The cold air stung Adam's face as he plummeted into the abyss, his body slicing through the thick layers of fog like an arrow shot from a taut bow.
The faint blue glow of Ibrahim's necklace faded in the surrounding darkness, leaving him alone to face the unknown.
In a fleeting moment before he closed his eyes, he saw the image of the mysterious woman who had appeared to him in the chamber.
Her piercing blue eyes cut through the darkness like laser beams.
Her chilling words echoed in his ears: "I am your destiny… I am the one who will lead you to the Mistflower… And I know you will fail."
Was this woman Kai? Was she merely a figment of his weary imagination? Or perhaps... something more sinister?
The questions swirled in his head like an endless vortex, tearing at his thoughts and scattering his focus.
He felt his body collide violently with a solid surface, sharp pains shooting through his bones.
He opened his eyes with difficulty, a blurred vision surrounding him. He was lying on damp ground, the smell of mildew filling his nostrils.
He couldn't move, his body exhausted from the fall. He tried to sit up, but the pain forced him to lie back down.
Where was he now? What had happened?
He tried to remember what had transpired, but his memory was as cloudy as the fog that surrounded him. He remembered the chamber, the mysterious woman, and his fall into the abyss.
Had it all been a dream? No, the pain he felt was too real.
He slowly raised his head and looked around. He was in a narrow, dark tunnel, its walls covered in a thick layer of moss. He could hear only the sound of his ragged breathing and the dripping of water from the tunnel ceiling.
He tried to stand again, and this time he succeeded. He felt the tunnel walls with his hand, searching for a way out.
He walked slowly, step by step, in the pitch darkness. He didn't know where he was going, but he had no other choice.
Suddenly, he saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel.
He quickened his pace, hoping for salvation.
He approached the light and felt a cool breeze on his face.
He emerged from the tunnel and found himself in a dark forest. The trees were tall and imposing, covering the sky with their dense foliage. The faint light came from the moon, which was struggling to penetrate the leaves.
Fear gripped Adam once again. He was alone in a dark forest, not knowing where he was or how he would get out.
He remembered his grandmother's words, "Beware of the darkness, Adam, for evil lurks within it, and in evil… lies death."
Had he fallen into a trap?
Was the mysterious woman behind all of this?
He didn't know, but he had to stay calm and think of a way out.
He started wandering through the forest, looking for any sign that might point him in the right direction.
But he found nothing. It seemed as if this forest had no end.
Suddenly, he heard a strange sound coming from behind the trees.
Adam stopped in his tracks and listened intently. The sound resembled the growl of a predatory animal.
Fear gripped him once again. He tightened his grip on his dagger and prepared to defend himself.
The sound grew closer and closer. It was approaching him rapidly.
Then, the creature emerged from behind the trees. It was a strange being that Adam had never seen before. It was huge and terrifying, with sharp fangs and red eyes that glowed in the darkness.
The creature lunged at Adam, roaring loudly. Adam raised his dagger, ready to strike.
But the creature was faster than him. It leaped on him, knocking him to the ground.
Adam fell on his back and felt the creature's fangs tear into his flesh. He screamed at the top of his lungs, trying to push the creature away.
But the creature was too strong. It was getting closer and closer to his face, its fangs grazing his neck.
At that moment, Adam felt his life was over. He closed his eyes and surrendered to death.
But suddenly, he heard another sound piercing through the creature's roar. It was a female voice, calling his name.
"Adam!"
Adam opened his eyes and saw the mysterious woman standing in front of the creature. She was holding a glowing sword and pointing it at the creature.
The creature backed away, growling more softly. Then, it vanished into the darkness.
The woman looked at Adam and said, "I have saved you again."
Adam couldn't believe his eyes. The woman who had told him he would fail was the same woman who had saved him twice.
What was going on here?
Who was this woman exactly?
And why was she helping him?
These questions were swirling in his head, but he didn't have time to answer them. He had to get out of this forest before it was too late.
He looked at the woman and asked, "Who are you?"
The woman smiled and said, "I am Kai."
Then Adam fainted.
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