Ren moved further into the land that had long been sealed away from the rest of Qiyun. The trees here did not grow as they did in any other forest. Their roots twisted above the ground like the ribs of some fallen titan, and their leaves shimmered faintly, as if they carried the residue of forgotten magic. The air itself tasted different, heavy with an ancient weight that pressed against his chest. Each step was measured, cautious, his senses stretched thin.
The silence did not last long. From the canopy above, a faint screech echoed and he lifted his gaze. A beast clung to the trunk of a towering tree. Its body was no larger than a wolf, yet its skin reflected light in scales that rippled like molten glass. When it opened its mouth, twin tongues lashed out like whips, striking the bark and leaving behind smoldering cracks. The creature watched him, but did not descend. It slid away into the branches, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.
