LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 17: Fractures in the Dark
Chapter 17: Fractures in the Dark
The roar faded, but its weight lingered in the air, pressing down on the human and Umbra like an unseen force. The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if even the trees knew the danger that approached.
The human pushed themselves to their feet, groaning as they stretched sore muscles. "Great. That thing was just the warm-up, wasn't it?" They retrieved their blade from the ground, its golden glow faint but reassuring in their hand.
Umbra's golden eyes remained fixed on the horizon, its ears twitching. The creature's sleek, shadowy form bristled with tension, the golden thread connecting them pulsing faster now, as if responding to some unseen threat.
"Alright," the human said, gripping the blade tightly. "What's the plan? Please tell me you've got one, because I'm fresh out of ideas."
Umbra glanced at them, its expression unreadable as always. It let out a low growl before turning and moving deeper into the forest.
"Sure, just walk off without explaining anything. Makes perfect sense," the human muttered, following after it.
The forest grew darker as they walked, the trees closing in around them like a living labyrinth. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig setting their nerves on edge.
"Umbra," the human said after a long silence, "back in that cave… those things said something about breaking the thread. About us not belonging. What did they mean?"
Umbra didn't respond.
The human stopped walking, their frustration bubbling over. "You know something, don't you? You might not remember everything, but you know something about this. About why we're connected, about why everything is trying to kill us. Why won't you tell me?"
Umbra stopped as well, turning to face the human. Its golden eyes glowed faintly, a flicker of emotion passing through them—anger, perhaps, or guilt.
Before the human could press further, the ground beneath them trembled again. This time, it wasn't a brief tremor—it was a deep, sustained rumble that seemed to come from all directions at once.
Umbra's growl turned into a snarl, its claws flexing as it crouched low. The golden thread between them flared brightly, its light cutting through the darkness.
"Not again," the human muttered, raising their blade.
The first attack came without warning. A massive, jagged spike of black stone erupted from the ground, narrowly missing them as it shot skyward. Another followed, then another, until the forest around them was filled with a forest of deadly spires.
From the shadows, a figure emerged.
It was humanoid in shape but impossibly tall, its body draped in a cloak of swirling darkness. Its face was obscured, but its eyes glowed with the same sickly green light as the creature they had fought earlier.
"You persist," it said, its voice a low, rumbling echo. "Foolish."
Umbra snarled, stepping protectively in front of the human.
The figure ignored the creature, its gaze fixed on the human. "You are bound to it, and yet you do not understand. Do you even know what it is you carry? What that thread truly means?"
The human raised their blade, their grip steady despite the fear knotting in their stomach. "I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care. If you're here to fight, then let's get it over with."
The figure let out a low, hollow laugh. "Such bravado. But you cannot fight what you do not comprehend."
It raised one long, shadowy arm, and the spires of black stone began to shift, their jagged tips turning to point at the human and Umbra.
"Umbra," the human said, their voice tight, "any ideas?"
Umbra growled, its golden eyes blazing. The shadows around it rippled and coalesced into sharp, spear-like tendrils, ready to strike.
The figure tilted its head. "You think it will save you? It is a broken fragment of what it once was. A shadow of a shadow. It cannot protect you from what is coming."
The spires shot forward.
Umbra moved first, its tendrils intercepting the attack. The clash of shadows and stone filled the air with a deafening roar, the impact sending shockwaves through the forest.
The human darted forward, their blade flashing as they aimed for the figure. But before they could strike, the ground beneath them shifted again, throwing them off balance.
The figure laughed again, a chilling sound that echoed through the trees. "You fight well, but you fight blindly. Tell me, little one—how long do you think you can survive when you don't even know the rules of the game?"
The human gritted their teeth, pushing themselves to their feet. "Long enough to beat you."
They lunged again, this time aiming for the figure's core. But their blade passed through it as though it were made of smoke.
The figure didn't react, its glowing eyes narrowing. "You are persistent. I will grant you that. But persistence alone will not save you."
It raised its arm again, and the spires began to reform, their sharp tips glinting menacingly.
Umbra roared, its shadows surging forward in a desperate attempt to shield the human.
But the figure didn't attack. Instead, it stepped back, its form beginning to dissolve into the darkness.
"We will meet again," it said, its voice fading. "When you are ready to see the truth."
And then it was gone.
The forest fell silent once more, the black spires crumbling into dust.
The human lowered their blade, their chest heaving. "What the hell was that?"
Umbra didn't respond, its golden eyes fixed on the spot where the figure had vanished.
The human turned to it, their voice shaking. "What truth? What is it talking about?"
Umbra growled softly, a sound that carried more frustration than threat.
The golden thread between them pulsed faintly, as if responding to the human's growing doubt.
Whatever truth the figure had spoken of, it was clear that they were far from understanding it. And as the human stared into the shadows ahead, they couldn't shake the feeling that the answers they sought would come at a price.