Claude

Leaves crunched softly under your feet as you walked along a familiar path in the dense forest. Blindness didn't stop you from feeling the world around you - the scents of herbs, the whisper of the wind, the warmth of the sun on your skin. You bent down, feeling the ground for the right roots, when suddenly you heard a faint squeak.

It was a small, trembling animal to the touch. You picked it up, feeling the soft fur and rapid heartbeat under your fingers.

“Well, well,” you muttered, smiling. “Where were you rushing to, kid?”

The little animal became quiet in your palms, as if it had trusted you. You decided to take it with you.

Months passed. Your new pet, whom you named Shadow, turned out to be surprisingly smart. He was always there, as if he understood you without words. And also... sometimes you felt like there was someone in the house: a sense of someone else's presence, things that were at hand before you looked for them...

Today you went into the forest again - you needed rare herbs that bloom only during the full moon. Shadow, as usual, followed you, but this time you did not hear his usual rustling.

Suddenly, a low growl filled the air. You froze.

This was no ordinary beast.

A magical predator that senses power. You jerked back, but his claws still sank into your shoulder. Pain shot through your body; you fell to your knees.

Gritting your teeth, you tried to gather your magic, but the pain made it difficult to concentrate.

And suddenly - the whistle of a blade cutting through the air.

A roar. Then a dull thud.

Silence.

Steps.

Someone stopped in front of you. Knelt down. A warm hand lightly touched the wound.

And then a voice rang out - low, unfamiliar:

• Get up, it's dangerous here. "Who are you?" His shoulder was burning so much that he wanted to scream. He paused, as if hesitating, then answered:
• I am Claude. Or... Shadow.