From Shadows to Stars

were called Black Ironwood, a rare and valuable plant. Each one stood tall with bark as dark as night and wood so tough it was harder than many metals. Black Ironwood di

was full of spiritual ener

s simple: dan

aks. Fierce beasts would often sneak down from those snowy heights, slipping into the forest to hide. While the sect did send patr

ost of them had only reached the Martial Realm, a stage where they trained their bodies and built a foundation, but had no

was isolated. If something happened here if som

den ground. All outer disciples, no matt

ienced something like this when he first arrived at the Azurelight Order. It had nearly ended in disaster. But Silas wasn't like the others. He had lived a full li

imself: Why send me here? W

came into his eyes. His lips

, "I'll face it. If trouble comes, I'll meet it

l wooden hut near the tree line. This would be his home for the next year. He opened the creaking door, and the smell of

near the entrance and stepped outside

ore him. Some were so wide it would take three or

a sinking feeling. "How am I suppos

chop down the whole trunk, he reminded himself. Even the branc

leaves, like little drops of crystal. But Silas didn't have time to enjoy the beauty of the fores

With a quick leap, he climbed onto it. Standing on the

AN

ilas's hand shook from the impact. "That hard, huh?" he winced

as harder

he kept

Clang

ith the strange sou

round beside him as he leaned against one of the massive trees, exhausted. The Ironwood Fore

fted off

move at all. Its leaves stayed perfectly still, as if frozen. A faint turquoise glow beg

glowing turquoise energ

e. Its glow faded. Its leaves wilted. Its trunk s

ul tree...

itual energy was be

ain, cutting through trees like they were nothin

s already setting. Golden light fil

there wasn't enough time to finish collecting firewood.

I'm going hun

paused. His

ht. His muscles didn't ache.

knife again and slashed at

an

all crack appea

hat shouldn't be possible. My strengt

the fourth, after absorbing a burst of spiritual energy during meditation. He ha

ap, he felt even clos

on with me?"

es with nothing special about them. "I don't have

body the leftover piece of the original Silas Thorne his own soul had changed.

nder his control yet

magine how powerfu

e he had been leaning on.

e was s

ed faded, its

and could feel it-its aura was m

ained the

same to people?" he whispered, the thought sending a chill thr

ea. And yet... the pos

time, staring into the forest,

ed. "But I'm not fragile. I'm not weak. Whate

ll. Silas tightened his grip on the

a new g

n't just

ould

o elder, no disciple w

Forest, something had felt

s of the tallest trees, a pair

ncient... h