The Eternal Sketch

Silverbrook disappeared behind them as Ryo, Elara, and Callus followed the winding forest path toward the ruins of Evershade. The missing researcher, Professor Alden, was last seen exploring the ancient city that once belonged to a forgotten civilization. Stories claimed the ruins were filled with secrets, lingering magic, and dangers no one fully understood.

The journey took most of the day. As they ventured deeper into the wild, the dense canopy of trees overhead blocked out the sun, casting the path in shadow. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, and distant animal cries echoed through the trees.

Ryo studied the old stone markers along the way—weathered statues with unreadable inscriptions. He traced a finger over one and felt a faint hum beneath his skin. "There's magic here," he murmured.

Callus nodded. "These lands were once home to powerful spellcasters. Some say they left behind more than just ruins."

Elara smirked. "Great. Because a simple missing person case wasn't enough of a challenge."

After hours of walking, they finally reached the outskirts of Evershade. The ruins stretched before them—crumbled towers, broken archways, and stone pathways overtaken by roots. The air felt heavier here, charged with something unseen.

Ryo pulled out his sketchbook. He had an idea. If he could use his ink to recreate what these ruins once looked like, maybe he could reveal hidden structures.

He knelt and sketched, his brush moving quickly over the parchment. Slowly, an illusion took form around them—transparent outlines of towering structures, filling in gaps where time had eroded the city.

Elara stepped back, eyes wide. "That's… incredible."

But before Ryo could respond, a distant sound cut through the silence—a low growl. Something was watching them.

Callus drew his sword. "We're not alone."

From the shadows of the ruins, figures emerged. Not humans—something else. Their forms flickered, shifting between solid and spectral, as if trapped between worlds. They had humanoid shapes but lacked faces, their bodies draped in tattered remnants of robes.

Ryo's grip tightened on his brush. These were no ordinary ghosts. He had read about them before—Echo Shades, remnants of people bound to the ruins by forgotten magic.

One stepped forward, raising a hand. The air crackled.

"They're reacting to your magic," Callus warned.

Ryo had a split second to decide. Instead of dismissing his illusion, he willed it to change. He adjusted the drawing, making the figures appear as they once were—residents of the lost city, not intruders.

The Echo Shades hesitated. One of them cocked its head as if recognizing something. The tension in the air eased.

Elara exhaled. "Okay, that worked. Now let's find the professor and get out of here before they change their minds."

They moved carefully through the ruins, following what remained of the main street. Eventually, they reached an open courtyard where a worn journal lay beside an abandoned satchel.

Ryo picked it up and flipped through the pages. Notes about strange energy signatures, markings, and—

A sudden chill ran down his spine. The last entry read: I hear whispers in the stone. I think they know I'm here.

A shadow passed over them.

Something else was here.

And it wasn't friendly.