Shifting Fates: Veil of the Forgotten

Ch. 5: Frack

Ch. 5

"Frack"

Without another thought, I dive toward the direction of the man, and his shadows faded into the forest, my wings pressed flat against my back to muffle their sound as I glide through the torrid dark. I find and land silently on a branch of a tree closer to the source of my curiosity, my heart racing at the prospect ahead. Years of stagnation in the castle had left me starved for anything that might capture my attention, whether good or bad.

I can't tear myself away, even though I know I am intruding on something profoundly secretive. The possible conclusion pulses beneath my skin, overpowering my senses, urging me to retreat and never look back.

Fear will no longer dictate my actions out here. The fog of my past may loom large, but I refuse to let them clip my wings. I will soar. My beast, that wild creature lurking within, won't steer me away from the unknown. Be the dragon, Oana's soft voice fades in and out of my memory.

I am the one who decides my path. Each choice I make, whether wise or reckless, is mine alone to bear. The thrill of the unknown courses through me, kindling a fire that banishes the lingering cold hesitation. I am embracing the uncertainty ahead, knowing it is part of my journey. This time, I will now cower. I will soar no matter the danger.

No wards, no walls, no Mother. My voice bounces off the edges of my mind. Just another layer to steel myself for what lies ahead.

My eyes move toward that man who has halted in a secluded clearing, surrounded by towering pines that stand like giant guards. The man stands serenely in his meddling darkness, some shadows twirl around his fingers, while others start to consume everything around him. A few stragglers merge with him, seeping into his very being and amplifying his strange, alluring presence.

An inky curtain of shadows covers everything, casting an ominous veil over the clearing and making the air snap as they move. The normal, constant chill moves across my skin, but I refuse to let fear seep into my resolve. Instead, I lean into the unknown, reminding myself that I control my choices out here. The darkness, the shadows, may cling to him, but I will not be ensnared by it. My wings, once heavy with trepidation, now feel lighter as I prepare to uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows.

The forest seems to freeze as something emerges from its depths. A ghostly silence blankets the area, heralding the new creature's arrival. As it steps into view, sagging eyes gleam with an unsettling light and hollowness, like twin grim celestial lanterns. The creature is strikingly at home with the towering trees, as if woven from the very fabric of this forest itself. Though her face is cast in the shadows that twist in the air, she appears to be a disheveled older-looking woman, her features a haunting blend of age and timeless beauty. She has clumps of hair missing as if torn from her skull in handfuls, leaving a knotted nest filled with leaves, sticks, and moss.

I grip the branch beneath me, determined to hold to my control, but a flicker of doubt slithers through my mind, like the shadows moving through the area. Is this what drew me to the forest, what I longed to uncover, or is this reflection of the beast within me ready to guide me away from my desired path? I force myself to breathe, reminding myself that I choose my fate, even if the deities of fate itself make me question my role.

My focus is pulled back as the woman moves. Every step she takes is deliberate and weighted, as if the very ground acknowledges her presence. Her long, bony fingers brush along the autumn wind, weaving unseen threads from the night that connect the forest to her essence. The timber shudders at her approach, branches bending away as if bowing to her unspoken power. A bitter tangy smell pricks my nose.