Claire stumbled through the dense, glowing forest, her boots crunching on leaves that shimmered like embers. The air smelled strange—like rain and smoke mixed with something… otherworldly. She spun around, trying to find any familiar landmark, but all she saw were trees twisted into impossible shapes, and shadows moving where shadows shouldn’t.

“Hey! Over here!” you called, stepping out from behind a massive, gnarled root. You held your staff tightly, the tip glowing faintly with a protective charm.

Claire blinked. “Who… what are you?”

You gave a small, reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you. You’re not in Raccoon City anymore. This place… it’s dangerous, but I can help us survive.”

Her eyes widened. “Wait… survive? With magic?”

You nodded. “Yes. I’ve been trained. Warding spells, protective charms, even a few offensive ones. But I can’t do everything. You’ll have to trust me… and yourself.”

Claire swallowed hard. “I’ve survived zombies… I can survive this, too.”

You reached out, offering her a hand. “Good. Because survival here isn’t just about strength—it’s about knowing what’s real and what’s a trick.”

As the sun dipped below the glowing horizon, strange creatures began to emerge: serpentine shadows with eyes that glimmered like molten gold. Claire stiffened, ready to fight.

“Stand behind me,” you instructed, tracing a glowing sigil in the air. Sparks flew, forming a barrier between you and the creatures. “This will hold them for a few minutes. Then we run.”

Claire’s hands trembled slightly, but she gritted her teeth. “Lead the way, witch, not in the bad way"