Chapter 1: Childhood of Fin
Fin grew up among other orphans, but he always felt a little different. At the age of eight, he began to see strange shadows flitting in the dark corners. Ordinary people didn't notice them, but Fin sensed their presence—cold and greedy.
A shadow slipped out of the underbrush instantly. A thick dark mass with glowing eyes lunged at Kai.
"KAI!" Fin rushed forward, but it was too late.
Kai screamed as black claws pierced his body. Fin grabbed the first sharp stone he could find and furiously plunged it into the writhing creature. The shadow howled, and a dark substance burst from its body.
Fin didn't have time to back away—the liquid splashed into his open wound.
Burning. Pain. Something rolled through his veins, searing him from within. He fell into darkness.
At fifteen, he saw their true form for the first time. These beings resembled human silhouettes, but their bodies were unstable, as if woven from dark smoke. The eyes—if they could be called that—glowed with a dim crimson light. They moved unnaturally, their motions defying the laws of physics: sometimes too fast, sometimes seemingly frozen in time.
The only person he trusted was his friend Kai—a boy from the orphanage, kind but hot-tempered. They often ventured into the forest to gather herbs and berries.
It was on that day when everything changed that they also went into the woods.