Shifting Fates: Veil of the Forgotten

Ch. 1: Eccedentesiast

Ch. 1

"Eccedentesiast"

I can hear the forest coming alive as the moon rises in the sky. Even with my eyes closed, my senses refuse to rest in this dangerous thicket. My delicate fingers rub the sleepiness that clings to me like a heavy fog. I stretch, the rough stone bites into the soles of my boots. I brush my black hair back, the soft waves tumble across my shoulders as I peer through the narrow opening of my nature-carved refuge, hidden deep within this forest's uncertainties.

As my lavender-filled eyes blink open, they adjust to the moonlit scenery, shimmering like silver dust. I inhale the cool, earthy scent of the trees, and my heart races — not from fear, but from the intoxicating anticipation of freedom. I draw a deep breath, and as I exhale, I take a last glance at my human hands — small, pale, and scarred from rigorous training, with tattoos, bonds, peeking from the ends of my sleeves. The trembling of my fingers sends a surge of determination through me. It is time.

Time to start moving, to embrace the journey ahead.

With another swift breath, in and then out, I begin to shift, feeling the familiar yet potent sensation of bones cracking and transforming. My human form melts away, bending into something I have found comfort in. Wings unfurl where my shoulders once were, stretching wide. My ears migrate to sharp points atop my skull, heightening my restless senses. My eyes become more refined, crisper, yet the vibrant hue remains just like the purple that shines at the right angles of my blacken hair — a reminder of the girl I have always been and the beast that has always lurked just beneath the surface.

This form is the embodiment of freedom, a creature of the night who soars effortlessly across the sky, dancing on the winds in ways I could only dream of, until now. Their wings, wide and silent, seem to embrace the darkness and the unknown before them, gliding through the unseen world with a grace that rivals even the most elegant of avian creatures. Yet, beneath the awe lies a deep-rooted fear. Seen as strange, some don't see the beauty in their movements. This form is a creature of shadows, after all, and for many, it represents not freedom, but danger — a mystery wrapped in the unknown, and feared for reasons long forgotten.

For me, I feel connected to these night-dwellers. The way they move through the dark, unseen and unnoticed, resonates with me, as it is something I strive for, although it rarely ever happens. Like me, they live in the spaces in between — eager yet misunderstood, feared yet majestic in their own right. When I take this form, I feel more at ease than I ever did at the castle, or even in my true mortal form. Their wings are an extension of my being, their flight reflects what I truly want.

Freedom.

As I finish shifting, the closed space around me uproars. A rustling sound swells, and suddenly, hundreds of bats erupt from the dark crevices behind me, flooding the small cave with their organized frenzy. The rush of air from their flight, hits me like a gust of wind, tugging at my form, ruffling my own wings. The beat of their movements is like the pulse of the night itself, rapid and rhythmic, each one brushing past me with a feather-like touch that sends a shiver down my spine. A whirlwind of energy and life that nearly knocks me off balance.

The smell of recent rainfall, fresh and earthy, blends with the rich aroma of damp soil. A strong, musky trace of bats clings to the air, carried on by the cool breeze that brushes against my skin, crisp and refreshing. My ears hum with the constant fluttering of wings, each beat a hum in the night. The high-pitched squeaks echo through the darkness, sharp yet distant now, weaving into the rhythm of the wilderness, a symphony of the untamed world surrounding me.

In the darkened sky, I can vanish with them, and that is exactly what I need. One of the few moments in my couple of decades where I can fully feel myself — weightless, untamed, and wild.