Shrouded in Shadows

Chapter 1

As the first light of dawn gently filtered through the dense canopy of the ancient forest, Reo found himself amidst the tranquil embrace of nature's sanctuary. The rhythmic crunch of his footsteps against the fallen leaves echoed softly in the stillness, a soothing melody in the quiet symphony of the woods. Surrounded by towering trees, he felt a stirring within him—a sense of purpose awakening from the depths of his mundane existence. The boy found solace here, a respite from the cacophony of modern life that seemed to fade away with each step he took.

At his side was a leather bag gifted to him on his sixteenth birthday, it was filled with textbooks, pencils, paper, and anything a student would need on their first day back from summer vacation. It had a few imperfections, but Reo loved it either way; it reminded him of a story his father told him once, a story he would always ask his father to retell no matter how repetitive it seemed. With that, his mind began to wander, focusing on his thoughts rather than what was in front of him, a mistake on his part. The boy failed to notice the root that had broken through the earth and so, he tumbled. Reo crashed into branches and rocks along the way, the pain seeping into his skin as he gritted his teeth to endure it all. With an abrupt halt, he reached the bank of the river, gasping for breath and nursing the bruises from his chaotic descent.

Reo slowly got up from the ground, his body sore and his head spinning. He couldn't tell where he was, and it seemed like something watched him from afar, their gaze boring deep into his head like a nail hammered into wood. Trying to regain his senses, the boy spat out the dirt in his mouth and tugged at his hair, pulling stray leaves out. The familiar sound of a rushing stream nearby washed over him and broke through the disorientation that bombarded his perception this whole time. He managed to catch his breath as he walked towards the water's edge. The crystal-clear waters beckoned him closer, and for a moment, he found himself submitting to the call until a hand touched his face inches before his head was submerged.

As Reo felt a cold hand brush against his face, terror surged through him like an electric current. He yanked his head away from the water with lightning speed, heart pounding in his chest as he realized there shouldn't have been anything in the otherwise pristine, crystalline depths. There were stories, fairy tales even, about river spirits dwelling near bodies of water to lure in innocent children, but they were just mythical beings created by parents to scare off their children to prevent them from playing in the water for too long... that was until bubbles began to pop and dissipate.

A figure emerged from a shimmering portal - a river spirit in the form of a merman with striking blue skin and medium-length hair that flowed gently in the water. Scales adorned his face, and gills protruded from his neck, giving him an otherworldly appearance straight from the pages of a children's fantasy book. Despite how they were portrayed in folktales, there was no malicious intent in his eyes, only peace and serenity. "Please do not be afraid. My name is Zakai," the river spirit said, his voice melodic and hypnotic, "I was waiting for my lover, Seph, and I had mistaken you for him."

"Tell me, who is this man and how did you mistake me for him?" Reo asked, sitting next to the water's edge. His heart was racing with fear and curiosity, conflicted about what to do next. The river spirit who called himself Zakai had nearly taken his life moments ago, but now it stood before him, its translucent form shimmering in the morning sunlight.

"No one visits the river anymore... and he is the only one that visits me so naturally, I would assume it was him coming over. Seph is an adventurer, you see, and I haven't seen him in a while, so I can't help but be worried."

"I'm sure your husband is fine. Adventurers know what they're doing," the boy said with a shrug, hoping his words reassure Zakai from worrying himself to death.

"I'm sure he is, I'm just afraid that one day he won't come back like everyone else. Will you stay with me for a while?" the spirit asked, his hopeful eyes gazing at him.