The morning sun spilled over the rooftops of Hearthmere, painting the stone paths in soft gold.
Caelumn moved through the village as he always did, helping Brenner mend nets, carrying bundles for Mara, exchanging quiet nods with villagers who still watched him from the corners of their eyes. Everything was familiar.
And yet… something felt different.
He paused near the well and closed his eyes, letting the sensation rise.
Spiritual energy rippled through him — subtle, layered, alive. It was like hearing the world breathe for the first time. Every person carried a weight, a presence, some heavier than others.
He opened his eyes and looked again.
Brenner's energy was faint but steady, disciplined and controlled — limited, but reliable. A third-grade through and through.
Lila's presence shimmered more clearly, radiating outward in a soft, vibrant glow. A second-grade. Confident. Growing.
Then his gaze settled on Mara.
His breath caught.
The energy surrounding her was vast — deep, steady, and warm, like standing near a great hearth in winter. It wrapped around her naturally, without effort or strain. He had known she was strong. But feeling it directly was different.
First-grade.
No wonder the village listened when she spoke.
And then… there was himself.
A thin, flickering spark by comparison.
I have so far to go, he thought. But at least now I can see the distance.
The day passed in its usual rhythm. Fishing with Brenner. Carrying baskets with Mara. Laughing softly when a child stumbled near the docks and popped back up, unhurt but indignant.
Then he wandered.
Not on purpose at first.
His feet carried him toward the outer paths, where the village thinned and the air grew cooler. Beyond the last homes, the forest rose like a wall — dark, dense, silent behind the shimmering barrier.
That was when he felt it.
A pressure brushed against his senses.
Not like the warmth of village life.
This was heavy. Cold. Wrong.
It pulsed once… then again.
His chest tightened.
What is that…?
The energy tugged at him — not violently, not yet — but insistently, like a distant call. His steps slowed. Then stopped.
He took one step closer.
The air thickened.
Another step.
His heartbeat quickened, breath turning shallow as the pull strengthened. The barrier shimmered faintly before him, its surface rippling under unseen pressure.
One more step and—
"HEY!"
The shout cracked through the air like a whip.
Caelumn flinched hard.
A guard burst from the treeline, hand already on his weapon, eyes sharp with alarm.
"Stop right there!" the man barked. "That area is prohibited! Turn back — now!"
Instinct screamed louder than curiosity.
Caelumn spun and ran.
Not toward the forest.
Away.
He didn't stop until the barrier was far behind him, until the pressure loosened and the world felt breathable again. Even then, he didn't go home immediately.
He stood in the shade of an abandoned storage shed, bent over, hands on his knees, chest heaving.
What was that…?
The forest's presence still clung to the edges of his awareness, like a shadow that refused to fade.
He didn't know that the guard had already sent word.
When Caelumn finally made his way back toward the village center, Brenner was waiting.
Arms crossed. Jaw tight.
"You don't wander near the forest," Brenner said the moment he saw him. His voice was low, controlled — but edged with fear. "Ever."
Caelumn stopped short.
"I— I didn't mean to," he said quickly. "I felt something. It was pulling at me."
"That's exactly the problem," Brenner replied. "You followed something you didn't understand."
He stepped closer and crouched so they were eye level.
"That pull you felt," Brenner said, more gently now, "that was monster energy. Or something unnatural. Right now, you're too weak to resist it."
Caelumn swallowed.
"I almost crossed, didn't I?"
Brenner didn't answer right away.
"…Yes."
Silence settled between them.
"But you can learn," Brenner continued. "You can defend yourself."
He placed his hands lightly near Caelumn's shoulders.
"Focus inward. Don't push outward. Let your spiritual energy form a layer — thin is fine. Just enough to keep other energies from pressing in."
Caelumn did as he was told.
A faint shimmer flickered around him, pulsing unevenly with his heartbeat.
Brenner nodded.
"That's enough for now. Stronger energy suppresses weaker energy — but the village barrier is what saved you today. Don't forget that."
Caelumn nodded, breath still unsteady.
The forest's presence lingered at the edge of his senses.
But now…
It no longer felt irresistible.