LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: Shadows of The Past
Chapter 9: Shadows of the Past
The light-path wound deeper into the forest of shadows, growing dimmer with each step. The air was heavy with an oppressive stillness, broken only by the faint rustling of unseen movement in the dark.
The human moved cautiously, their blade ready at their side. The creature walked ahead, its golden eyes scanning the shadows, its posture tense. It seemed to know this place—or at least, it felt familiar in a way it couldn't explain.
"This place is wrong," the human muttered, breaking the silence. Their voice echoed softly in the vast expanse of darkness. "It's not like the other trials. It's…"
"Personal."
The word wasn't spoken aloud, but the creature understood it as if it had been etched directly into its mind. A memory, hazy and distant, stirred within it.
The human paused, glancing at the creature. "You feel it too, don't you?"
The creature gave a low growl, its golden eyes narrowing.
Before the human could respond, the shadows ahead began to shift, peeling back to reveal a clearing. At its center was a massive, gnarled tree, its roots sprawling like veins across the ground. The tree's bark shimmered faintly, reflecting the golden thread that bound the two of them together.
Beneath the tree stood a figure.
The human froze, their breath catching in their throat. "No way…"
The figure was someone from their past, someone who had no reason to be in this twisted realm. They stood as they had in life, their features painfully familiar, but their eyes glowed with the same dark energy as the shadow-creatures they'd faced before.
"What is this?" the human whispered, taking a step back.
The figure smiled faintly, tilting their head. "You've forgotten me already?" Their voice was soft, but it carried an edge that sent chills down the human's spine. "I'm hurt."
The creature growled, stepping between the human and the figure. Its shadows coiled protectively around it, ready to strike.
The figure's gaze shifted to the creature. "Ah. And you brought a friend. How charming."
The human shook their head, their grip tightening on their blade. "You're not real. This is another trick, another test."
The figure laughed, the sound echoing unnaturally through the clearing. "A trick? Perhaps. But that doesn't make me any less real to you, does it?"
The human flinched but didn't answer.
The figure stepped closer, their movements slow and deliberate. "Do you remember what you promised me? Or have you buried that memory too deep to find?"
The human's expression darkened, and they took another step back. "Stop."
The figure ignored the command, their smile fading. "You abandoned me."
The creature lunged, its claws slicing through the air, but the figure dissolved into smoke before it could connect. The shadows swirled, reforming behind the human.
"You think you can move forward while leaving everything behind?" the figure whispered, their voice now cold and sharp.
The human spun around, slashing with their blade, but the figure vanished again, their laughter echoing in the darkness.
The voice of the orb returned, resonating through the clearing.
"The past binds as tightly as the future. To move forward, one must confront what lies behind."
The human's eyes darted around the clearing, their breathing ragged. "What do you want me to do? Fight a memory?"
The shadows began to coalesce, forming new figures. Each one was familiar, a ghost of the human's past, their faces etched with accusation and pain.
The creature let out a snarl, its shadows flaring as it prepared to strike.
But the human raised a hand, stopping it.
"No," they said, their voice shaking but firm. "This is my fight."
The creature hesitated, its golden eyes studying the human. Then, reluctantly, it lowered its stance, retreating a step.
The human turned to face the shadows, their blade trembling in their grip. "You think you can break me with this?" they asked, their voice rising. "I've lived with these ghosts every day. You're nothing new."
The figures didn't respond, but their expressions seemed to deepen, their eyes glowing brighter.
The human took a deep breath, steadying themselves. "You're not real. You're not them. You're just shadows."
They raised their blade, the weapon glowing faintly in the dim light. "And I'm done being afraid of shadows."
The figures surged forward, their forms twisting into monstrous shapes, but the human stood their ground. They struck with precision and fury, cutting through the illusions one by one.
The creature watched silently, its golden eyes flickering as it observed the human's struggle. It didn't move to help, sensing that this was a battle that had to be fought alone.
When the last shadow fell, the clearing grew still. The human stood in the center, breathing heavily, their blade dripping with black ichor.
The gnarled tree began to change, its bark cracking and splitting to reveal a faint light within.
The voice of the orb returned. "You have faced your past and emerged stronger. The bond between you grows."
The tree's light pulsed, and a new path opened beyond it, leading deeper into the forest.
The human glanced back at the creature, a faint smile tugging at their lips. "Guess I passed."
The creature growled softly, stepping to their side.
Together, they walked toward the next trial, the golden thread between them glowing brighter than before.