers gently traced the edge of a teacup on the nearby table, her movements deliberate yet unguarded.

The silence was broken by the faint howl of wind outside. Aldric straightened, his instincts prickling. "Something’s out there," he said, reaching for his sword.

Selene stood, her expression tense. "The warg wasn’t alone."

The door shuddered as something heavy slammed against it. Aldric and Selene exchanged a glance before she rushed to the shelves, grabbing a bundle of dried herbs and a vial of silvery liquid.

"Keep the door barred," she instructed.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing a spell," Selene replied. "Unless you’d prefer to fight them all with steel alone?"

Aldric grunted but held his position. The door shook again, splinters flying as claws raked against it. Selene crouched by the hearth, chanting under her breath. The air in the room grew charged, crackling with unseen energy.

When the door finally burst open, a pack of shadowy creatures poured in, their glowing eyes fixed on the pair. Aldric charged forward, his sword slashing through the first beast. Behind him, Selene cast her spell.

Golden light erupted from her outstretched hand, engulfing the creatures in a blinding flash. They shrieked, their forms dissolving into mist. Within moments, the room was silent again, save for the crackling of the fire.

Aldric lowered his sword, his chest heaving. "That wasn’t ordinary magic," he said, turning to Selene.

"No," she agreed, her voice steady but tinged with exhaustion. "It was light magic—magic of protection. Few witches can wield it."

Aldric sheathed his sword, his mind racing. He’d never seen magic used so decisively to protect rather than destroy.

Selene sank into a chair, her hands trembling slightly. "They’ll keep coming," she said. "Someone sent them—someone who knows I’m here."

"Who?"

"A dark mage, perhaps. Or a witch hunter who doesn’t care about collateral damage," she said pointedly, her gaze locking onto his.

Aldric stiffened. "I had nothing to do with this."

"Maybe not," she admitted. "But now that you’ve seen what hunts me, you must decide. Will you join them—or help me?"

Her question hung in the air like a challenge. Aldric stared at her, torn between duty and the growing realization that Selene was not his enemy.

"I don’t make alliances with witches," he said finally.

"Then leave," Selene said, her tone sharp. "But know this: the path you walk leads only to more bloodshed, and not all of it will be mine."

Aldric hesitated, his hand on the door. He wanted to walk away, to return to the safety of the rules and roles he knew. But something about Selene’s unwavering gaze held him in place.

"I’ll stay," he said grudgingly. "For now."

Selene nodded, the faintest hint of relief softening her features. "Then we must prepare. This is only the beginning."

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