chapter 19: whispers of forgotten shadows
the sun hung low, its fading light casting long shadows across the small village where ren found himself once again. the day had passed with little spoken between him and maya, but the silence was thick with unasked questions and restless thoughts. ren's mind buzzed relentlessly, the shattered pieces of his memory still out of reach yet hauntingly close.
he wandered along the worn path, his footsteps light but steady, eyes scanning the horizon as if hoping the landscape itself might whisper the answers he sought. pride was still a constant fire in his chest — an unyielding refusal to appear weak, but beneath it lay a raw, gnawing uncertainty.
*why can't i remember? what was that attack?*
the ache in his head pulsed again, sharper this time, dragging him back to the vague sensation of being hunted. a cold sweat broke over his skin despite the warmth of the evening.
"ren," maya's voice called softly from behind him, pulling him from the spiral of thoughts. he turned, meeting her steady gaze.
"what is it?" he asked, trying to keep his voice even.
she hesitated, then took a step closer. "i found something. maybe it can help."
curiosity flickered through ren, mingling with caution. "what?"
maya reached into the pocket of her worn cloak and pulled out a small, crumpled piece of parchment. the edges were frayed, the ink faded but still legible.
"i found it near the old ruins," she explained. "there's writing here... some kind of warning."
ren took the parchment, unfolding it carefully. the symbols and words twisted in an ancient script, but a few phrases stood out clearly enough: *"beware the forgotten shadows,"* *"they steal memories and feed on fear."*
his heart thumped loudly, the words resonating with the fractured pieces of his mind.
"forgotten shadows..." he whispered. "is that what attacked me?"
maya nodded gravely. "i think so. they're creatures from the old stories. dangerous. they erase parts of your mind, leave you lost."
ren's eyes narrowed, the familiar fire of pride flaring. "then i'll find them. i'll take back what's mine."
"be careful," maya warned. "they're not easy to fight."
"i don't plan to run," ren said, voice steady. but inside, a storm was rising — a mix of fear, anger, and a strange exhilaration.
*maybe this is the madness i need. the chaos to break me and remake me stronger.*
as the sky deepened into twilight, ren folded the parchment and slipped it into his pocket. beside him, maya watched quietly, her presence a quiet anchor to the swirling storm inside him.
they stood together in the fading light — two broken souls searching for truth in a world that seemed eager to keep its secrets.
and ren, burning with pride and madness, was ready to face whatever shadows lay ahead.