The forest did not sleep.
Even under the quiet glow of the moon, it breathed.
The towering trees whispered in low creaks, their branches swaying like ancient watchers. Shadows stretched endlessly across the ground, shifting with every flicker of light. Creatures moved unseen, their presence felt but rarely revealed.
And in the middle of it all…
A child lived.
Nyx Hoshin did not cry.
Days had passed since he was abandoned, yet no sound of distress left his lips. His dark eyes remained open most of the time, watching, observing, learning in a way no infant should.
The silks that once wrapped him in royal comfort were now dirt-stained and torn. The cold bit at his skin during the night, and hunger should have consumed him.
But it didn't.
Something was wrong.
Or perhaps…
Something was different.
A rustle echoed through the bushes.
A pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness.
Then another.
And another.
A pack of wolves stepped into the clearing.
Their bodies were large, larger than normal wolves, with fur that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Their eyes glowed with an eerie intelligence, far beyond that of ordinary beasts.
They circled the child slowly.
Silent.
Cautious.
Hungry.
Nyx turned his head slightly.
His gaze met theirs.
No fear.
No panic.
Just… calm.
The lead wolf stepped forward.
Its breath was heavy, hot, and filled with the scent of blood. Its jaws parted slightly, revealing sharp teeth capable of tearing through bone.
One bite.
That was all it would take.
But then…
It stopped.
The wolf froze mid-step.
Its ears twitched.
Its eyes narrowed.
Something was wrong.
The child had no scent of fear. No spiritual aura. No presence that the wolf could understand.
It was like staring into… nothing.
The other wolves began to grow restless.
Low growls filled the air.
Yet none of them attacked.
Nyx blinked.
Slowly.
Calmly.
And then…
He reached out his tiny hand.
The movement was small.
Weak.
But it carried something unseen.
The lead wolf flinched.
Not from force.
But from instinct.
A deep, ancient instinct that whispered one thing:
Do not touch.
The wolf lowered its head.
Not in submission.
But in caution.
Then, without another sound, it stepped back.
One by one, the wolves turned.
And disappeared into the darkness.
The forest had made its first decision.
The child would not be hunted.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
Nyx grew.
Not as a normal child would.
Faster.
Sharper.
Stronger.
By the time the seasons began to shift, he could already crawl with purpose. His small hands gripped the earth with strength that did not match his size. His body adapted quickly to the harsh environment.
He learned.
Constantly.
The forest became his home.
Streams provided water.
Fruits and roots became his food.
And the creatures…
They watched.
A black wolf began to appear more frequently than the others.
Larger than the rest.
Stronger.
Different.
Its fur was darker than night itself, absorbing light instead of reflecting it. Its eyes glowed faintly gold, intelligent and observant.
Nyx saw it first before it revealed itself.
Always.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the wolf stepped fully into the clearing.
It did not circle.
It did not growl.
It simply stood there.
Watching him.
Nyx stood unsteadily on his feet.
He had learned to walk.
Barely.
But enough.
Their eyes met.
The wolf tilted its head slightly.
Curious.
Nyx took a step forward.
Then another.
No fear.
He reached out his hand again.
Just like before.
The wolf did not move this time.
Its body remained still.
Its eyes locked onto his.
Then slowly…
Carefully…
It lowered its head.
Nyx's small hand touched its fur.
Soft.
Warm.
Alive.
A connection.
The wolf exhaled deeply.
And something invisible shifted between them.
From that moment on…
Nyx was no longer alone.
Time passed.
Years, though uncounted by the boy who had never known numbers.
Nyx grew into a child.
His body became lean and strong.
His movements silent.
Efficient.
He learned to run alongside the wolves.
To climb trees.
To hunt.
To survive.
But there was something else.
Something deeper.
He never felt tired the same way others would.
He never got sick.
His wounds healed faster than they should.
And sometimes…
Strange things happened.
Once, while chasing prey, he tripped and fell from a high ledge.
Any normal child would have died.
But he didn't.
The moment his body hit the ground…
The earth beneath him cracked.
Not from impact.
But from something else.
Something inside him.
Another time, while staring at the river, the water around his hand began to ripple… without him touching it.
No spirit.
No energy.
No explanation.
Just… anomalies.
The forest felt it.
Even if Nyx did not understand it.
The black wolf, now always by his side, watched him closely.
Protectively.
Nyx gave it a name.
"Kuro."
The wolf accepted it.
One night…
Everything changed.
The air grew still.
Too still.
The forest stopped moving.
No wind.
No sound.
No life.
Even Kuro stiffened.
His ears flattened.
His body lowered.
A low growl rumbled from his chest.
Something was coming.
Nyx stepped forward slowly.
His eyes scanning the darkness.
Then…
The space in front of him… distorted.
Like glass bending.
Like reality tearing open.
A soft glow emerged.
Not bright.
But powerful.
And from it…
They appeared.
Tall figures.
Not human.
Not spirit.
Something else entirely.
Their forms shimmered, as if they existed in multiple states at once. Their eyes glowed with ancient intelligence. Their presence alone made the forest feel small.
The Aetherborn.
Kuro growled louder.
But did not attack.
He couldn't.
Something deeper held him back.
One of the beings stepped forward.
Its gaze fixed on Nyx.
For a long moment…
No one moved.
Then it spoke.
Not with sound.
But directly into his mind.
"You do not belong to this world."
Nyx tilted his head.
Confused.
But listening.
"You were cast aside because you lack a spirit…"
A pause.
"…but what you carry is far greater."
The air around them began to tremble.
"You are not empty."
A faint glow flickered deep within Nyx's chest.
For the first time…
Something responded.
"You are… unbound."
Kuro stepped closer to Nyx, protective.
The being looked at the wolf.
Then back at the boy.
"You have survived long enough."
It extended its hand.
"Come with us."
The forest held its breath.
Nyx looked at Kuro.
Then at the strange beings.
Something inside him…
Pulled.
Not fear.
Not doubt.
Purpose.
Slowly…
He stepped forward.
And took the hand.
The moment he did…
The world shattered.
Light consumed everything.
And Nyx Hoshin…
Vanished.