Chapter 1 — The Creature

High on the mountain, far above the trees, someone was watching.

The creature stood motionless at the edge of the cliff, where the rock ended in a dizzying drop to the valley. Far below, among the shadows, small lights flickered, surrounded by a dense forest shrouded in mist. The village.

The wind blew fiercely, making the dark cloak billow behind its body. The torn edges rose in the air like deformed wings. Beneath the hood, very pale strands of hair escaped and danced before its face. A dark band crossed its forehead, too tight to seem like just a part of the garments.

Its breath did not form vapor in the freezing air.

It did not falter before the height.

Its eyes remained fixed on the distant lights, as if waiting for the exact moment.

For a long moment, nothing moved.

Then, slowly, one of its hands rose to its face.

Long fingers, ending in dark, hard nails like small claws, touched the bandage.

Its entire body tensed.

For a brief instant, a memory flashed across its expression: the reflection of a blade, a blinding light, an ancient pain.

The hand squeezed the fabric.

Then, it relaxed.

— So… — The voice came out low and hoarse, carried by the weight of years. — This is it.

The wind carried the words into the void.

It took a step forward.

Its foot met the rock with a silent firmness. The compact toes adjusted to the stone, gripping it with a naturalness that did not belong to a human.

The creature tilted its head.

Listened.

The wind.

The trees.

The distant sounds of the night.

Then, for an instant, the shadow of the hood receded.

Pale skin, of a faintly bluish and almost imperceptible hue, emerged from the shadows. Ancient marks scarred its face. Its lips curved into a brief smile, revealing long fangs before disappearing under the hood once more.

It had noticed something.

— I felt you… — it murmured.

Its eyes narrowed.

Silence.

But you can feel me too, I need to be cautious.

The bandages wrapping one of its arms tightened.

The creature looked at one of its own hands.

For a few seconds, it remained motionless.

Then it extended its fingers.

A reddish energy, very faint, appeared between them.

It was almost imperceptible.

The creature frowned.

It tried to focus it.

The energy trembled.

For a moment, it seemed to gain strength.

Then it dissipated.

Small reddish fragments disappeared into the air.

The creature kept staring at its own hand.

It tried again.

Nothing.

Its expression hardened.

The fingers closed slowly.

— …

It lowered its hand.

There was no understanding on its face.

Only frustration.

— It is still here.

A pause.

— After all this time…

— I’ve waited too long to lose my temper now. You hid well. Very well.

— But time has passed for you. You are weaker… unlike me.

Its hand closed tightly.

A thick, black liquid oozed between its fingers.

— This time, you won’t escape.

The creature stepped back from the edge. The cloak once again completely enveloped its silhouette.

Its steps were firm.

Silent.

And, little by little, its figure disappeared into the shadows.

Down below, the village remained asleep.

No one knew it had been there.

And no one could imagine that, on that night, the creature had finally found what it was looking for.

The threat did not come from the forest.

It had already found its way to them.