Blade of The Eternal

Edwin's body trembled as he sprinted through the dense woods, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The distant crackling of flames echoed in his mind, but the smoke in the air told him the nightmare was still real. His town, the place he had always called home, was burning. He had escaped the soldiers—just barely—but his mind couldn't focus. The adrenaline coursed through him as he darted past trees, his heart pounding against his ribcage.

'Keep running. Don't stop. You can't stop.'

His feet thudded against the earth, the weight of everything that had happened in the past hours threatening to crush him. The sounds of his home burning, of screams and shouting—those would haunt him forever. He couldn't go back. He could never go back. But he had to survive. The soldiers were still after him, still hunting him.

He had to escape. There was nowhere else to go.

The fire's orange glow flickered behind him, but he dared not look back. His legs burned, his chest tightened, but he kept pushing forward, deeper into the woods. He couldn't slow down, couldn't let them catch him. The soldiers had come out of nowhere, their faces cold and void of empathy. He had never seen them before. Had they been waiting for him? Had they always been there?

No. They were too efficient. Too ruthless. It had to be more than mere coincidence.

The ground beneath him suddenly gave way, his foot catching on a tree root. He fell forward, landing hard against the ground. Pain shot through his limbs as he pushed himself to his feet, the sounds of his pursuers now too close for comfort.

No time.

He glanced around, his heart racing, looking for a way out. There was no path, no clear route through the forest. Every direction was just more trees, more shadows.

And then, there was a noise. The rustling of leaves, the crunch of branches beneath heavy boots. He froze.

They were here.

His mind screamed for him to run, to fight, but his body betrayed him. Blood trickled from a wound on his arm, and dizziness threatened to overtake him. He was too weak. Too slow.

The first soldier emerged from the shadows, his figure towering over Edwin, eyes cold and calculating. The blade in his hand gleamed in the dim light, a silent promise of death.

"You can't run forever," the soldier's voice was a low growl, as if he had known all along that this day would come. His comrades flanked him, each one just as merciless. Edwin's pulse pounded in his ears, the sound of it deafening as he backed away.

There was no escape.

The soldier lunged.

The world slowed, Edwin's every sense hyper-aware as he twisted, narrowly avoiding the sharp blade that slashed through the air where his throat had been just a second before. He staggered, pain lancing through his side as the second soldier struck. A thin line of blood stained his tunic, but it wasn't enough. He had to keep moving.

But it was no use. They closed in on him. He was cornered.

He didn't even have time to scream as the third soldier's sword pierced his chest. A sharp, searing pain, and then—

Everything went black.

When Edwin opened his eyes again, he was lying in his bed. The smell of fresh bread and herbs wafted through the air. The warmth of the hearth crackled in the corner of the room. For a moment, confusion clouded his thoughts.

Was it all just a dream?

His fingers trembled as he touched his chest. No wound. No blood.

The town outside his window was peaceful. The sun shone brightly, and children's laughter echoed from the square. Nothing was wrong.

It was a dream. It had to be.

He stood up and stretched, relieved to feel his body whole and unscathed. The nightmare was over. He was safe. He was... safe?

The nagging feeling in his gut refused to subside. Something was wrong.

The soldiers' faces lingered in his mind. Their cold, emotionless eyes. The way they had stalked him like prey. Edwin shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thoughts, but they refused to leave.

The door creaked open.

"Edwin?"

It was his mother, her gentle voice bringing him back to the present. She stood in the doorway, her smile warm and comforting. But something in her eyes seemed... off.

"Mother?" Edwin's voice faltered. "You're... you're here. You're alive."

She stepped forward, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, her smile never faltering. "I've always been here, darling."

She looked beautiful.Raven black hair,a fair complexion and a slender body.

He resembled her in many ways.

Seeing her,a dead person made a chill creep down his spine.

No. Something wasn't right. He had seen her die. He had seen her die infront of him.

His breath hitched in his throat. Could it be?

His mind raced, the memories of the soldiers, the fire, the pain—all of it crashing into him at once. Was he... was he still alive? Or had he... had he never truly left?

He forced himself to stand, his legs unsteady as he backed away from her. "No. This isn't real. It can't be."

His mother's smile remained unchanged, as if she hadn't heard him, or maybe didn't care to.

"Edwin," she whispered softly, taking another step closer. "You don't have to run anymore. You're safe here. You're home."

He backed further, his pulse quickening. "No! You—you're not real!" He turned, bolting toward the door, desperate to escape. He had to get out. He couldn't stay in this place. Not again.

"Damn you!". My "mother" screamed in an inhuman tone her voice cruel and filled with bloodlust.

Then,it was quiet

The world outside the cottage was eerily calm. The sun shining, the birds singing... and yet, it felt wrong. Too still. Too quiet.

What is happening to me?

After dying his mind must have have been overloading itself trying to calm him down because after all most don't prepare to die more than once.

The sound of footsteps broke his thoughts, a familiar thudding growing louder behind him. He spun, his heart sinking as he saw the soldiers once again. Their cold eyes fixed on him, their faces hidden beneath their helmets, their blades gleaming in the sunlight.

It wasn't over.

It would never be over.

The world around him seemed to warp, flickering like a faulty lantern. The soldiers didn't move, but Edwin could feel their presence closing in, suffocating him.

And then, just as before, the blade descended, and everything went dark.

When Edwin opened his eyes again, he was back in his bed.

The cycle had begun anew.

This time, he wouldn't run. This time, he would break the cycle. But how? Was there a way out of this nightmare?

Yes.There is and he knows it now.

End of chapter-2