The sun climbed higher over the horizon, casting pale light through the trees as Serena sat by the dying fire, deep in thought. Her conversation with Adrian still echoed in her mind, his words playing over and over. The temptation of power, of controlling the chaos the Lumen Corvus represented, was as dangerous as the artifact itself. And though she trusted her own resolve, she wasn't sure she could say the same about Adrian.
The rest of the group stirred slowly. Alex sat up, rubbing his eyes, his expression heavy with fatigue. Rebecca was the first to speak, her voice rough from the long night. "What's the plan, Serena? We can't stay here."
Serena glanced around at her team. They all looked worn down, battle-weary, but there was still determination in their eyes. The threat of the Lumen Corvus had united them, but the road ahead would be even harder.
"We move out in an hour," Serena said, her voice firm. "We can't stay in one place for too long. We need to find somewhere more secure, somewhere remote enough that no one can track us."
Elena, sitting cross-legged near the entrance of the cave, nodded quietly. She had been quieter than usual since the battle, but Serena could tell that the events at the fortress still weighed heavily on her. Elena had been the key to activating the Lumen Corvus, and while they had managed to contain its power, the experience had left a mark on her.
"I've been thinking," Elena said softly, her voice hesitant. "If we're going to find a way to destroy the artifact, we need more information. We don't know enough about it—its origins, its weaknesses. We need to understand it if we want to put an end to this."
Serena nodded in agreement. "You're right. But finding that information won't be easy. Adrian mentioned contacts—people who specialize in ancient relics. That might be our best shot."
Adrian, who had remained at the cave entrance throughout the morning, turned at the mention of his name. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by a more serious expression.
"I know people," Adrian said, walking back toward the group. "Not exactly the friendly type, but they know more about artifacts like the Lumen Corvus than anyone else. We'd have to go underground, deep into the networks of people who deal in this kind of power."
Rebecca raised an eyebrow. "And we're just supposed to trust these contacts of yours? They won't turn on us the moment they realize what we're carrying?"
Adrian's lips twitched into a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Trust is a luxury we can't afford right now. But these people value knowledge and power above all else. As long as they think they can learn something from the Lumen Corvus, they'll help us."
Serena's instincts bristled. She had never liked Adrian's reliance on shady connections and backdoor dealings, but they didn't have many options. They needed to learn more about the artifact if they had any hope of destroying it.
"There's something else we need to consider," Alex said, his voice steady but cautious. "The Covenant and the Seekers might be gone, but there are other groups out there. People who have heard the legends of the Lumen Corvus—people who will come after us once they realize we have it."
Serena nodded. "We'll have to stay one step ahead of them. We can't be reactive anymore. We need to get to the source of this before they can track us down."
Adrian's expression darkened, his gaze flicking between the group. "We'll need to split up."
The statement hung in the air like a heavy weight. Serena frowned, immediately on alert. "Split up? Why?"
Adrian crossed his arms, his tone practical. "If we stay together, we're a bigger target. Anyone looking for us will be expecting the whole group to move as one. If we split into two teams, we can cover more ground, find answers faster, and reduce the chances of being ambushed."
Serena didn't like it. The idea of splitting up made them vulnerable, and there was too much at stake. But Adrian was right about one thing: they needed to move quickly and quietly. And with the Lumen Corvus in their possession, every second they stayed in one place increased the risk.
"Where would we go?" Rebecca asked, her brow furrowed.
"I take Elena and head to the contacts I mentioned," Adrian explained. "They have the knowledge we need to figure out how to destroy the Lumen Corvus for good. You and Serena head in the opposite direction—find another safe place and gather intel on who else might be hunting for the artifact."
Serena's gaze flicked to Adrian, then to Elena. Splitting up would mean trusting Adrian to keep Elena safe, and while he had proven himself in battle, his motives were always a little too self-serving for Serena's taste. But at the same time, there was truth in his logic.
"I don't like it," Serena said, her voice low. "But it might be our best option. Elena, are you okay with this?"
Elena hesitated, her eyes flickering to Adrian before returning to Serena. "I trust you, Serena. But if Adrian knows where to find answers, I think it's worth the risk. We need to stop the Lumen Corvus before someone else tries to use it."
Serena exhaled slowly, her mind racing. She hated the idea of splitting the group, but they had no other choice if they wanted to stay ahead of their enemies.
"Alright," Serena said reluctantly. "We split up. But we stay in contact. No one goes dark. If anything happens, we regroup immediately."
Adrian nodded, a hint of relief crossing his face. "Agreed. We'll leave at first light. The longer we stay here, the more likely we are to be tracked."
Rebecca crossed her arms, her expression hard. "This better work. I don't like trusting your shady friends, Adrian."
Adrian smirked. "Don't worry. I'm not exactly the trusting type either."
They spent the rest of the day preparing for the split, gathering supplies and discussing the best ways to stay under the radar. Serena watched as Adrian and Elena packed their things, her chest tightening with unease. Adrian's suggestion to split the group made sense tactically, but the nagging feeling that he had another agenda wouldn't leave her.
As night fell, Serena sat by the fire, her thoughts racing. The weight of the Lumen Corvus was heavy not only in her pack but on her conscience. They had stopped the immediate threat, but the danger was far from over. And as much as she wanted to believe they could find a way to destroy the artifact, part of her feared they were walking into a much larger, darker web of secrets.
Adrian sat down beside her, his expression unreadable. "You don't trust me," he said simply, his voice soft.
Serena glanced at him, her face hard. "No, I don't. But I trust you want to survive this just as much as I do."
Adrian chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Fair enough. Just remember, Serena, power attracts power. Even if we destroy the Lumen Corvus, something else will take its place. The question is—are we ready for what comes after?"
Serena's jaw tightened. "One thing at a time, Adrian. First, we destroy it. Then we'll deal with whatever comes next."
Adrian nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "I hope you're ready for that fight."
As the fire crackled between them, Serena knew that the real battle was still ahead.
Tomorrow, they would part ways. And whatever they found in the shadows, they would have to face it alone.