CHAPTER 6 — THE SILENT BOND
The forest didn't move.
For a long moment, neither did Riven.
He sat on one knee, breath uneven, heart still echoing with the shockwave he didn't understand… and couldn't control.
Wind whispered through the leaves.
Somewhere far away, a crow cawed.
Riven finally exhaled.
"…Still alive?" he muttered.
The shadow creature beside him lifted its head. Its body trembled from the deep claw-wound on its leg, yet its black, swirling eyes stayed fixed on Riven—as if waiting for orders.
Riven frowned.
"You knew he was coming… didn't you?"
The creature blinked slowly.
A strange warmth moved through Riven's chest.
Not from the crescent mark—
but from something simpler.
Company.
He looked at the dead assassin.
The man's mask was cracked. His arm twisted at an angle no living body could tolerate.
Dead for sure.
"Others will come," Riven whispered again.
The creature responded—not with a sound, but by nudging its head against his arm.
A soft, hesitant gesture.
Almost like comfort.
Riven blinked.
"…You're not just a beast, are you?"
The creature lowered its head, ashamed… or shy… he wasn't sure.
Riven slowly stood, his legs shaking, then extended a hand toward it.
"Come with me."
The creature's body stiffened.
Then, with effort, it rose and placed its shadow-like paw against his hand.
For the first time, Riven felt a faint pulse from the creature.
Not a heartbeat.
Not magic.
Something deeper.
A bond forming.
A silent vow.
Riven tightened his grip.
"You helped me once… I'll help you too. We're in this together now."
The creature's body rippled—just slightly—its form growing denser, darker for a moment, almost as if reacting to his words.
Riven didn't notice.
But the forest did.
Branches shivered.
Shadows stretched unnaturally.
Something ancient stirred far beyond the trees, sensing the new connection.
Riven took a step.
"We need to move before his people find us."
He expected the creature to limp behind him.
But instead, it moved to his side—matching his pace, guarding his flank like a trained companion…
Even though nobody had ever trained it.
Riven glanced at it.
"…You really understand me, don't you?"
The creature's eyes glowed faintly.
Not dangerous.
Not threatening.
But loyal.
More loyal than anyone Riven had ever known.
He didn't say anything after that.
But in his heart, something shifted.
For the first time since leaving home…
He didn't feel alone.
THE RETURN
The forest trail stretched endlessly.
Every rustle made Riven clench his teeth, remembering the assassin's final whisper:
The others will come.
Even the wind felt like someone watching.
But the creature stayed close—matching his pace, sometimes moving ahead to scan the path.
Riven didn't know why it protected him.
But he didn't push it away.
When the village's first lantern lights appeared between the trees, he almost collapsed with relief.
His house stood at the edge of the village—a small cabin, old wood, cracked windows, but familiar.
Home.
He pushed the door open with his shoulder.
Inside was dark, quiet, untouched.
The creature hesitated at the door.
"You can come in," Riven whispered.
The creature stepped over the threshold.
THE FIRST HEALING
Riven slid down onto the wooden floor. His ribs throbbed, his head spun. He pulled open the old chest beside the table.
Inside were:
a strip of salve-soaked bandages
crushed sungrass herbs
and a tiny flask of healing tonic his mother left behind
He swallowed the tonic. It burned like fire, but warmth trickled through his body.
Then he looked at the creature's wound—a deep gash across its leg, still oozing shadowy fluid like ink.
Riven leaned forward.
"Stay still. I can at least clean it."
The creature watched him, uncertain.
Riven dipped cloth into warm water and pressed it to the wound.
To his surprise, the creature didn't flinch.
"You trust me now?" he murmured.
The creature blinked slowly.
Riven gently applied the herbs and wrapped the leg in bandages.
As he tightened the last knot, the creature released a low, rumbling sound—not a growl… but something closer to a purr.
Riven smiled faintly.
"Weird little thing."
The creature immediately glared.
"Okay, okay… not little."
He leaned back against the wall, finally letting exhaustion take over.
THE BOND DEEPENS
The creature lay beside him, curling into a protective position. Riven's hand rested on its back without thinking.
The crescent mark on his chest pulsed once.
BA-DUM.
The creature's body glowed faintly, as if responding.
Riven's eyes opened halfway.
"…You felt that too?"
The creature lifted its head, pressing it gently against Riven's shoulder.
Something invisible passed between them—
Not words.
Not thoughts.
But understanding.
A growing bond.
A connection neither fully grasped.
Riven whispered, voice drifting into sleep:
"…I'll get stronger. For both of us."
The creature closed its eyes too.
For the first time since its existence…
it felt safe.
SOMEWHERE ELSE…
Deep within the forest miles away, a different group stood over the assassin's body.
A woman in a raven-black cloak crouched beside him.
She touched the dented mask, then the crushed ribs.
"Shockwave… the crescent mark activated," she murmured.
The others stiffened.
"So the boy survived?" one whispered.
"No," she said coldly.
"He woke up."
She glanced into the dark woods.
"Prepare the trackers. We move at dawn."
BACK AT RIVEN'S HOME
Riven stirred awake in the middle of the night.
The creature was already alert, ears raised, watching the window.
Riven whispered:
"You feel it too, right?"
Something was coming.
Something stronger than an assassin.
But Riven didn't feel fear.
Because now—
He wasn't alone.
Chapter 6 — END