Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Yulia

We didn’t waste any time afterwards.

Within minutes, a small group was ready. Rhys, a handful of warriors, and Luci at the front. I stayed close to him like he told me to, even though I knew it wasn’t really about keeping me safe. It was about keeping me within reach.

The forest felt different the moment we entered into it.

It wasn’t just quieter. It felt more like it was aware. Every step we took seemed to settle a little too quickly, like the ground didn’t want to give anything away. Even the wind barely moved through the trees.

They’re here.

The thought didn’t come from fear. It came from that same feeling in my chest.

Stronger now more certain.

“They know we came,” I said quietly.

Luci didn’t look at me, but I felt the shift in his attention. “I know.”

Rhys signaled behind us, the group tightening formation slightly as we moved deeper. No one spoke after that. They didn’t need to.

The deeper we went, the heavier the air became.

Then a branch snapped.

It wasn’t from us, we knew that much. It was not loud but enough.

Everyone stopped.

Rhys turned sharply toward the sound, his hand was already raised to signal silence. The warriors shifted, spreading just slightly, ready for whatever could spring out.

I felt it before I saw anything the pressure.

It surged in my chest, sharper than before, pulling my focus forward like something was calling.

“Don’t move,” Luci said under his breath.

But it was too late. Something moved between the trees. Fast.

One second there was nothing, the next there was a shadow cutting through the space between the trunks. It didn’t step out fully. It circled, watching us.

“Show yourself,” one of the warriors said, voice tight.

Well the creature responded instantly. It lunged.

The thing burst out of the trees with unnatural speed, its form shifting as it moved. Dark, almost liquid, like it couldn’t hold a solid shape. One of the warriors barely had time to react before it was on him.

But it didn’t strike. It stopped. Right in front of him.

Its head tilted slightly, like it was… looking.

At me?

My breath caught.

“It’s not attacking,” I said. “Stay back,” Luci snapped, stepping slightly in front of me.

The creature didn’t move. Then another appeared. And another, just like the first time during the ceremony.

They stepped out slowly this time, surrounding us without sound, their forms flickering like shadows trying to stay solid. There were more than I expected. Not just one or two.

At least ten. Rhys cursed under his breath. “We’re surrounded.”

But they still didn’t attack. They were waiting. For me.

The pressure in my chest surged again, much stronger this time, pushing outward. I sucked in a breath, my fingers curling slightly as I tried to steady it.

“They’re not here to kill us,” I said.

Luci didn’t respond. “They’re here for me,” I added.

“That doesn’t change anything,” he said, his voice low.

“It does,” I said. “Because if we fight them, this only gets worse.”

One of the creatures stepped closer.

The warriors tensed immediately, weapons raised, but it didn’t react to them.

Only me.

My heart started beating faster, not from fear this time, but from something else. That same pull from before, stronger now, clearer.

Like something inside me was recognizing them. Or being recognized.

“Yulia,” Luci warned.

I stepped forward. His hand caught my arm instantly. “Don’t.”

“It’s fine,” I said, even though I wasn’t completely sure.

“It’s not,” he said. I could understand his concerns, this wasn’t just come stray dog. But nonetheless I pulled my arm free gently, not breaking my focus. “If they wanted to attack, they already would have.”

That much was true.

The creature in front of me moved again, slower this time. It stopped just a few steps away, its shape flickering as it leaned slightly closer.

The pressure in my chest spiked. My breath hitched.

And then—

Something shifted. Not outside, Inside me.

It wasn’t sudden like before. It didn’t explode. It opened.

Like something that had been pressed down for too long finally pushing back.

The creature reacted instantly.

Its entire form stilled, then lowered slightly, like it was… responding.

Behind me, I heard movement. First confusion, then tension, but I didn’t turn.

Because I felt it. All of them.

Their attention, focused completely on me.

“What are they doing?” Rhys asked quietly.

“They’re… not hostile,” I said, my voice lower now.

That didn’t feel like the right word, not anymore.

The creature in front of me moved again, closer this time. Close enough that I could feel something cold brush against my skin without actually touching me.

And then, It bowed.

The movement was subtle, but unmistakable.

Everything behind me went still.

“What the hell…” one of the warriors muttered.

Another creature followed.

Then another.

One by one, the shadows lowered, their forms bending just slightly toward me.

Not attacking.

Not circling.

Acknowledging.

My chest tightened, not from pain this time, but from realization.

“They’re not here to fight,” I said slowly.

Luci stepped closer behind me, his presence solid, grounded. “Then what are they here for?”

I swallowed.

Because now I knew.

“They’re answering,” I said.

The words felt heavy the moment they left my mouth.

Rhys frowned. “Answering what?”

I didn’t look away from the creatures.

“Me.”

Silence fell over everything.

Not just from us.

From the forest itself.

Because whatever this was, it wasn’t an attack.

It was something else entirely.

And I had a feeling we had just made a mistake coming here without understanding it first.