Chapter 13: The Path Beyond the Mist
The sun dipped low behind the towering trees, bathing the strange world in hues of deep orange and violet. In the distance, the mountains shimmered faintly, as if hiding ancient secrets behind a curtain of mist.
Kai walked cautiously along a narrow trail, his newly found pet, Shiro—the four-tailed white monkey—clinging softly to his shoulder. Every now and then, Shiro would make a small humming sound, almost like he was sensing something beyond human perception.
The woods around them breathed. Trees creaked, hidden animals rustled unseen, and a soft magical energy pulsed in the air—barely noticeable, but undeniable once felt.
The path ahead split into two directions. The left trail led toward a lush valley, glowing with strange blue flowers. The right vanished into a dense fog, swallowing everything a few meters ahead.
"Left... or right?" Kai muttered, glancing down at his palm where the faint golden mark still shimmered.
[Instruction Initiated.]
The voice from the mark rang inside his mind—calm, clear, and commanding.
"Walk into the mist. Only there you will find what you seek."
Kai grimaced. Of course, it had to be the creepy fog. "Figures."
Patting Shiro gently, he whispered, "Stay close, buddy."
The little monkey gave a soft chirp and tightened his grip around Kai's neck.
Without wasting more time, Kai stepped into the mist.
---
The world turned ghostly gray.
Each step felt heavier.
The mist clung to him like cold fingers, wrapping around his arms and legs. Sounds grew muffled, distant. Even the crunch of his own boots on the dirt path seemed... wrong, echoing strangely in the air.
At one point, he swore he heard faint whispers. Ancient voices speaking in tongues long forgotten. Shiro whimpered slightly.
Kai paused. "It's okay," he whispered. "We just keep moving forward."
Minutes—or maybe hours—passed. Time lost all meaning inside the mist.
Suddenly, the fog thinned a little, and Kai found himself standing at the edge of a huge stone bridge—old and cracked, yet still standing strong over a black, swirling river.
Above the bridge, carved into massive stone arches, were faded symbols.
Some he recognized from the ancient books he'd studied in his world. Others... were completely alien.
And there, engraved faintly at the highest point of the archway, were the numbers:
"0169"
Kai's heart froze.
That same number... why did it keep appearing?
"Is this... part of the reason we were sent back?" he whispered.
But before he could think further, a low growl rumbled from beneath the bridge.
Kai peered down carefully—and recoiled in shock.
A creature, half-shadow and half-beast, crawled from the depths of the black river.
Its body shimmered between forms—one second a wolf, another second a snake, another second a monstrous bird—all flowing into each other like ink dropped in water.
It growled again, its voice layered with pain, rage, and hunger.
And it was staring straight at him.
Shiro hissed, his tiny body arching defensively.
Kai backed away slowly, keeping his eyes locked on the creature. His mind raced.
(Think. What did the voice say? Was there anything about fighting creatures?!)
But the voice in the mark remained silent. No new instructions. No help.
The beast lunged.
Kai dove to the side instinctively, barely avoiding the shadowy claws that slashed through the air where he'd just been standing.
He scrambled to his feet, panting.
The creature growled again, but this time... it hesitated. Its many heads and forms sniffed the air around Kai, almost confused.
And then—it stepped back.
Kai blinked, stunned.
The creature snarled once more, then slithered back into the black river, disappearing beneath the waves as if it had never existed.
"...What... just happened?" Kai breathed.
Shiro tilted his head, also confused.
And then Kai remembered.
His mark.
It must have recognized the mark.
Was the mark giving him some kind of protection... against things like that?
Kai touched the glowing sigil on his palm thoughtfully.
"Looks like you're more important than I thought," he murmured.
He took a deep breath and crossed the bridge, careful not to look down into the black river again.
---
On the other side of the bridge, the mist finally began to clear.
The air smelled fresher. Warmer.
Ahead, nestled between ancient oak trees, was a small village—its buildings crafted from stone and golden wood, with twisting vines of blue flowers crawling up the sides.
Lanterns floated lazily in the air, bobbing up and down as if greeting him.
Kai stared, amazed.
This... wasn't in any book he'd read.
This wasn't just "ancient civilization."
This was something completely unique.
A blend of magic and nature, history and wonder, all living and breathing together.
He stepped into the village cautiously.
A few villagers glanced at him—some with curiosity, others with wary caution. They wore simple but beautiful clothes made from shimmering fabric, clearly woven with threads of magic.
Kai lowered his head respectfully, trying not to stand out.
And that's when he saw her.
Standing near a well in the village center was a girl—around his age, maybe younger—with silver hair that gleamed like the moon and eyes as golden as the sun.
She stared directly at him.
Kai felt a shiver run down his spine—not fear, but a strange... recognition.
(Have I seen her before?)
Before he could react, she smiled softly and turned away, disappearing into a narrow alley.
Kai hesitated... then followed.
---
The alley twisted and turned, narrowing until he had to squeeze through.
Finally, it opened into a small courtyard filled with wildflowers.
In the center stood the girl, waiting.
"You are not from here," she said, her voice like a song.
Kai nodded slowly. "No... I'm not."
She tilted her head. "You carry the Mark of the Forgotten Era."
Kai glanced at his palm instinctively. "You... know about this?"
The girl smiled faintly. "Of course. We have been waiting for you."
Kai's mouth went dry.
"We"?
She reached out a hand. "Come. There is much to learn, and little time."