Alice tossed and turned in her luxurious bed, her mind plagued by a nightmare. She was back in her village, the night she had run away after fighting with her mother. The echoes of their argument rang in her ears, her mother's voice filled with desperation and pain.
In her dream, Alice saw herself storming out of the house, her mother's tearful pleas fading into the night. She ran through the darkened streets, her feet pounding against the cobblestones, tears streaming down her face.
Suddenly, her mother's voice called out to her from the shadows, filled with sorrow and longing. "Alice, come back!"
Alice turned around, but her mother was nowhere to be seen. The darkness closing in around her, and she felt a crushing weight of guilt and regret. "I'm sorry, Mother," Alice sobbed. "I should have been there. I shouldn't have left you."
The dream twisted into chaos, flames erupting around her as the memory of the fire consumed her village. Alice tried to reach out to her mother, but the flames pushed her back, their heat scorching her skin.
Alice awoke with a start, her heart racing and her body drenched in sweat. She sat up in bed, gasping for breath, the vividness of the nightmare still clinging to her. Unable to calm herself, she threw off the covers and got out of bed, her feet padding softly on the cold floor as she made her way to the balcony.
She opened the balcony doors and stepped outside, the cool night air washing over her and helping to clear her mind. The moonlight bathed the gardens below in a soft, ethereal glow, and Alice hugged herself, seeking comfort in the quiet serenity of the night.
As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she heard the sound of a carriage approaching. The wheels clattered over the cobblestones, and the horses' hooves echoed in the stillness. Curious, Alice leaned over the balcony railing to get a better view.
The carriage came to a halt in front of the mansion, and the door opened. A lady stepped out, her elegant dress shimmering in the moonlight. Alice recognized her as Lady Elara, Lord Everhart's wife.
Behind her, another figure emerged from the carriage—a man whose face was partially obscured by the shadows. Yet there was something familiar about him that tugged at Alice's memory. She squinted, trying to place where she had seen him before.
Lady Elara and the man exchanged a few words, their voices too quiet for Alice to hear from her vantage point. As they turned to enter the mansion, the man glanced up briefly, his eyes meeting Alice's for a fleeting moment. Recognition flashed in his eyes, and a chill ran down Alice's spine.
She quickly stepped back from the railing, her mind racing. Who was this man, and why did he seem so familiar? The sense of unease from her nightmare lingered.
Alice was lost in the vivid recollection of her past, the images and emotions swirling around her like a storm. She was back in the nightmare, hearing her mother's voice, feeling the flames of the fire. Suddenly, a firm hand gripped her shoulder, shaking her gently but insistently.
"Alice, wake up," Rowen's voice broke through the haze of memory, steady and calm. "Sorry but we need to continue this some other time."
Alice blinked, coming back to the present. Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw Rowen leaning over her, his face etched with concern.
"Why? What's happening?" she asked, disoriented.
Just as she spoke, she felt the ground tremble beneath her feet. The birds in the forest took to the sky in a panicked flurry, their cries filling the air. From their vantage point, she could see the trees swaying violently as if caught in a powerful wind.
Rowen's expression was tense. "We have to move, now!" He quickly put out the fire and grabbed Alice's hand, pulling her away from their campsite.
A deep, rumbling sound resonated through the forest, growing louder with each passing second. The ground shook more violently, and Alice stumbled, trying to keep up with Rowen.
Emerging from the dense foliage was the giant of the forest. The creature was immense, towering above the tallest trees. Its body was covered in a thick, bark-like skin, giving it the appearance of a living tree. Moss and vines draped over its massive limbs, and its eyes glowed with an eerie green light. Each step it took sent shockwaves through the ground, causing the earth to quake and the trees to shudder.
The giant moved with a slow, deliberate grace, but the power in its movements was undeniable. As it walked, the forest seemed to bow to its presence, branches snapping and leaves swirling in its wake.
Alice's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the colossal figure approach. "What is that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
"The giant of the forest," Rowen replied, his grip on her hand tightening. "We need to stay out of its path. It's ancient and powerful, and we don't want to provoke it."
They hurried through the underbrush, the tremors from the giant's footsteps making it difficult to keep their balance. The forest around them was alive with movement and noise, as animals fled and trees groaned under the strain.
Rowen led Alice to a dense thicket, pulling her down to crouch low among the ferns and bushes. They held their breath, watching as the giant passed by, its colossal form shaking the very air around it. Rowen turned his attention to the serpent coiled around his neck. Vanora's luminescent eyes met his, and he posed the urgent question.
"Vanora, is there any way to seal the giant once again?"
Vanora's gaze shifted to Rowen, her tone thoughtful. "To seal the giant once more, a new balance must be established. The energy of the forest must be aligned to restore the equilibrium. Perhaps, we could seek out ancient artifacts imbued with the forest's magic, which could reinforce the seal."
"An artifact? Are we going treasure hunting?" Alice's eyes sparkled with delight.
Vanora's eyes glowed as she accessed ancient knowledge. "There is a place known as the Temple of Maelor , hidden deep within the mountains to the north. It is said that the temple houses an artifact of great power, one that can control and stabilize the natural forces of the land."
Alice nodded, absorbing the information. "So how far is it?"
Vanora uncoiled slightly, her luminescent eyes meeting Rowen's. "We don't need to travel by foot. With my abilities, I can teleport us directly to the vicinity of the temple. However, the closer we get, the more likely we are to encounter ancient protections and wards."
Rowen nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. "We need to act quickly before the giant causes irreparable damage. Let's do it."
"Teleportation? Really?" Alice exclaimed, tugging at Rowen's cloak with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "Why didn't you use that spell to get us out of the forest earlier?"
Rowen chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You can't just teleport into the Dark Forest, Alice. How do you think I got here in the first place? By walking, of course. Besides, it's not me doing the teleportation. It's Vanora."
Alice's eyes widened with realization. "Vanora?" she echoed, glancing at the serpent coiled around Rowen's neck.
Rowen nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, being a guardian, the magic surrounding the Dark Forest doesn't affect her. In fact, apart from healing and saving you, I've never once used my own magic in the Dark Forest."
Alice furrowed her brows, her curiosity deepening. "Why? Is there a reason for that?"
Rowen's eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion. "I'll explain to you later," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "For now, let's focus on our next steps."
Alice bit her lip, her mind racing with questions. She glanced at Vanora, who seemed to sense her thoughts and gave a subtle nod, as if to assure her that all would be revealed in due time.
"Alright," Alice murmured, still tugging at Rowen's cloak for comfort as Vanora's glow intensified. The serpent began to chant in a language that resonated with ancient power. The air around them crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet shimmered as if reality itself was bending.
"Hold on to each other," Vanora instructed, her voice echoing with authority.
Alice clutched Rowen's arm tightly, her heart racing with a mix of fear and excitement. Rowen placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as Vanora's magic enveloped them.