Lusi stirred awake, her senses returning slowly as the warmth of the fire crackled nearby. The cave was small but offered shelter from the relentless mist outside. The weight of recent events pressed down on her—separated from the group, ambushed by a figure cloaked in shadows, and now stranded with Wushi, miles from safety.
Wushi sat by the entrance of the cave, his eyes scanning the dense fog swirling beyond. His shoulders were tense, as if he expected another ambush at any moment. Lusi's eyes traveled to him, and she saw the weariness in his expression, masked by his stoic demeanor.
She tried to sit up, her body protesting in exhaustion. Wushi turned immediately, moving to her side. "You shouldn't push yourself," he said, his voice low but firm.
Lusi gave a weak smile, grateful for his concern. "I'm not made of glass. I can handle a little fatigue."
Wushi's frown deepened. "That ambush took more out of you than you think. The magic in that mist was ancient… it's dangerous."
Her gaze softened as she studied him, sensing the weight of his words. "You've seen it before, haven't you?"
He didn't answer at first, his jaw tightening. "I've felt its power in the realm of gods, long ago. But this… this is different. It's darker."
Silence settled between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the cave. Lusi pulled her knees to her chest, resting her chin on them. "We have to find Mei and the others. We can't leave them in that fog."
Wushi nodded. "We will. As soon as you've regained your strength, we'll move out."
But even as he spoke, Lusi could see the uncertainty in his eyes. The mist had separated them too easily, and she knew whatever power had ambushed them wasn't finished. They needed to be prepared for the next attack, and they couldn't afford to hesitate.
As the firelight flickered across the cave walls, Lusi's mind raced. The warnings from the valley echoed in her thoughts, and the figure they'd encountered haunted her memory. Who was he? And why had he attacked them so decisively?
"We're running out of time," Lusi muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Wushi met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I know. But we'll make it through this—together."
A strange calm settled over her at his words. Despite everything, she trusted him completely. There was something unspoken between them, a bond forged through battles and danger. It wasn't romance, not yet, but there was a closeness that neither had fully acknowledged.
Outside, the mist thickened once again, creeping closer to the cave as if alive. The temperature dropped, and the air filled with the eerie sound of distant whispers.
Lusi stiffened, her body tensing. "Do you hear that?"
Wushi's hand instinctively went to his sword, his eyes narrowing. "It's the mist… it's moving."
A chill ran down Lusi's spine as the whispers grew louder, their haunting voices echoing through the fog. She stood shakily, her body still weak but her resolve stronger than ever. Whatever was out there, it wasn't going to leave them in peace.
"We can't stay here," Wushi said, his voice urgent. "We need to move before it surrounds us."
Lusi nodded, gripping her own weapon tightly. The mist was closing in, and with it, the sense of foreboding grew. They had no choice but to push forward, deeper into the unknown.
As they prepared to leave the cave, Lusi caught Wushi's eye. He gave her a small nod, silent reassurance that they would face whatever came next—together.
With the mist swirling around them, they stepped out of the cave, ready to confront whatever darkness awaited.
4o