Part VI – The Vision of the Fox
Night wrapped the camp in an unreal silence.
Kayla's small magical fire still crackled softly, but even its flames seemed weaker, dimmed under the Forest's influence.
Yuri drifted off without realizing it, lulled by Yuu's steady breathing as he curled up against her.
But her sleep was far from peaceful.
Darkness surrounded her immediately—cold and enveloping.
There were no sounds, no wind, no sign of life.
Then, from that nothingness, a figure emerged.
At first, it was just a flicker of white light, wavering.
Then it took shape: a massive fox, its fur glowing like the moon, with nine flowing tails swaying gently in the still air.
Its eyes—two golden slits—locked onto Yuri with a piercing intensity that stole her breath.
A silent roar rippled through the darkness.
Not a sound, but a wave of pure intent that struck Yuri like a crashing tide.
Instinctively, she stepped back, her heart pounding wildly.
The fox moved closer, its tails undulating like an ancient dance.
But instead of attacking, it slowly circled her, wrapping her in a deliberate, inescapable spiral.
Yuri felt cold… then warmth… then a dizzying sensation.
And just as panic was about to take over, the creature spoke.
Not with words, but with a message burned directly into her mind:
"Show me who you truly are… or you'll become just another shadow in this Forest."
With a gasp, Yuri awoke.
The fire was still burning. Yuu was snoring softly beside her.
Kayla slept leaned against a boulder, while Lucen, seated a short distance away, stared at the Forest—still as a statue.
Yuri pulled the blanket tighter around herself, her heart still racing.
That vision… had it been just a dream?
Or a warning?
Tomorrow, they would cross the border.
And she would learn what it truly meant to be tested.
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End of Chapter 6