Ch3

The morning light filtered through the small window, casting soft shadows across the room. He blinked his eyes open slowly, the warmth from last night's potion fading into a distant memory. The tingling that had spread through his body was gone, leaving him feeling like himself again, albeit more alert. Sitting up in the bed, he stretched, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. As he moved, though, he noticed something strange—his shirt was tighter than it had been the day before.

Frowning, he tugged at the fabric. His clothes strained slightly around his chest and arms, the fabric hugging his muscles in a way it hadn't before. He glanced down, noticing that his frame seemed just a bit more solid. Maybe the potion had worked its magic after all. He flexed his fingers, feeling the strength in his limbs. But there was no time to dwell on it now.

"Did they just shrink on me?" He felt his biceps and they felt a bit harder than before.

Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he stood and quickly dressed, shaking off the lingering effects of the night's rest. There were more important things to focus on—like finding Wendy.

Downstairs, the innkeeper was already behind the counter, polishing glasses again, the same nervous energy from the night before still hanging around him. He walked up, resting a hand on the counter, and cleared his throat.

"Hey, did you see a girl—Wendy—come through here a few days ago? Younger than me, blue hair..."

The innkeeper looked up, his face tightening at the mention of her. His eyes darted toward the door, as if he was making sure no one was listening. "I saw her," he said, voice low. "She stayed for a night, then left. She was heading toward the woods outside of town."

His heart skipped a beat. Wendy had been here. He was on the right trail. But the look on the innkeeper's face gave him pause. "What's in those woods?" he asked, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew.

The man frowned, the lines on his face deepening. "You shouldn't go there. Dark magic seeps through those trees. People go in and don't come back."

The warning sent a chill down his spine, but he couldn't afford to be scared off now. If Wendy had gone into those woods, he was going after her, no matter what. "Thanks," he said, offering the man a brief nod before turning toward the door.

Outside, the town was just as quiet as it had been when he arrived. The overcast sky loomed overhead, casting an ominous gloom over the empty streets. There was something about the place that felt wrong, as if the town itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

He pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders and started toward the forest. Something is off with this place. Glancing around he noticed everyone was eyeing him cautiously and quickly avoided him as he walked down the street. Wendy what did you run into?

The air in the forest was thick, heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Each step along the narrow dirt path sent a faint crunch beneath his boots, but otherwise, there was nothing. No birds, no wind—just a suffocating silence. It put him on edge. His senses were sharp, his pulse thrumming in his ears as he moved deeper into the trees.

The deeper he went, the darker it became, the towering trunks of ancient trees blocking out most of the dim light. He gripped his staff a little tighter, eyes flicking to every shadow that stretched unnaturally along the path. Something was wrong here—he could feel it crawling beneath his skin.

Then, without warning, the attack came.

Figures burst from the underbrush, silent but swift, their weapons drawn and aimed for him. He barely had time to react. A blade swung toward his head—he ducked, the sharp edge whistling past his ear. He spun, using his momentum to fire a blast of flames from his palm. It hit one of the attackers square in the chest, sending them crashing back into the trees.

But there were more. One leaped from behind, a club swinging for his back. He pivoted, raising his staff just in time to block the strike, the force reverberating through his arms. He grunted, twisting the staff and knocking the attacker off balance. Before they could recover, he unleashed another burst of fire, this time spreading it wide, the flames searing through the air like a wave. The rest of the attackers faltered, shielding their faces from the heat, and he took the opportunity to strike.

He moved quickly, his body fueled by instinct and adrenaline. A fist connected with one attacker's jaw, sending them sprawling to the ground. Another lunged at him, but he ducked low, sweeping their legs out from under them with a swift kick. His magic crackled at his fingertips, ready to strike again, when something... changed.

The air shifted.

A powerful presence settled over the area, thick and suffocating. He froze mid-motion, his eyes widening as an unseen force gripped him tightly. Vines shot up from the ground, wrapping around his wrists and ankles, yanking him off his feet and lifting him into the air. He struggled, muscles straining as he tried to break free, but the vines only tightened, their rough texture biting into his skin.

A soft, chilling laugh echoed through the clearing.

Out of the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman, draped in flowing black robes, her hair cascading like liquid night around her shoulders. She carried a staff, dark wood twisted into unnatural shapes, and her eyes gleamed with malice. Her voice was like silk, smooth and dangerous.

"Well, well," she purred, her gaze roaming over him as she approached. "What a strong young man I've found. How fortunate for me."

He gritted his teeth, thrashing against the vines, but it was no use. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice tight with anger.

The woman smiled, a cold curve of her lips. "Glacinda," she said, her voice like a caress. "And don't worry, dear boy. I'll find plenty of uses for someone like you."

His heart raced as her words sunk in, and he struggled harder, but it was no use. She waved her staff lazily, and a strange sensation washed over him. His vision blurred, the edges darkening as his strength drained away. He tried to fight it, to stay awake, but the world around him faded into blackness.

The last thing he heard was her laughter.