I wandered on fantasy world

The Whispering Woods were a labyrinth of secrets, their ancient boughs curling like the fingers of a forgotten god. Sunlight barely kissed the forest floor, filtered through a canopy so dense it seemed to drink the light. The air was thick with the smell of moss and damp earth, and always, there were the whispers. They echoed from the trees, curling through the air like smoke, a language so old even Talyra couldn't always discern its meaning.

She had made peace with the voices long ago. Alone in her crooked stone cottage, she had learned to live with the whispers as others might learn to live with the wind or the rain. They told her things sometimes—fragments of the past, glimpses of futures that might yet come to pass. Most of the time, she ignored them. Tonight, though, the voices were sharper, more insistent.

The Starfire Pendant pulsed faintly against her chest, its glow hidden beneath layers of dark fabric. Talyra stood in the doorway of her cottage, her staff in one hand, staring into the gloom of the forest. Something was wrong.

The wind shifted, carrying with it the sharp tang of fear—human fear. Her fingers tightened on the staff, its runes beginning to glow faintly. She was about to turn back inside when the stillness shattered.

Branches snapped. Leaves rustled. Something was coming.

"Who's there?" Talyra called, her voice cutting through the whispers.

A figure stumbled out of the trees, barely visible in the dim light. A boy—no, a young man, thin and pale, his dark hair plastered to his forehead with sweat. He was clutching a dagger, though it looked more like a toy in his trembling hands.

"Help," he rasped, staggering toward her. "Please."

Talyra didn't move. Her gaze swept the treeline behind him, where the shadows shifted unnaturally. "Get inside," she said, her tone clipped.

The boy froze, his wide eyes darting between her and the woods. "They're coming," he whispered, his voice cracking with fear.

Talyra stepped forward, her staff raised. "Inside. Now."

This time, he obeyed, stumbling past her into the cottage. Talyra turned back to the forest. The shadows were moving, coalescing into vague, humanoid shapes. They were silent, but their intent was clear in the way they surged forward, like smoke drawn toward a flame.

"You don't belong here," Talyra said, her voice low and steady. The runes on her staff flared brighter, casting a pale, silvery light that pushed back the advancing shadows.

The creatures hissed, their forms flickering in the glow. Talyra stepped forward, her magic crackling in the air around her. "You'll find no prey here."

The shadows hesitated, their forms wavering. For a moment, it seemed they might retreat. But then, with a sound like tearing fabric, they lunged.

Talyra slammed the base of her staff into the ground. A ring of light erupted from the runes, driving the shadows back. The creatures writhed and twisted, their forms dissolving into mist. Slowly, the forest grew still.

Talyra waited, her staff still glowing faintly, until she was sure the danger had passed. Then she turned and stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

The boy was huddled near the hearth, his dagger abandoned on the floor. His hands were shaking, and his breath came in ragged gasps. He looked up as she entered, his expression a mix of relief and fear.

"Who are you?" Talyra asked, her tone more curious than kind.

"Kael," he said after a moment, his voice hoarse. "I… my village—it's gone. They came in the night."

Talyra studied him, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. His clothes were torn, his skin streaked with dirt and dried blood. He looked like he hadn't eaten in days. She felt a faint stir of pity, though she quickly pushed it aside.

"And you came here?" she said.

Kael nodded, his hands clenching into fists. "The whispers... they led me."

At that, Talyra's expression darkened. The Whispering Woods did not lead people lightly. If Kael was here, it was no accident. The forest had brought him to her, though she couldn't yet see why.

"You're safe for now," she said curtly. "Rest. You'll need it."

Kael hesitated, then nodded, curling into himself near the hearth. Talyra turned away, her thoughts churning.

Outside, the whispers had grown quiet again. But Talyra knew better than to trust the silence.