We pushed through the dense underbrush, each step heavier than the last. The weight of the crystal was becoming more than just a physical burden—it was pulling at my mind, clouding my thoughts and whispering dark promises I had to resist. The air around us had grown thick, and I could feel the subtle shift in the atmosphere, as if the forest itself was bracing for something.
Raven stayed close, her dark eyes scanning the surroundings, ever the protector. I could sense the tension in her, though she tried to mask it. Her silence said more than words ever could—there was a distance between us now, one that hadn't always been there. It had grown with every choice I made to use the crystal, and now, despite our physical closeness, it felt like a gulf was widening.
"Jade," Raven's voice was low, barely more than a whisper, but it broke the silence like a crack in the ice. "Are you… are you okay?"
