Bloodlines of the Damned

The Weight of Legacy

Hadrien's Perspective

The forest was silent, save for the occasional rustling of leaves underfoot. Hadrien's eyes were sharp, scanning the dense canopy above as he walked beside Vane. The air was thick with ancient magic, its presence suffocating, pressing against them from all directions. He had been coming here for centuries, but no matter how many times he entered, the Dark Forest never lost its edge—never lost its ability to unsettle him.

But Hadrien had learned long ago not to let his unease show. Not here. Not to Vane.

He watched his grandson's movements with a critical eye. Vane was strong, that much was undeniable. The raw potential was there—the blood of Aelric coursing through his veins, the power of their lineage at his fingertips. But strength alone wouldn't be enough.

The Dark Forest doesn't care about power. It devours those who think they can control it.

Hadrien had seen it happen before—too many times. Young men and women, eager and bold, thinking they could master its magic. They'd entered with their heads high, full of arrogance, and were swallowed whole.

Vane was different, though. He had something the others didn't: the mark of Aelric, the ruler of shadows, and the whispered power of his mother's bloodline. But even that wouldn't be enough if Vane didn't learn how to wield it.

Hadrien looked over at his grandson. Vane was walking steadily beside him, his gaze forward, but there was a tension in his posture. A quiet struggle beneath his composed exterior. It had been days since they'd entered the forest, and while Vane hadn't yet faltered, Hadrien could sense his grandson's unease.

This was the beginning of his true training, the real test. The Dark Forest had its ways of teaching, but it was cruel, and it took no prisoners.

"Stop," Hadrien commanded, his voice cutting through the stillness.

Vane immediately came to a halt, his eyes narrowing slightly as he waited for instruction.

"You've felt it, haven't you?" Hadrien's voice was low, almost a whisper. "The forest has already begun its work on you."

Vane nodded, but said nothing.

"The magic here is older than anything you've encountered before. More primal. It feeds on fear, on doubt. The more you resist it, the more it will dig into your mind. But the only way to survive it, to learn its secrets, is to confront it head-on."

He let the silence settle for a moment before continuing.

"You'll be tested, Vane. Tested beyond anything you've imagined. The forest will take you to your limits, and then it will push you farther. Your power—your heritage—is a weapon, but it's also a burden. The Dark Forest will show you how heavy that burden is. And when it does, you'll need to decide whether you're strong enough to carry it."

Vane met his gaze, his eyes burning with determination, but there was something else in them too. Something that wasn't there before.

Doubt.

Hadrien didn't miss it. He didn't fault his grandson for it—doubt was natural. But it had to be eradicated, or it would consume him, just as it had consumed others before him.

"You're ready," Hadrien said finally, his voice hardening. "But don't think this will be easy. The forest will try to break you. It's been waiting for someone like you. Someone with your bloodline."

Vane's Perspective

The words Hadrien spoke echoed in Vane's mind as they continued deeper into the forest.

The forest will try to break you.

His heart pounded, his feet moving as if on instinct, the crunch of twigs and leaves beneath him the only sound in the thick, oppressive silence. The magic of the Dark Forest was palpable, heavy in the air, clinging to his skin like a second layer. It wasn't just the place. It was the feeling of being watched, as though the trees themselves were aware of his presence, whispering secrets he wasn't meant to hear.

The further they walked, the darker it seemed to grow. The trees were ancient, their bark twisted in strange patterns that seemed to form faces—faces that stared at him with hollow eyes, accusing, judging.

He couldn't help but feel the weight of his grandfather's words. The forest was unlike anything he'd ever faced. It wasn't just an obstacle. It was a living, breathing entity. And it was already beginning to carve its mark on him.

This is just the beginning.

Vane clenched his fists, trying to push aside the unease that was crawling up his spine. The magic was digging deeper now, settling into his bones. But he couldn't show weakness. Not here. Not in front of Hadrien.

But a part of him couldn't shake the feeling that something was... calling to him.

He had always known the Dark Forest was dangerous. He'd been taught to respect it from the moment he'd set foot on this path. But now that he was here, surrounded by the whispers of its ancient magic, he realized just how unprepared he was.

It wasn't just a test of power—it was a test of everything.

His thoughts turned to Lyra. Her face flashed in his mind for a brief moment, her smile, the way she looked at him when they were together.

I'll come back for you.

The promise he'd made to her, the vow that still burned within him like a flame, pushed him forward.

The forest would test him. It would make him face parts of himself he didn't want to acknowledge. But it would not break him. He wouldn't let it.

Back at Aelric's Castle

Aelric's Perspective

Aelric stood by the window of his grand study, overlooking the sprawling lands of his castle. The wind howled through the valley below, and the moon cast long shadows over the stone walls. He hadn't heard from Hadrien in days. And though he trusted his brother's judgment, a knot of unease tightened in his chest.

The Dark Forest was no place for the faint of heart, even for someone with Vane's potential. And while Aelric knew his son's power, he also knew that Vane wasn't ready for the trials ahead.

But it's necessary. The boy needs to learn.

Aelric's gaze hardened as he turned away from the window, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows across his face. He had watched Vane grow from a boy into a young man, and he had seen the fire in his eyes—the same fire that had once burned in his own. But there was more to being a ruler than power. There was discipline, patience, and understanding.

The Dark Forest would give him that. But only if it didn't break him first.

Aelric's thoughts drifted to the last conversation he'd had with Hadrien. His brother had been cryptic, as always, but there was something in his tone that had unsettled him. Something about Vane's training that was... off.

"He'll survive, Aelric. But the boy will be changed by this. As will you."

The words hung in the air even now. Aelric knew better than anyone what the forest could do. He had seen the transformations in those who had entered before. Some returned stronger, yes—but others... they came back broken. And some never came back at all.

But Vane is mine. I will not lose him.

He turned back toward the desk, where a letter from the Dark Council waited. Its contents were nothing new. It was the same demands, the same expectations. But it was a reminder—a reminder that the world does not wait for anyone.

The Dark Forest was a crucible. The question was whether Vane would emerge from it stronger—or whether it would consume him completely.