Chapter 15: The Forgotten Road
519 Words
The Silver Forest had never been silent.
For centuries, the ancient woods had guided every Wraith Guardian safely between the Sanctuary and Moonvale.
No Guardian had ever lost their way.
Until tonight.
Orion stopped beneath a towering oak.
His silver eyes swept across the forest.
Nothing was familiar.
The stream that should have flowed beside the eastern ridge...
Was gone.
In its place stood a field of white flowers he had never seen before.
He unfolded an old map.
Every trail.
Every landmark.
Every river.
Wrong.
"...Impossible."
Orion looked toward the heavens.
The stars that had guided the Guardians for generations no longer formed the constellations he knew.
For the first time...
The Commander stood without direction.
Even the sky had changed.
"...The world itself is forgetting."
A cold wind swept through the trees.
Then...
Footsteps.
Orion's hand immediately rested upon the hilt of his sword.
"...Who's there?"
Silence.
The footsteps stopped.
A moment later...
A young boy stepped from behind the trees.
He couldn't have been older than ten.
His clothes were worn.
His eyes were filled with confusion.
"Sir..."
"I'm trying to find my village."
Orion studied him carefully.
"What is your village called?"
The boy answered without hesitation.
"Bright Hollow."
Orion frowned.
"There has never been a village by that name."
The boy's face turned pale.
"There has to be."
"My mother..."
"My father..."
"They're waiting for me."
Orion remained silent.
The fear in the child's voice wasn't a lie.
It was real.
He knelt until they were eye level.
"Can you show me the way?"
The boy nodded eagerly.
He led Orion through the trees.
Minutes passed.
Then...
The boy suddenly stopped walking.
He looked around in confusion.
"This..."
"This isn't right."
The smile faded from his face.
"My village..."
"It was here."
Only trees stood before them.
No houses.
No footprints.
No smoke.
Nothing.
The boy's breathing quickened.
"No..."
"No..."
"I was just there."
Orion slowly closed his eyes.
The fracture had grown worse.
It wasn't only changing roads.
It was erasing places.
The boy dropped to his knees.
"Please..."
"I don't want to forget them."
Before Orion could answer...
A soft breeze drifted through the forest.
Tiny particles of light surrounded the boy.
His frightened expression slowly became peaceful.
He looked up at Orion.
"Thank you..."
Then...
He vanished.
As though he had never existed.
Silence returned to the forest.
Orion stood frozen.
Even someone who had witnessed countless battles...
Had never seen reality erase a person before his eyes.
His grip tightened around his sword.
"If this continues..."
"There won't be a world left to save."
Without another word...
He turned toward Moonvale once more.
Even without a road...
He would find a way.
No matter the cost.
---
Far away...
Lyra awoke suddenly.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
She didn't know why.
But somewhere deep inside her heart...
It felt as though someone had just disappeared.
Forever.
---
Deep beneath the Moon Temple...
Another chain trembled.
Not enough to break.
Not yet.
But the ancient darkness smiled within its prison.
The silence...
Was feeding it.
---
To Be Continued...
- Writer
