I Received System to Become Dragonborn-Chapter 805: Shadows

Kaela and Thorne stood back-to-back but with some distance between them. Their eyes fixed in opposite directions as they scanned the surrounding forest.

Both of them caught sight of movement of the silent, gliding shadows that shifted unnaturally between the trees. Their hands moved in unison, drawing weapons with quiet precision, their expressions calm but alert.

"They're surrounding us," Kaela murmured.

Thorne gave a short nod. "Yeah. Keep your eyes open."

Shapes flickered along the edges of the firelight, pacing the border of visibility like wolves testing a boundary. But there was no sound—no snap of twigs, no crunch of leaves. Just silence and motion.

"What are they?" Kaela whispered again, her voice calm despite the tension.

Thorne narrowed his eyes. "Dunno. Maybe some kind of wraith. But I'm not sure."

They made no move to wake Mark or Selene. Not yet. If these things were just watching, there was still a chance this didn't need to become a full confrontation.

Both adventurers stood their ground, the fire casting long shadows behind them as they waited for the figures to make a move.

But the creatures never approached. They kept moving slowly, circling just outside the firelight. And then Kaela noticed something—there was no glint and no light reflected in their eyes. Not like animals or human. Nothing.

Minutes passed like hours, and just as suddenly as they had come, the shadows began to retreat, slipping back into the forest and vanishing without a sound.

Kaela exhaled slowly, still tense. "What the hell just happened?"

"Like I said," Thorne muttered, keeping his sword half-raised. "They looked like wraiths. You didn't see any light in their eyes, right?"

Kaela shook her head.

"That usually means they don't have real eyes. Not like living creatures do," Thorne said. "At least… that's what I think."

Kaela frowned, staring into the dark trees where the shadows had disappeared. Something about tonight felt far from over.

They remained vigilant until their watch was over and the time came to switch shifts.

Mark emerged from the tent already alert, his eyes sharp and scanning the area instinctively. Selene, in contrast, stepped out with sleepy eyes and her robe slightly loose, her hair tousled by sleep.

Thorne and Kaela immediately approached and reported everything they had seen—silent, shifting shadows moving along the edge of the firelight, no glint of eyes, no signs of aggression, yet unsettling in their presence. As they spoke, both Mark and Selene grew tense.

"I need to change," Selene said quickly, then turned back into the tent to ready herself for anything. She returned moments later in her battle gear, tightening the straps on her robe.

Mark remained outside, eyes locked on the dark forest surrounding them. His instincts whispered that the shadows were still out there, watching them and waiting for something. He could feel it like pressure in the air.

"You two can rest now," Mark said, without turning. Kaela and Thorne nodded and retired to their tents, leaving the other two to take their watch.

For a while, Mark stood in silence, gaze following the tree line. Then he spoke, his voice low. "I'm going to check it out."

Selene's eyes widened, and she shook her head, worry plain on her face. "No, don't. It's too quiet. Too strange."

"We need to know what's going on," Mark replied, offering a calm, reassuring smile. "Besides… I'm not that weak, am I?"

Selene looked at him for a moment before sighing. "I can't stop you if your mind's made up," she said softly. In her heart, she admitted it, Mark wasn't weak. Not at all.

With a nod, Mark grabbed a torch, lit it, and held his sword in the other hand.

He stepped into the forest, eyes sharp. As he ventured deeper, he found traces—subtle impressions in the ground, markings on the trees.

Not something left by wraiths like Thorne had said, he realized. These signs belonged to something else.

Mark continued deeper into the trees. His footsteps slow and deliberate. He activated the Magic in his eyes, its a spell that sharpened his vision in the dark, allowing him to see shapes and movements clearer than any normal person could. Though it didn't brighten the night like daylight, it was enough to catch the finer details.

He crouched down and studied the forest floor. Dozens of traces. More than he expected.

The prints were scattered, overlapping, and moving in all directions like a crowd circling the camp in silence. Like stalkers. But none had attacked. That's what unsettled him the most.

Why? Why just watch?

Mark's jaw tightened. Being attacked was terrifying, sure, but at least it meant clarity. A purpose. A threat.

But this? Being watched from the dark with no movement and no clear motive? That gnawed at his thoughts more than blades ever could.

Who were they? Were they even human? Their presence had silenced the entire forest—no birds, no insects, no wind rustling the trees. Everything held its breath when they arrived.

No. They weren't normal. And whatever they were… they were tied to something bigger. There was only one conclusion Mark could draw.

This is connected to the Forest God's awakening.

His expression darkened. The situation had just become far more serious than they anticipated.

He returned swiftly to camp, the firelight flickering on his face as he approached. Selene looked up at him immediately.

"What did you find?" she asked.

Mark didn't waste time.

"They're still out there," he said grimly. "And there's a lot of them that watching us but they are not attacking. This feels like it's tied to the Forest God. Our quest just got more clear but also complicated."

Selene's expression grew more troubled, her usual calm replaced by a quiet tension.

She folded her arms tightly as she spoke, voice low and serious. "Eccar said the quest was in Qomore Kingdom... but whatever this is, it's already reaching this far out."

Mark gave a slow nod.

"I can't be sure yet," he said. "Let's stay sharp, finish our watch, and speak to Eccar once morning comes."

Selene agreed with a faint nod, though the concern in her eyes didn't fade.

The rest of their guard passed in tense silence. The forest that once full of eerie stillness gradually returned to life as dawn approached—birds chirping, insects humming, distant animals stirring as the first rays of light pushed away the shadows.

When morning arrived, Mark and Selene roused the others. The group dismantled their camp in practiced efficiency, though the unease from the night before lingered in the air.

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Without delay, they resumed their journey, pressing deeper into the forest toward Qomore.

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