The rain-soaked mountains loomed around them as Serena and her team made their way through the dense forest, leaving the smoking wreckage of the ravine behind. The air was heavy with moisture, the mist clinging to the trees like a second skin, muffling the sounds of their footsteps. Serena's body ached from the explosion, her shoulder still sore from where she had slammed into the rock, but she pushed the pain aside. They had to keep moving. Stopping now would only invite more trouble.
Adrian, bruised but moving with his usual confidence, led the way, guiding them toward the hidden safehouse he had mentioned. Serena kept a wary eye on him, unsure if he had truly revealed all his cards. Adrian always seemed to have another move ready, another secret stashed away. But for now, he was their best chance at finding some temporary relief from the storm of enemies hunting them.
Behind her, Rebecca and Alex moved in silence, both still recovering from the explosion but pushing forward nonetheless. Elena, who had remained mostly quiet since the firefight, followed close behind, her eyes darting nervously around the trees. Serena could tell that Elena, for all her knowledge and connections, wasn't used to this kind of danger. She had led them to the Lumen Corvus, but she was out of her depth now that their enemies were closing in.
Serena's thoughts raced as they walked, trying to piece together what had just happened. The mercenaries were dead, but they had carried sophisticated weapons and seemed determined to take them down, even if it meant suicide. Someone with serious resources was behind this attack, but who?
"Adrian," Serena called quietly, moving up beside him. "You said these mercenaries might have been hired by someone else. Any idea who?"
Adrian didn't slow his pace, his eyes scanning the forest ahead. "I have a few ideas," he replied, his tone casual. "But none of them are good news. The Lumen Corvus is a powerful artifact, Serena. It's not just the Covenant that wants it. There are others—groups we haven't even considered yet."
Serena's brow furrowed. "Such as?"
Adrian finally glanced at her, his expression serious for once. "There are factions in the black market, powerful syndicates that deal in artifacts like this. Some of them operate outside of what even the Covenant considers acceptable. Their motives are darker, their methods more ruthless. And then, there's the rumor of an underground sect—the Seekers."
Serena frowned. "The Seekers? Who are they?"
Adrian's lips thinned. "They're an elusive group, rumored to be obsessed with ancient relics and forbidden knowledge. No one's sure if they're real, but if they are, they've been searching for the Lumen Corvus for decades. They believe the artifact can unlock something… bigger than reality itself. If they're involved, then we're in deeper trouble than I thought."
Serena's stomach twisted. The idea that they were being hunted by an underground cult obsessed with reshaping reality was unsettling. But they couldn't afford to dwell on it now. They needed to focus on survival.
"Do they have the kind of resources to pull off an attack like the one back there?" Rebecca asked, coming up beside them. "Because those mercenaries were well-equipped. This isn't just some small-time operation."
"They do," Adrian confirmed. "If they're truly behind this, we're up against more than just hired guns. We're facing people who are fanatical about their goals. They'll do anything to get the Lumen Corvus."
Serena cursed under her breath. "We need to get ahead of this. How far is the safehouse?"
Adrian glanced around, as if gauging their position. "Not far. We should reach it by nightfall."
Serena nodded, though her mind raced with uncertainty. Every second they spent on the run felt like they were falling further into the shadows, where enemies could be lurking around every corner. She didn't trust Adrian, not fully, but right now, she needed him. They all did.
The rain began to ease as the afternoon wore on, though the forest remained damp and misty. The trail grew steeper, the trees denser, as they climbed higher into the mountains. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the snap of a branch underfoot. Serena's senses were on high alert, every noise putting her on edge. The forest seemed to close in around them, making it feel as though they were being watched, even though she couldn't see anyone.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Adrian stopped at the base of a large, moss-covered rock formation. He ran his hands along the rough stone surface, searching for something Serena couldn't see.
"Here," Adrian muttered, pressing against a hidden mechanism.
The rock face shifted with a low rumble, revealing a narrow passageway that led deeper into the mountainside. The opening was almost imperceptible, camouflaged by the surrounding rocks and vegetation.
"Welcome to my little hideaway," Adrian said with a hint of amusement. "It's not much, but it'll keep us hidden for now."
Serena stepped forward cautiously, peering into the dark passageway. "You sure no one else knows about this place?"
Adrian shrugged. "I've kept it off the radar for years. It's as safe as we're going to get right now."
With no other choice, Serena led the way into the passage. The others followed closely behind, and the hidden door slid shut behind them, sealing them inside. The air was cool and damp, but at least it was dry, and the sound of the storm outside was muted.
The passage led to a small, dimly lit chamber carved into the rock. It wasn't much—a few old crates, some makeshift furniture, and a small generator that hummed softly in the corner. But it was secure, and that was all that mattered.
"We'll rest here for a few hours," Serena said, glancing at her exhausted team. "Then we need to figure out our next move."
Rebecca sank onto one of the crates, wiping rainwater from her face. "We're going to need more than a few hours of rest if we're going to keep up with these attacks. We're running on fumes."
Serena knew she was right. They were all exhausted—physically and mentally—but there was no time to stop. The enemy was relentless, and they wouldn't stop until they had the Lumen Corvus.
Adrian sat down on the opposite side of the chamber, his expression thoughtful. "We need to start thinking ahead. If the Seekers really are after the Lumen Corvus, we need to figure out why—and how to stop them."
Elena, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, spoke up, her voice soft but resolute. "There's a legend about the Lumen Corvus. It's said to hold the power to unlock the veil between worlds. If that's true, then the Seekers won't just stop at possessing the artifact. They'll want to use it."
Serena's chest tightened. The idea of the artifact falling into the wrong hands was terrifying. But they didn't even fully understand its power yet. How could they stop something they barely understood?
"We're not letting that happen," Serena said firmly, her gaze hard. "Whatever the Seekers—or anyone else—plan to do with the Lumen Corvus, we'll stop them."
Adrian smiled faintly, though there was something darker in his eyes. "Good. Because if they succeed, there won't be a world left to save."
The gravity of his words hung in the air like a shadow, a reminder of what was at stake.
Serena exhaled slowly, the weight of the responsibility pressing down on her. They had the Lumen Corvus now, but that was only the beginning.
The real battle was just getting started.