Leon stepped closer to the glowing symbol, his eyes scanning its details.
The marking was not carved by human hands—it was etched by something else, its lines jagged, uneven, and pulsing with a faint, dark glow. Almost alive.
Jarek stayed a few steps back. "So… what exactly are we looking at?"
Leon didn't answer immediately. He had seen many things in Devia—ancient ruins, lost legacies, powerful artifacts—but never this.
This was new.
His fingers hovered just above the marking, feeling a faint thrum of energy. Not magic. Not something natural.
Something else.
A corruption. A presence.
And then—
A whisper.
Soft, distant, almost unintelligible. A voice that was not his own.
"...consume... the veil weakens..."
Leon's breath stilled.
Jarek frowned. "What?"
Leon didn't move. "You don't hear that?"
Jarek blinked. "Hear what?"
Leon narrowed his eyes.
That meant only he could hear it.
---
A Choice
He had two options.
Leave it alone and continue forward, searching for more clues.
Interact with it, risk exposure to whatever force was behind this corruption.
Leon was no fool. He knew when to be cautious.
But he was also a regressor—he knew the greatest rewards often came from the greatest risks.
Slowly, he extended his hand toward the symbol.
Jarek took a step forward. "Uh, are we sure touching the creepy glowing mark is a good idea?"
Leon ignored him. His fingertips brushed against the surface—
A shock ran through his mind.
Images flashed before his eyes—
A sky covered in darkness. A massive figure, unseen but overwhelming. The feeling of countless eyes watching from beyond. A presence pressing against reality itself, trying to break through.
Then—
Pain.
A burning sensation shot through his arm, and Leon ripped his hand away.
His breath was heavy. His vision blurred for a moment before stabilizing.
Jarek grabbed his shoulder. "What the hell was that?!"
Leon looked down at his hand.
A dark sigil now burned into his palm, faintly glowing—the same symbol as the one on the tree.
It wasn't just a marking.
It was a connection.
---
The Whispering Veil
Leon clenched his fist.
He didn't feel weaker. No immediate effects. But something had changed.
The voice returned, clearer now.
"The seal is fragile. The gate… opens."
Leon exhaled slowly.
Jarek crossed his arms. "So, want to explain what just happened?"
Leon flexed his fingers, feeling the warmth of the corrupted sigil on his skin. "I made contact with something."
Jarek stared at him. "Yeah, no kidding. The glowing mark burned itself into your hand. That's usually a bad sign."
Leon nodded. "Maybe. But now I have a connection to whatever is causing this."
Jarek ran a hand through his hair. "Right. And that's supposed to be a good thing?"
Leon didn't answer. Not yet.
Because for the first time since arriving in Devia as an NPC…
He had encountered something even he didn't recognize.
And that made it dangerous.
But also?
An opportunity.
---
Deeper into the Hills
With the sigil still pulsing faintly on his hand, Leon turned away from the tree.
"We keep moving."
Jarek sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Lead the way, oh fearless beast tamer."
Leon didn't respond.
His instincts told him one thing.
The Black Hollow Hills weren't just corrupted.
Something was breaking through.
And whatever it was…
This world wasn't ready for it.
---