i reincarnated in to my Novel

Morning broke over the village with a mist clinging to the air, the sun struggling to pierce through a thick veil of clouds. The village square, usually quiet at this hour, was filled with tension as the group gathered. The uneven cobblestones beneath their feet glistened with dew, and the faint rustling of leaves in the forest beyond served as the only sound. Dakota and Henry stood side by side, their expressions grim. The rest of the group—Lucas, Ava, Liam, Mia, Luna, Amelia, and Jack—stood in a semicircle, their concern evident.

Lucas: (arms crossed, breaking the silence) "Alright, you two. Spill it. What's going on? You dragged us out here before breakfast, so it must be serious."

Henry: (gruffly) "It is serious. We ran into... someone in the forest yesterday."

Amelia: (raising an eyebrow) "Someone? Care to be a little more specific?"

Dakota: (calmly) "A witch".

The air seemed to grow heavier, the weight of his words sinking in. A sharp intake of breath came from Mia, while Liam stepped forward, his usual confident swagger replaced by unease.

Liam: "A witch? Like an actual, magic-wielding, curse-slinging witch? And you're just casually telling us now?"

Ava: (crossing her arms) "Why didn't you tell us about this before? We're a team, Dakota. Remember?"

Henry: (gritting his teeth) "Because she's not your average witch. She's dangerous, and we didn't want to put you all at risk. Yesterday was the first time she actually confronted us".

Mia: (nervously) "And what did she want?"

Dakota and Henry exchanged a brief glance. The memory of the encounter played in Dakota's mind: the haunting silhouette of the Witch, her cold smile, and her cryptic warnings.

Dakota: (measured tone) "She gave us a warning. Something about shadows among the light, allies not being what they seem, and the price of breaking fate."

Jack: (scoffing) "Classic witch nonsense. Are we sure she's not just messing with you?"

Dakota: (shaking his head) "No. She doesn't play games without a purpose. Whatever she's planning, it's tied to what's coming. We need to be ready."

The group fell silent. Even Lucas, usually quick to crack a joke, remained serious. Luna was the first to speak, her voice soft but firm.

Luna: "If she's that dangerous, why didn't she just attack you outright? What's stopping her?"

Henry: (bitterly) "Probably because she gets more entertainment watching us squirm. Or maybe she's waiting for the right moment to strike."

Ava: (narrowing her eyes at Dakota) "Or maybe she wants something from you. You're the one she keeps targeting, after all."

Dakota's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond immediately. Ava's words hit uncomfortably close to the truth, but revealing too much would only put them all in greater danger.

Liam: (stepping forward, his usual bravado returning) "Alright, so we've got a cryptic witch and some ominous warnings. What's the plan? Because sitting around waiting for her next move doesn't sound like a good idea."

Dakota: (nodding) "You're right. We can't afford to be passive. Whatever she's warning us about, it's tied to the Unseen One's influence. That means strengthening ourselves and keeping an eye out for anything unusual."

Amelia: (frowning) "Unusual like what? Strange shadows? Unexplained magic? People acting weird?"

Henry: (grimly) "All of the above."

Lucas: (sighing) "Great. So basically, trust no one and be ready for anything. Got it."

The group exchanged uneasy looks but nodded in agreement. With no more to say, they dispersed to prepare for training. Dakota lingered in the square, his mind preoccupied with Ava's earlier accusation. Before he could leave, Ava approached him, her expression serious.

Ava: "Hey, Dakota. Got a minute?"

Dakota: (pausing) "What is it?"

She crossed her arms, her tone firm but not accusatory.

Ava: "I get that you're trying to protect us, but this whole 'keeping secrets' thing? It's not working. If we're going to face whatever's coming, we need to know the full story."

Dakota: (sighing) "It's not that simple, Ava. There are things you're better off not knowing."

Ava: (challenging) "Says who? You? Last time I checked, we're all in this together. Or is this just your way of saying you don't trust us?"

Dakota: (quietly) "It's not about trust. It's about responsibility."

For a moment, Ava seemed taken aback, but she quickly regained her composure.

Ava: "Responsibility doesn't mean doing everything alone, Dakota. You're not the only one with something to lose here."

Her words struck a chord, though Dakota didn't let it show. Instead, he nodded faintly.

Dakota: "I'll keep that in mind."

Ava: (rolling her eyes) "You better. Because if you keep shutting us out, you're going to end up on your own. And let's be real—you're terrible at asking for help."

She turned and walked away, leaving Dakota to mull over her words. He watched her go, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before he turned his gaze back to the forest.

"She's right. But if they knew the whole truth... would they still stand by me?"

---

The scene shifted to the training grounds, where the group sparred and practiced their magic. Flames, water, and wind swirled through the air as they pushed themselves to their limits. Henry squared off against Lucas, their weapons clashing in a burst of sparks. Liam and Mia worked on refining their spells, while Jack and Amelia tested their teamwork in a mock battle. Luna stood off to the side, observing and offering guidance when needed.

Dakota stood apart from the group, his thoughts heavy. The Witch's warning echoed in his mind, and Ava's words had left a deeper impression than he wanted to admit. He clenched his fists, determination hardening his expression.

"No matter what happens, I'll protect them. Even if it means carrying the weight alone."

---

As the day wore on, the group pushed themselves harder, their determination fueled by the looming threat. But in the depths of the forest, unseen eyes watched their every move. A faint whisper carried on the wind, too soft for anyone to hear.

"The time will come. And when it does... the King must fall."