Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Into the Unknown

The journey to the Soul Academy was longer than Ifenna had expected. As dawn broke over the horizon, casting golden light over the distant hills, he found himself walking alongside the mysterious man who had led him away from his old life. His name, the man had finally revealed, was Master Zalor, one of the recruiters for the Soul Academy. He spoke little, but when he did, his words carried weight.

Ifenna, still trying to wrap his head around everything that had happened, kept glancing down at his hand. The glow had subsided during the night, but he could still feel the faint pulse of energy flowing through him, like a quiet hum in the back of his mind. It was strange, yet comforting. For the first time, he felt... different, as though the mundane world of lifting crates and listening to Jarek’s orders was a distant memory.

"How far is this Academy?" Ifenna asked, breaking the long silence.

"We’ll reach it by nightfall," Zalor said, his voice low and even. "The Academy is hidden, protected by powerful wards. It’s not meant to be found easily."

Ifenna nodded, though his mind was racing with questions. "And... what is it exactly? This Academy?"

Zalor turned his gaze toward the rising sun, his expression unreadable. "The Soul Academy is a place where awakeners learn to harness their power. It’s been around for centuries, training those like you, those whose souls have awakened to the energy of the world. You’re one of the rare few who awakened naturally, without guidance or ritual. That makes you special."

"Special," Ifenna repeated under his breath. He didn’t feel special—just confused and scared. But something about the way Zalor spoke made him believe there was more to his simple life than he had ever imagined.

As they walked, the landscape around them slowly began to change. The bustling city of Ogen was far behind, replaced by rolling hills and dense forests. The air smelled fresher, the sounds of birds and rustling leaves filling the quiet between them. Ifenna had never traveled this far from home, and a part of him felt both excitement and fear at what lay ahead.

By the time they reached the edge of a vast forest, the sky was painted in the deep purples and reds of sunset. Ifenna's legs ached from the long journey, but he could feel the pull of something powerful ahead. The trees loomed tall and ancient, their branches twisted and thick with vines. The path before them was narrow, winding into the shadows of the forest.

Zalor stopped at the edge, turning to Ifenna. "Once we enter, there is no turning back. The forest is enchanted, and it only allows those who are meant to find the Academy to pass through. You must be ready."

Ifenna swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment. "I’m ready."

Without another word, Zalor stepped into the forest, and Ifenna followed close behind. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the air around them seemed to shift. The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by a soft, eerie silence. The trees, though still, seemed to watch them, their branches creaking softly as if whispering secrets.

"Stay close," Zalor instructed. "The forest has a mind of its own. If you stray, you might not find your way back."

Ifenna nodded, his heart racing. He stayed right on Zalor’s heels, his eyes darting around the shadowed woods. There was something alive about this place, something ancient and watchful. The path twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the heart of the forest.

As they walked, Ifenna began to feel a strange sensation, like a low vibration in the air. His hand, the one that had glowed the night before, started to tingle again. The deeper they went, the stronger the feeling became. It was as if the forest was resonating with the energy inside him.

"What is this place?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Zalor glanced back at him. "The Forest of Souls. It’s a living entity, bound to the Soul Academy. It tests those who enter, gauging their worth."

"Tests?" Ifenna repeated, his anxiety spiking. "What kind of tests?"

Zalor didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he paused in the middle of the path and raised his hand. "You’ll see."

Suddenly, the air around them grew heavy, like the pressure before a storm. The trees rustled as if coming to life, their branches shifting and twisting. The ground beneath Ifenna’s feet trembled, and in an instant, shadows began to form, coalescing into shapes. At first, they were just dark blurs, but soon they took on more defined forms—tall, humanoid figures with glowing eyes and sharp, clawed hands.

Ifenna’s heart pounded in his chest. "What—what are they?"

Zalor remained calm, his hand resting on the hilt of a blade at his side. "Soul Wraiths. They are the guardians of this forest. You must face them."

"Face them?!" Ifenna’s voice cracked with fear. He had no weapons, no training, no idea how to defend himself. "But I—I don’t even know how to use my powers!"

Zalor’s gaze was steady. "Your powers are already within you, Ifenna. The forest wouldn’t have allowed you this far if it didn’t believe you were capable. Trust in yourself."

Ifenna’s pulse quickened as the Soul Wraiths began to move, their glowing eyes fixed on him. Panic surged through him. How could he fight them? He had no idea what he was doing.

But as the wraiths drew closer, something shifted inside him. The same energy that had awakened in his dreams began to stir again, stronger now, more insistent. His hand began to glow, just as it had the night before, but this time it wasn’t faint. The light flared, spreading through his entire body, filling him with a warmth and power he had never known.

The wraiths lunged.

Without thinking, Ifenna raised his hand, and a surge of energy exploded from his palm, slamming into the nearest wraith. The creature screeched and dissolved into mist. The others hesitated for a moment, then attacked together. But Ifenna was ready. He didn’t know how he was doing it, but his body moved instinctively, summoning the energy within him to blast the wraiths back one by one.

In moments, the clearing was silent. The wraiths had vanished, and Ifenna stood panting, his hands still glowing faintly with residual power.

Zalor watched him with an approving nod. "You have potential, Ifenna. Raw, untamed, but it’s there."

Ifenna stared down at his hands in awe. He had done it—he had tapped into the power inside him. But how? And what did it mean?

Zalor’s voice broke through his thoughts. "Come. The forest has accepted you. The Soul Academy is just ahead."

With a nod, Ifenna followed Zalor through the final stretch of the forest, his heart still racing with adrenaline. Ahead, through the thick trees, he could see the faint outline of a towering structure—an ancient castle nestled deep within the woods.

The Soul Academy.