The Shadow of Aelderwood

The smell of woodsmoke and damp earth hung heavy in the night air as the villagers gathered in the square. The fire at the center snapped and flickered, its light casting jagged shadows across the faces of the crowd. They were gathered for one reason: Kealen Thorn.

At seventeen, Kealen wasn't the kind of person who'd be called reliable or sensible, but that suited him just fine. He wasn't built for a quiet life of farming or trade like the others in the village. No, he was a rogue in spirit and skill, sharp-eyed, quick on his feet, and good with a dagger, not to mention his knack for slipping in and out of places he wasn't exactly welcome.

Right now, though, he wasn't smiling his usual mischievous grin. He was standing in the square, arms crossed, as Elder Lorwen glared at him with the weight of centuries in his eyes.

"You will die in there," Lorwen said flatly, gesturing toward the dark mass of trees beyond the village. "The forest takes everything it touches. Your arrogance won't save you."

Kealen met his gaze and shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe I'll find something that'll help this village for a change. You ever think of that, old man?"

"You think this is about heroics?" Lorwen's voice rose. His knotted staff slammed into the ground with enough force to make a few villagers flinch. "This is about survival. And fools like you are why the curse grows stronger!"

Kealen's lips curved into a faint smirk, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. The truth was, he wasn't doing this for the village. Not really. He was doing it because the pull of the Aelderwood, the cursed forest that bordered their quiet lives, had haunted him for years. He didn't know why, not exactly, but he had his suspicions. His mother, Ellarien Thorn, had disappeared into that forest when he was barely five. She'd gone in search of answers to the same questions he had now: What was the forest hiding? Why did it call to certain people?

And why had she never come back?

Kealen exhaled sharply. "Look, I've made up my mind. I'm going."

efore Lorwen could argue, a metallic chime echoed in Kealen's head, sharp and clear like the toll of a distant bell. It wasn't the first time this had happened to him, but it still caught him off guard every time. The text appeared before his eyes, glowing faintly in the air as though it were etched by some unseen hand

________________________________

Quest Received: Into the Shadows

Objective: Enter the Aelderwood and uncover its secrets.

Rewards: ???

Failure Consequence: Death.

________________________________

Kealen blinked hard, the words vanishing as quickly as they'd appeared. His heart quickened, not out of fear but anticipation. The forest wanted him to come. It always had.

"Fine," Lorwen growled, breaking into his thoughts. "You're as stubborn as she was. Take this, then."

The elder reached into his cloak and pulled out a battered leather satchel, tossing it at Kealen's feet. It landed with a dull thud.

Kealen picked it up cautiously. Inside was a book, a journal, to be precise. The cover was scuffed and worn, but he recognized the handwriting instantly. His mother's.

"Where did you get this?" he demanded, his voice sharper than he intended.

Lorwen's expression didn't waver. "She left it behind when she went into the Aelderwood. I was keeping it safe."

"Safe?" Kealen scoffed, clutching the journal tightly. "You kept it from me."

"And I'd do it again, if it would stop you from throwing your life away." Lorwen's voice softened, almost pleading now. "You don't have to do this, Kealen. The forest, it doesn't play by the rules of men. It changes you. Warps you. If you go in there…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "You'll come out as something else. If you come out at all."

Kealen said nothing. He slung the satchel over his shoulder and turned toward the forest, the whispers of the gathered villagers fading behind him.

________________________________

The Aelderwood loomed like a jagged wall of shadow, its massive trees stretching skyward, their branches interlocking to form an impenetrable canopy. The closer Kealen got, the heavier the air seemed, like an invisible weight pressing down on his chest. The village disappeared behind him with startling speed, and soon it was just him and the forest.

A faint shimmer rippled through the air as he crossed the tree line, and he felt a sudden shift. The world seemed… sharper. Brighter. More dangerous.

________________________________

You have entered: Aelderwood

Warning: This is a High-Difficulty Zone. Level 10+ Recommended.

Your Current Level: 3

________________________________

Kealen stopped in his tracks. "Great," he muttered under his breath, scanning the text that hovered before him. "Who decides these things, anyway?"

A low growl cut through the stillness. Kealen's hand flew to the dagger at his belt as a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows ahead. A second pair blinked into existence to his left. Then a third, to his right.

________________________________

Enemy Encounter: Shadow Wolves (3)

Level: 6

Abilities: Pack Tactics, Shadow Strike

Loot: ???

________________________________

"Well, this just keeps getting better," Kealen muttered, dropping into a crouch. His heart was pounding, but he grinned anyway. "Alright, let's dance."

The first wolf lunged, and Kealen rolled to the side, the beast's claws swiping harmlessly at the air where he'd just been. He slashed upward with his dagger, the blade cutting into the wolf's side. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, and the creature let out an unearthly howl, retreating into the shadows.

________________________________

Critical Hit!

10 Damage dealt.

________________________________

Kealen didn't have time to celebrate. The second wolf was already on him, its teeth snapping inches from his face as he twisted away. The third flanked him, moving in for the kill.

________________________________

Quest Updated: Into the Shadows

Survive the encounter with the Shadow Wolves.

________________________________

"Easy for you to say," Kealen growled through gritted teeth.

The battle wasn't going well. He was fast, but they were faster, and their shadowy forms seemed to blur and shift with every movement. He'd already taken a shallow cut to his leg, and his stamina was flagging.

But then his hand brushed against the satchel at his side, and an idea struck him.

He flung the satchel into the air, the journal tumbling out and landing a few feet away. The wolves immediately turned toward it, their glowing eyes fixed on the book as if it radiated some kind of energy.

"That's… interesting," Kealen muttered, taking the opening to dart forward and bury his dagger in the neck of the nearest wolf. The creature let out a strangled yelp and crumpled to the ground, dissolving into a cloud of black mist.

________________________________

Enemy Defeated: Shadow Wolf

EXP Gained: 75

Loot Acquired: Shadow Fang (x1)

________________________________

Kealen didn't waste any time. Grabbing the journal, he darted deeper into the forest, leaving the remaining wolves behind. Their howls echoed after him, but they didn't follow.

When he finally stopped, gasping for breath, he checked the journal again. His mother's notes were detailed but scattered, filled with warnings about the forest's dangers and cryptic hints about its secrets. One word kept appearing, underlined again and again: Grove.

"Guess that's where I'm headed," Kealen muttered.

________________________________

Quest Updated: Into the Shadows

New Objective: Locate the Whispering Grov

________________________________