The forest was alive with restless shadows, the blood moon’s crimson light casting eerie shapes that danced just beyond the edge of vision. Every step I took was heavy with both fear and wonder—fear of what might be lurking in the dark, and wonder at the raw, pulsing magic rising within me. My breath came in short bursts, chest tight but steady. The surge of power in my veins was unlike anything I’d ever felt. It was wild and untamed, like the forest itself was whispering secrets just for me, and a cold, luminous pulse resonating with the very crimson light of the moon.
Vernon and Sylas flanked me closely, their presence a steady anchor in the swirling chaos. Vernon’s keen eyes scanned the shadows, muscles tense and ready, while Sylas’ calm, focused energy seemed to wrap around me like a
