Shadows o

scaped the canyon with their lives, and the memory of the beast's guttural roars still echoed in their mi

s thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the

first. "What do you thin

like... loyalty. The beast wasn't just guarding it-

e locket. "If the shards represent aspects of Seraph

"Let's hope the next tes

dy drifted through the air. It was hauntingly beaut

" Elena asked, sto

on the hilt of his swo

more entrancing, until they reached a clearing. At its center stood a s

e out here?" E

d. "Someone who does

an elderly woman stepped out. Her silver hair flowed like a river dow

tinged with something unsettling. "You've

rian. He gave a slight nod, but

e crackled in the hearth, and the air was filled

ista. It's rare to see visitors in these part

ly. "We're searching for some

t. "Ah, relics. They hold great powe

words. Elena felt a chill creep up h

ard hidden nearby?"

er. "Perhaps. But such kno

lena asked, her voice steady de

"A truth. The deepest truth you hide from even

lance with Adrian. "Why

aid simply. "And power is t

t have time for games. If you k

ithout my help. The woods are not what they seem. They

eath. "Fine. I'll an

gan, but she silen

turned. "Very well

s she had buried, the choices she regretted. Finally, she said, "I bet

s breath. Calista studied

er a moment. "Your truth is

small, intricately carved box. Opening it, s

handing it to Elena. "But beware-your journey w

fingers brushing against t

an. "And you, warrior. Your tr

fened but s

in, its haunting notes lingering in the air. T

?" Elena asked as they follo

. "I think we need to

ve stone archway covered in vines. Beyond it

Elena said, grippi

s sword. "Let'

the key heavy in her pocket. The air shifted the moment they cross

s place?" El

It was a barren expanse of cracked earth, the sky above swirling with dark, sto

n said, his voice

ward. Elena's steps faltered when a fissure opened ahead

e careful," A

d a series of narrow stone ledges forming a precario

avigated the ledges. Each step was a test of balance and nerv

heavier, and a low rumble res

ked, her voice barely aud

is sword. "We

beast with obsidian scales that glimmered like shattered glass. Its eyes

, pushing Elena forwar

t their heels. Elena felt the sharp sting of its claws as

ledge. He swung his sword in a wide arc, the blade sli

ed, his voice fierce

outed back, her hand instinct

nd the pendant. A surge of energy pulsed through her, t

pered, her voice t

rupted between them and the beast. The creature recoiled with a deaf

his voice pulling her ba

y as it had appeared. They raced across the remaining

er side, they collapsed onto the

e," Elena panted,

olute. "Too close. Whatever that thi

ead. The shard rested atop a pedestal carved from b

na reached out cautiously, her fingers brushing against the cold, smoo

ly, and the pedestal beg

b it!" Adri

appeared. The world around them blurred, and th

themselves back in the woods, the sh

" Adrian muttered, l

hard unyielding. "We're getting

faintly, the second shard joining

ground beneath them shifted again, and a

cooed, her tone laced with amusement.

e, their resolve strengthening. Whateve

h malice. The sorceress's tone made the hairs on the back of her neck ris

demanded, his voice steady despit

ees deepened, and Calista materialized before them. Her flowing black robes s

, her gaze fixed on Elena. "But res

ard, its energy pulsing against he

dear, carry a power far greater than you real

of the shard's power or why Calista was so determined to clai

take it," Adrian growled,

loyalty. It's charming, really. But tell me, Adrian, how far

und beneath them erupted in a surge of blackened vines. They

struggling as the vines

he shouted, slashing at th

clawed at the ground, her free hand reaching for the locket. It g

an bellowed, charg

sent a blast of energy that knocked him

r voice laced with contemp

nsified, and the shard vibrated in her grasp. She focu

ight and searing through the vines. Calista hissed, shi

ough her veins. She reached for Adrian, helping him

arled, her form dissolving in

fell over the forest. Elena and Adrian

ose," Adrian sai

he tucked the shard back into her pock

rd, his jaw clenched. "N

r. Together, they pressed on, knowing that each step brought them closer to un

damp earth and the fading resonance of Calista's voice, Elena couldn't shake the weight of h

tensity of it all. His gaze met hers, a silent question lingering in his eyes. They both knew th

voice low but firm, as if speaking the thou

as if to banish the vulnerability that Calist

path before them stretched through the woods, its twists and turns obscured by the ever-pre

ing between them like an unspoken truth. The woods felt different

He had always been the more cautious of the two, ever-watchful and protective, but there was something el

stretching longer and deeper. The faint melody that had haunted them earlier began a

ured deeper into the forest, the glow of

rely visible through the thick trees, a stone structure rose f

he pull of it, a force that seemed to call to her, urging her forward. But there was something

old, sharp like a winter's bite. Elena froze, her hand clu

muttered, his eyes n

t open before them, a chasm of darkness ya

her. Her face was hidden beneath a hood, but her presence was overwhelming, suffoc

reathed, the name

nding. "You've done well to make it this far, Elen

his sword drawn and poised. "We'

ile, one that sent a chill down

h, sending waves of shadow lashing toward them. Adrian blocked the firs

an shouted, struggling

g to the darkness. A cold, suffocating grip seemed to tighten around her heart. The locket around h

ng with malicious hunger. "The power you car

limbs, pulling at her like a vice. She could feel the pull of the s

ing on the shard's power, willing it to prote

, her voice breaking th

nt, the darkness seemed to recede. Calista staggered back, her form fl

l his might, the blade cutting through the shadows that surrounded them. The air crackled as the blade met some

ent, there was

ight?" Adrian asked

beneath her fingers soothing the lingering tension in her body. She didn't know how much lon

the words felt empty. The fear had not left her

e said nothing more. He simply stood besid

aking a deep breath and stepping forwa

path ahead loomed larger than ever. Whatever lay beyond the shadows o

by her side, she