As a brilliant explosion of magical light erupted around him, David felt the unmistakable jolt of energy as the rift in space sealed shut behind him. He staggered slightly and found himself amidst a rugged, moss-covered floor that seemed to pulse with life. Just within arm's reach lay a gray steel object, its surface glimmering with an intricate, tiny script that beckoned him to decipher its secrets.

  David found himself enveloped in an unsettling confusion. His brow furrowed as he took in his surroundings, a habitual scan fueled by instinct. Every shadow seemed to hold a secret, and he remained on high alert, wary of any lurking danger that could spring forth and catch him unawares.

  David found himself in a serene, dappled glade, where the waning orange light of the sun filtered through the branches overhead, casting a warm glow upon the forest floor. The ground was carpeted with a lush blanket of leaves, softening each step he took, while twigs and scattered branches lay strewn about; remnants of recent winds had rustled the leaves as they danced along the floor. In the distance, he could hear the gentle tinkling of water, a soothing melody that intertwined with the rustling of leaves, creating a symphony of nature that enveloped him.

  As he steadied himself, David carefully rose to his feet, nerves palpable. In a moment of distracted haste, his foot landed on a brittle twig, the sharp snap echoing like a gunshot through the stillness of the woods. Heart racing, he glanced wildly around, every shadow a potential threat. Pressing his back against the rough surface of the gray monument in the clearing, he felt exposed and vulnerable.

  On high alert, David tensed and relaxed his muscles, bracing for the unexpected. He felt time stretch as he waited, breath held. Yet, the looming shadows of the trees remained silent, and the underbrush stayed still, refusing to reveal any lurking dangers.

  Minutes seemed to tick by as David held his ground, but with every passing beat of his heart, his fear receded as his muscles uncoiled. The moment was over; nothing more surprising would happen here.

  David exhaled slowly, a breath he hadn’t even known he was holding. A hint of embarrassment washed over him, but he’d much rather be overly prepared than caught flat-footed. In his mind, knowledge was the ultimate weapon, and nothing sent chills down his spine quite like the thought of an unexpected dagger striking from the shadows.

  Amidst the chaos of the incident, David managed to uncover a glimmer of hope. He realized he had gained a clearer sense of his surroundings, a newfound awareness of where he truly stood.

  Deft steps sounded through the forest. Meticulously placed boots appeared to dance over fallen twigs, avoiding them with fairies' grace as David approached something he had not realized he was longing to see.

  A nondescript three-story building appeared before him. Brown in tone, with broken siding and gutters that had seen better days, the all-too-familiar sight of a particular balcony entered his eyes.

  " Home, I'm home. " David breathed out triumphantly, realizing how much he had missed the dilapidated building.

  " No cave? " A scratchy voice reared its head inside David's mind. " No good home, cave better. "

  David leveled a suspicious glance at his sword, convinced his sword was magically communicating with him. But why a cave? Why would a cave be the favorite spot of his sword? The very instrument that made him a Sciath?

  But was his sword truly trying to carry a conversation with him, or was it a third thing, something David had brought along from the trip under the mystical mountains he had returned from?

  So far, David knew the voice meant well. It had helped him on occasion, and his guard dropped against it. He wanted to explore this connection blooming within him. Possibilities floated about his mind, unsure if the voice scape read his thoughts.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  " What are you? " David thought to himself, and the silence that greeted him confirmed it. The voice could not read his thoughts.

  " What are you? " David asked, with curiosity in his voice he decided the best course of action would be a conversation between peers.

  " I'm me, " The voice said smugly, knowing this would irritate David to no end.

  David drew in a deep breath, the air filling his lungs as he pinched the bridge of his nose, a gesture that spoke volumes about his growing frustration.

  " I'm aware, " David suppressed the simmering heat in his voice. " But what is me? "

  The voice remained silent, and somehow, David felt as if whatever the voice was had puffed out its chest and turned around, refusing to elaborate. David had some guesses about why this was, but he did not have solid evidence to base this hypothesis on.

  With a loud tumble, his stomach growled, suddenly aware that he had never eaten anything in the caves. Why had he not noticed this before? What magical trickery had been involved that sustained him under the mountain?

  " Do you know why I had felt no hunger while I trained? " David was hopeful that a switch of topic would once more lure the voice into a conversation.

  " Song. " The voice replied lazily.

  The Song? The exhale of air-vibrating molecules had given him nourishment? David still had not felt the Song's ancient voice upon him fully, and his true name remained unclear. But this was too much to take in. David wordlessly put the thought into a box, which he shoved into the back of his mind and labeled " for later use."

  As David observed the cold, distant tone of their conversation, he realized that he wouldn't pry any answers from the voice. With a resigned sigh, he let the matter go, choosing to move on without drawing attention to the unsettling silence that lingered between them.

  Instead, he explored his surroundings. The rustling of leaves set on branches, faint currents of air breaking on the square shapes of the buildings, and a faint tinkle of water bubbling along happily in a stream entered his air.

  The Song had become quiet, almost mute, now that he was back home, but it was still there to an extent as if someone had thrown a blanket over the producer, its trilling echoes having faded into soft hums.

  Hunger still gnawed at his mind, as the Song could not sustain him here; he subconsciously reoriented himself to the familiar numbers embossed in black upon a particularly familiar building.

  He climbed the stairs, not noticing the increased dust and pollen he kicked up with every step. Quickly, he ascended to finally catch the door to his salvation. His home stacked with food his stomach dreamed of consuming.

  But something was amiss. While the door still hung on its hinges, there was a dog-sized hole at the steps. The deadbolt David had installed last year had not held up against this home invasion.

  Confused, David stepped closer to examine the scar left on the wood. The edges were frayed, and the older dark surface shined in lighter colors, as if teeth and claws had ripped apart its previous structural integrity.

  " Oh no, " David shouted.

  With the ringing of steel, he freed his sword and kicked down the door's remanents.

  He rushed into the space he had previously called home, only to find it ransacked. Everything was a mess. His sturdy couch was broken apart. The white padding material was scattered, and its under-construction showed.

  David's head swiveled to his left, and he saw that his gun safe hadn't escaped whatever had broken into his apartment either. Even the hard iron had been chewed through with a fist-sized hole in the corners.

  This was bizarre, David thought, as he fidgeted in place. Curiosity gripped him, wanting him to explore the ridges cut into the metal with his fingers, but he wanted nothing to do with that cursed safe. Any weapon held within hadn't worked before he went away to begin with.

  Slowly, he realized: If the invaders had done that to the safe, what would they have done to the fridge, the pantry, and, worse, even the second bedroom?

  His heart raced as adrenaline surged through him, propelling him down the narrow corridor and sending fluttering pages swirling around his path. The door remained mostly intact, marred only by small holes in its wood.

  The room was a mess. Bedding of a small bed torn to shreds, drawers upturned, its content spilling across the littered floor, and toys strewn about.

  With desperation in his eyes, David sank to his knees, his hands digging through the shadows beneath the bed. As he sifted through forgotten dust and lost trinkets, bittersweet memories flooded his mind, and the weight of longing became too much to bear. Tears streamed down his face, a poignant mix of sorrow and nostalgia.

  " Please, no, " David repeated incessantly as his hand failed to find purchase on the thing he was hoping to find.

  With strength filling his arms, David carefully moved the broken remains of the bed to the side, exposing what was happening underneath.

  David was in search of a box—a treasure chest, as someone from his past had affectionately called it. This particular chest was crafted from wood and adorned with a lively blue finish, speckled with cheerful white dots. It held the last tangible connection to the person he cherished most.

  As he rummaged through the chaotic jumble of forgotten dresses and old toys scattered under the bed, something caught his eye—a fleeting glimpse of blue amid the clutter. Heart pounding with anticipation, he pushed aside the remnants of a childhood long gone until, at last, he uncovered a fragment of wood. It was torn from its rightful place on the chest he yearned for, a bittersweet reminder of what was once whole.

  Tears streamed down David's face, flowing endlessly as he held the piece of wood—solitary and weathered—in his hands. It was not just a fragment of nature; to him, it was his most treasured possession, cradled gently as if it were a fragile piece of his soul.

  Even the voice dared not quip into the somber scene.