I followed the elite Mornak through the weaving forest, foliage shifting softly as wind moved through the leaves.
It didn't take long before it slowed.
It eased to a stop just before an opening in the trees—
—and I slowed too.
Ahead was nothing but a solid wall of stone.
No cave mouth.
No crack.
Just rock.
Why did we stop? I thought, shifting my stance slightly. Like it might be a trap.
"We are here," it whispered.
I glanced around.
Trees. Hard stone. Silence.
The elite's arm rose.
Its dark hand pressed against the rock.
The stone reacted—like a key had been placed into a locked door.
For a fraction of a second, the glow in its eyes dimmed.
Then it flared again—
—and the wall answered.
Black, oily sludge seeped out from between the cracks.
It crawled over the stone, hungry and alive, flooding the surface like darkness had learned how to move.
The rock didn't break.
It was devoured.
Then reshaped.
A doorway formed—its outline traced by that pulsing, goopy black substance.
Inside, the darkness turned translucent.
Not clear—never clear—but thin enough that I could feel the space beyond it.
I couldn't see through.
But I knew it led somewhere.
The gentle breeze of the forest faded—countered by a force pushing outward from the doorway.
Cold.
Steady.
Wrong.
"Follow me," the elite whispered again.
It took one step into the doorway—
—and was swallowed piece by piece.
I stayed still, eyes scanning, instincts tight.
My grip on Veylroot shifted on my back, the dead weight dragging at my wound like it wanted to pull me apart again.
No choice.
I approached the doorway carefully, like it might bite.
I lifted a hand.
Rested it against the surface.
And pushed—slow, controlled.
My fingers slid through.
Coldness wrapped around them.
Not air.
Not water.
Something between.
I took a deep breath—
—and stepped in.
The world vanished into darkness.
And then—
I emerged on the other side.
No sound at all.
A land of dead silence.
Trees stood everywhere, but they were wrong—withered, hollow, like life had been sucked out of them and never returned. No plants. No grass. No birds. No insects.
Nothing breathing.
Just the heavy quiet of death.
I followed the elite Mornak down paths of stone stained with darkness, the ground beneath me feeling older than the forest I'd left behind.
Other Mornak's stood along the route.
They stopped when they saw me.
They stared.
Piercing white glows fixed on me like I wasn't supposed to be here.
We walked until a gate rose ahead.
A grand gate.
Not crude.
Not natural.
Built.
Two Mornak stood near it.
Their eyes shifted from the elite—
—to me.
Guards, I thought. Are the Mornak's some kind of kingdom?
The gate opened as the elite approached, and I followed through.
The guards kept watching, close.
We moved deeper—
into a cold, dark castle.
Inside, the air changed.
The smell hit them.
Freshly killed meat.
Some Mornak drifted closer in silent, hungry interest—the scent of Veylroot pulling them like a hook.
My body tensed automatically, ready to fight on instinct—
—but the elite paused ahead of me.
It gave a brief glance toward the watching Mornak.
And I noticed it.
They stepped back.
Not fear.
Permission.
Like they were saying: Do not touch him.
We continued until we reached another doorway.
A grand hall.
Just before I entered, the elite turned slightly.
"You will have your questions answered," it whispered, "but first you must be patient."
I held still.
Then gave a reluctant nod.
And followed it in.
The hall was massive.
Five pillars rose within it.
Four were occupied.
One was empty.
On those pillars sat Mornak's—different from the others.
Their white eyes were sharper. Heavier. Some glowed brighter than others, but all of them felt… old.
Powerful.
There was no point using Sovereign's Sight.
I already knew it wouldn't give me anything.
I followed the elite to the center of the hall, standing beneath those raised pillars, the central one still vacant.
Then the elite Mornak jumped.
It rose from the floor and landed comfortably on the central pillar—
slouching slightly into its seat like the chair belonged to it.
Silence fell.
Not normal silence.
Deafening.
I stood there alone on the ground, staring up at thin, long-limbed beings that looked like the night had carved them out of itself.
One of the Mornak on the right spoke first.
"What is this creature doing here, Verren?" Its voice was raspy—like gravel dragged across bone.
Another Mornak to my left slammed its hand against its chair.
"I agree with Marrow," it snarled, straining its already ruined voice. "This disgusting creature has no right to be here."
Then a third voice—higher, softer.
"I think it's rather cute."
The others didn't laugh.
One of the council stayed silent, judging me with a stare that felt like a knife held just above skin.
Verren—the one I'd followed—spoke.
"Silence."
The quiet returned, but I saw the way some of them reacted—eyes narrowing, limbs tensing.
"I brought him here for a reason," Verren continued. "I do not need your permission."
The one who'd slammed the chair tightened in frustration.
I lowered Veylroot's body and set it down gently.
Then I forced myself to breathe.
To compose.
"Why am I here?" I asked.
The two who opposed me stared down like they wanted to tear my voice out of my throat.
The one on the left spoke again.
"How dare you speak before us without permission," it hissed.
It stood, certainty rolling off it.
"I'll take care of this creature myself."
Verren raised a hand.
The Mornak saw the gesture, scoffed—
and sat back down, forced into frustration.
Verren's eyes returned to me.
"You are here for an important reason," it said.
"I've been waiting for you."
My thoughts snagged.
"Waiting for me? Why?"
"Because you are just like us."
Silence swallowed the hall again.
My body stiffened.
"Like you?"
"Yes."
Verren leaned slightly forward.
"Unless you wish to tell me you are truly a monster."
I froze.
What does he mean by that?
"There is no need to be afraid," Verren continued, voice calmer than it should've been. "I know what you are."
I swallowed hard.
"What am I?"
"Human."
The other Mornak shifted. Confusion rippled across the pillars.
My feet slid back a fraction—toward the doorway—hand ready without realizing it.
How does he know?
"Human?" the one who hadn't spoken yet asked, curious.
Marrow let out a laugh—raspy, bitter.
"Verren, are you getting senile? He is clearly a disgusting mimic. Makes me want to vomit just looking at it."
Verren ignored him and looked directly at me.
"Do you mind telling us your name?"
A pause.
"Unless you wish to be called by your body's name."
My chest tightened.
Body's name…
How does he know I'm a human soul trapped in here?
I cleared my throat.
"My name is Calder."
"Nice to meet you, Calder," Verren said.
I forced my voice steady.
"How did you know I was human?"
Verren smiled—actually smiled.
"I already told you."
"We are the same."
My mind turned it over—
until the realization stung.
Is he… human?
Verren saw it in my eyes.
"It seems you now understand."
I looked at the other council members.
The one who called me cute gave a small wave.
Two others looked away like they hated being in the same room as me.
The last one watched with dead, careful curiosity.
I steadied myself.
"Did you get trapped inside a monster body like me?"
Verren sighed.
"Unfortunately… we are not as lucky as you."
Lucky.
The word hit wrong.
"Lucky?" I echoed. "How am I lucky?"
Verren's eyes drifted upward, deep in thought.
"Before humans were able to capture and tame monsters to fight… they were slaves to them."
Its tone shifted—heavier.
"Monsters roamed free. Unchecked. Slaughtered many."
"We were weak."
Verren's posture tightened.
"Then a breakthrough was made."
"A breakthrough that turned the tide for humanity."
Its eyes went cold.
"But every breakthrough needs test subjects."
Something in its expression sharpened like memory resurfacing.
"They tested their methods on people."
It breathed once, slow.
"You have seen the finished product."
"The way monsters are summoned from humans."
"Yes," I said. "I've seen it. They're powerful."
Verren scoffed.
"Yes. They gained that power off the backs of the weak."
It stood, turning slightly.
"We were tested on. And this was the result."
"We were no longer human."
"They banished us to the depths of the forest."
Its voice dropped.
"And when night came… we changed forever."
"Since that day, we have not seen the sun."
"And those who have… have not lived to tell the tale."
It clicked.
That's why they aren't seen during the day.
They die in the sun.
I looked up again, throat tight.
"I understand," I said. "But why did the other Mornak's not talk to me… and why did they follow my orders?"
Verren sat back down.
Calmer than before.
"We are the rare few who remember most of our lives."
"Most Mornak remember fragments—if that."
It looked at me like it was measuring my soul.
"They listened because you are similar to them… but living."
"A human soul trapped in the living body of a monster."
Verren stared toward the ceiling again, and sighed.
"We are not so lucky."
"We are nothing more than dead human souls forced to linger for a purpose unknown."
The voice faltered, just slightly.
"Until you."
My throat tightened.
"Me?"
"I've waited so long for someone like you," Verren whispered.
"Someone who can lead us to new heights."
The Mornak on the left cut in.
"Him?" it spat. "He may be human, but he is weak. What use is he to us?"
Verren started, "Elias—"
But Marrow jumped in, snarling.
"I agree. I will not follow this filthy mimic, even if he once was human."
Verren's eyes sharpened.
Annoyance.
Then the quiet one spoke.
"I find him intriguing."
All eyes shifted to him.
"My name is Jonah," he said evenly.
"And I want to see what you will become."
His gaze pinned me.
"Judging by your actions so far… you may get us all destroyed."
Marrow tried to cut in with agreement—
but Jonah continued, sharper now, with a glance that shut Marrow down.
"But…"
"You may also be our salvation."
My body moved back half a step without permission.
Breath shallow.
Verren raised a hand, reclaiming the hall.
"Enough for today," he said. "You need rest."
He lifted his hand toward the doorway.
Two Mornak entered, silent.
"Show him to a room."
They nodded.
No words.
They guided me toward a corridor to the left.
I glanced back one last time at the council—at Verren slouched in his seat, eyes glowing like a patient blade.
As I turned away, I heard the murmurs begin.
"Verren, you cannot be serious."
"What are you going to do—make this thing our king?"
Verren's voice answered, strong.
"Do you want to ask the other humans for help?"
The answer didn't come immediately.
"They're the reason we are here. Remember."
The hall went quiet.
I kept walking.
Veylroot stuck to my back, heavy.
When I reached the room, I stepped inside and looked out the window at the cold darkness of whatever this place was.
I exhaled.
What have I got myself into?