Kael moved slowly along the narrow trails covered with dry leaves, the crackling of his footsteps softly echoing in the surrounding forest. The air was heavy, laden with a dense energy that seemed to pulse beneath the earth's surface. Behind him, Umbra slipped silently, her figure almost a living shadow among the twisted trunks.

"Do you feel that?" Umbra whispered, her voice barely a murmur but filled with alertness. "This land is infested with corrupted magic."

Kael furrowed his brow, trying to catch the sensation his companion described. There was indeed something strange in the air. A dark vibration, a presence that seemed to want to infiltrate every fiber of the forest.

"Corrupted magic?" he asked, careful not to break the silence of the woods.

"Yes." Umbra touched the nearest tree with one of her translucent hands, her fingers almost disappearing against the bark. "Something that was once pure but has twisted. Maybe a beast taken over by this corruption. Something that no longer belongs to this world, or that fights against it."

Kael clenched his fists, the dagger at his waist feeling heavier than before. They were in dangerous territory, and not just because of the wild nature. The forest seemed to breathe, and with every step, he felt as if invisible eyes watched them, measuring their movements.

"And how do we know we're not following this creature?" Kael asked, looking at Umbra.

"Because corrupted magic leaves trails." She pointed to the ground, where black roots twisted in patterns that seemed to pulse with a sinister light. "See, this is what this presence leaves behind. Everything around is contaminated."

The two followed the trail marked by the black roots, the atmosphere growing increasingly suffocating. The sky, once clear, began to darken as if dense clouds had gathered, even without wind to move them. Kael felt the weight of fear tighten his chest, but there was no turning back.

Suddenly, a low, guttural sound echoed among the trees. A growl that seemed to come from far away, yet at the same time so close it made the hairs on Kael's neck stand up. Umbra froze beside him, her black eyes shining with an inner light.

"It's close," she said, her voice heavy with concern.

Kael raised his dagger, senses at full alert. The forest seemed to close around them, the trunks bending as if to watch, as if nature itself was aware of the danger.

Then, a quick movement at the edge of his vision made Kael turn. A huge shadow crossed between the trees, almost invisible, but enough to send a cold shiver down his spine.

"That's it," said Umbra, her voice trembling. "The corrupted beast."

The creature didn't fully appear. Just a gigantic silhouette, with distorted limbs and glowing red eyes in the gloom. Its skin looked like rotting tree bark and black moss, and the corrupted magic emanating from it made the ground tremble slightly.

"We need to move cautiously," Kael murmured, but part of him was fascinated. "What could have caused this corruption?"

Umbra moved slightly forward, her eyes fixed on the shadow. "Maybe an ancient spell that got out of control, a curse cast to imprison this creature but ended up turning it into something... worse. Or an outside force trying to invade this world through it."

Silence fell again, heavier and more threatening. The sound of leaves being crushed under the creature's weight made Kael's heart race.

"It's coming this way," Umbra warned, stepping back a little.

Kael nodded, raising his voice to steady his spirit. "We can't let it corrupt more of the forest or escape to the village."

Kael advanced, his steps firm despite the weight of fear beginning to take root in his mind. The corrupted magic seemed to crawl over his skin, trying to ensnare every muscle, every thought. He struggled to keep clarity, to not succumb to the darkness creeping in.

"Umbra, warn me if its energy grows too strong," he asked, voice low and tense.

"I'll stay alert," replied the shadow beside him, her black eyes shining with vigilance.

Ahead, the monstrous silhouette outlined itself in the forest's gloom—a vast, dark mass that made Kael's heart race. His hands already burned with the blue glow of magic, ready to be unleashed.

But then, suddenly, a sharp, desperate scream broke the heavy silence: "Please, don't attack me!!"

Kael froze, a chill running down his spine. That voice? So thin, so fragile… And it came from the monstrous silhouette? It was impossible. He narrowed his eyes, holding the pulsing magic between his palms.

"Show yourself," he commanded, firm and authoritative, a warning frozen in the air. "Come here, or I will have no choice."

"I'm coming!" The voice trembled, almost fading away in the air. "But… I'm lost!"

The shadow faltered, moving awkwardly among the trees. Suspicious, Kael weaved a magical binding and launched it with precision, firmly capturing the figure's waist. With a steady but controlled pull, he brought her into the light.

The glow of magic illuminated the face that appeared, and Kael stepped back, stunned.

It was a little girl, no more than 4 feet 11 inches tall, carrying a colossal backpack that seemed to weigh twice her own body.

She had golden hair falling in loose curls, bright red eyes reflecting fear and hope, and wore red clothes that seemed to burn even in the dim light. Her pointed ears revealed her elven origin, giving her a delicate yet silently strong air.

Kael felt the world shrink for a moment, as if everything boiled down to that fragile figure before him—so small, so vulnerable, yet with a palpable determination.

He slowly lowered his hand, undoing the magical binding, his fingers trembling slightly as he took a cautious step forward.

"Who are you?" his voice sounded softer but steady, filled with unexpected curiosity and care.

The girl took a deep breath, trying to steady her quickened breathing, her wide eyes reflecting a mixture of fear, relief, and a courage that seemed to grow with each word.

"My name is Klee… Klee FlameHeart," she said, her voice still trembling but clear. "I was traveling… looking for my mother. But I got lost. This magic… this corruption… trapped me in a thick fog, and I didn't know where to go."

Kael furrowed his brow, eyes fixed on little Klee, still trying to absorb the contrast between her delicacy and the heavily corrupted magic surrounding them.

"Did you see anything strange in this forest? Anything that could explain this corruption?" he asked quietly, almost a whisper, as if fearing the very air might overhear.

Klee gripped the straps of her backpack tightly and nodded slowly, her red eyes glowing with a shadow of terror.

"The village…" she began, her voice trembling. "It's complete chaos. The people… they're not themselves anymore. It's like they lost their minds, turned into zombies, but not ordinary zombies… they wander aimlessly, mumbling nonsense, begging to die, desperate."

Kael felt a chill run down his spine hearing that. "Begging to die?" he repeated, incredulous.

"Yes," Klee confirmed, her gaze distant. "They just keep walking back and forth, saying nothing else. As if a shadow had taken their souls, leaving only empty bodies."

Umbra stepped closer, her sharp voice breaking the silence. "That explains the corruption. This dark magic is spreading too fast. The village isn't just a victim—it's a reflection of what this presence does to whatever it touches."

Kael clenched his fists, a growing urgency tightening in his chest. "If this creature is nearby and this is happening in the village… we can't waste time."

He looked at Klee, now an unexpected ally—the little elf with the courage to face the unknown. "Can you take me to the village? We need to understand what's happening and, if possible, help those people."

Klee breathed deeply, a spark of determination lighting her eyes. "Yes… I know the way. But we must be careful. Darkness is everywhere."

...

[Witches' Realm]

Elion pushed the door open without hesitation, as if it were an unquestionable right. The air inside was heavy — a smell of smoke, gunpowder, and something chemical invaded his nostrils.

Suddenly, a dull explosion came from the back of the house, followed by a desperate shout: "Watch out! Nuclear bomb!!"

Elion paused for a moment at the entrance, his eyes taking in the chaotic scene unfolding in the makeshift kitchen at the back. Pots, tubes, and bottles flew everywhere as Alice desperately tried to adjust some kind of smoking device.

He let out a deep sigh, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorframe, his face carrying that typical blend of coldness and disbelief.

"For a witch who became a mother, you're pretty dangerous, Alice," he said, his voice low but firm. "Where's your daughter? You're going to end up killing her before her time."

Alice, without taking her eyes off the chaos she was creating, gave a crooked, half-proud smile. "My daughter is chasing me around the world! It's time for her to let go of her mother!"