Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Shadows and Secrets

The forest seemed quieter than usual as Selene and Aldric made their way back to the cottage. The usual sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves were replaced by an uneasy stillness, as though the woods were holding their breath.

Selene walked a few paces ahead, her staff tapping lightly against the ground. Aldric trailed behind, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

"You felt it, didn’t you?" Selene asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Aldric frowned. "The corruption? Hard to miss."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Something else. When the shadow rose at the shrine, it wasn’t just a random force. It was… intelligent."

Aldric considered this. He hadn’t seen the fight in those terms; to him, it had been just another beast to slay. But now that Selene mentioned it, there had been something almost deliberate about the shadow’s movements, as though it was testing them.

"If it’s intelligent," Aldric said slowly, "then it knows what we’re capable of. And it’ll be ready next time."

"Exactly," Selene replied. She paused, glancing back at him. "Which is why we need to be ready too."

Back at the Cottage

When they reached Selene’s home, the weariness of the day finally caught up with them. Selene slumped into a chair near the hearth, her hands trembling as she began rummaging through her satchel for herbs and potions.

Aldric leaned his sword against the wall and crossed his arms. "You’re pushing yourself too hard."

Selene shot him a tired glare. "I don’t have a choice. If we’re going to stop this corruption, I need to fortify the wards and create stronger potions. There’s no room for rest."

"That’s nonsense," Aldric said bluntly. "You’re no use to anyone if you collapse from exhaustion."

Selene opened her mouth to argue, but the look in Aldric’s eyes stopped her. There was no judgment there, only concern—a rare softness she hadn’t expected from him.

"Fine," she muttered, leaning back in her chair. "But only for a moment."

Aldric nodded, satisfied, and began inspecting his weapons. As he worked, he glanced at Selene. Her usually sharp features were softened by fatigue, and for the first time, he noticed the faint scars on her hands—marks of a life spent in battle, even if her weapons were magic and potions instead of steel.

"How did you learn all this?" he asked suddenly.

Selene looked up, startled by the question. "Learn what?"

"Magic. Warding. Fighting creatures like that thing at the shrine."

Her expression grew thoughtful. "I suppose I’ve always had a knack for it. My mother was a healer, my father a woodsman. They taught me how to survive, how to listen to the land." She hesitated. "And then there was the coven."

Aldric raised an eyebrow. "The one you left?"

Selene nodded. "They taught me the more structured aspects of magic—spells, rituals, the theory behind it all. But their methods… they were cruel. Dangerous. When I realized what they were capable of, I couldn’t stay."

"Did they come after you?"

"Of course," Selene said, her voice tight. "A witch who leaves a coven is seen as a traitor. But I was strong enough to fend them off, and eventually, they stopped trying."

Aldric studied her for a moment. "You’ve been fighting your whole life."

"And you haven’t?" Selene shot back, a small smile tugging at her lips.

He chuckled softly. "Fair enough."

A Visitor in the Night

The peace of the evening didn’t last long. Just as Selene began preparing to rest, a knock sounded at the door. Aldric was on his feet instantly, his sword in hand.

"Who could it be at this hour?" Selene murmured, moving cautiously toward the door.

When she opened it, a young boy stood on the threshold, his face pale and streaked with tears.

"Miss Selene," he gasped, his voice trembling. "Please… it’s my sister. She’s sick. The healer in the village said there’s nothing they can do."

Selene knelt down, her expression softening. "What happened, sweet one? What are her symptoms?"

"She’s burning up," the boy said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "And she keeps saying strange things, like she’s not herself. Please, you have to help her!"

Selene exchanged a glance with Aldric. "It could be an ordinary illness," she said quietly.

"Or it could be connected to the corruption," Aldric finished grimly.

Selene stood, grabbing her satchel. "Take me to her."

The Sick Girl

The boy led them to a small cottage on the outskirts of the village. Inside, a young girl lay on a straw mattress, her skin pale and slick with sweat. Her eyes flickered open, glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

Selene moved to the girl’s side, her hands hovering over her forehead. "This isn’t a fever," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "It’s a curse."

Aldric frowned. "Can you break it?"

"I’ll try," Selene replied. She began chanting softly, her magic weaving through the room like threads of light.

As she worked, the girl’s body convulsed, and a shadowy form began to rise from her chest. Aldric drew his sword, ready to strike, but Selene held up a hand.

"Wait," she said. "If you attack now, you could harm her."

"Then what do we do?" Aldric demanded.

"Trust me," Selene said. Her voice was calm but firm, and despite himself, Aldric lowered his blade.

Selene’s magic flared brighter, and the shadow let out a piercing scream before dissolving into the air. The girl went limp, her breathing evening out as the glow faded from her eyes.

"It’s done," Selene said, sitting back with a sigh of relief.

The boy rushed to his sister’s side, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you, Miss Selene. Thank you so much."

Aldric watched as Selene gently reassured the boy, her earlier weariness forgotten in the face of his gratitude.

As they left the cottage, Aldric broke the silence. "You didn’t have to do that."

"Yes, I did," Selene said simply.

"You’re risking your life for people who might turn on you the moment they don’t need you anymore."

Selene stopped, turning to face him. "That may be true. But if we stop helping because of what might happen, what kind of people would we become?"

Aldric didn’t have an answer.

With the corruption spreading and its effects becoming more personal, Selene and Aldric face growing challenges. Their trust in each other deepens, but so do the dangers they must confront together.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***