The night passed in uneasy silence. Serena had taken the first watch, her eyes fixed on the darkened landscape that surrounded their camp. The fire flickered weakly, casting long shadows against the rocky cliffs, but it did little to chase away the tension that gripped the group. Alaric remained quiet, resting with his back against a boulder, while Rebecca dozed lightly beside the fire, one hand resting on the hilt of her knife.
Serena's mind was a storm of thoughts. Alaric's revelation about the Syndicate had unsettled her more than she wanted to admit. Another shadowy group, even more dangerous than the Covenant or the Seekers, hunting them for the Lumen Corvus? It felt like the walls were closing in, and every direction they turned led to more enemies. And yet, Alaric claimed they were the key to stopping it all—if they could get to the weapon hidden in the temple.
She glanced over at Alaric, his face partially hidden by the shadows. He seemed genuine, but there was always the chance that he was just a good liar. Serena wasn't naïve enough to take anyone at face value anymore, but she had no choice but to follow him. They were out of options, and if the Syndicate was as dangerous as he said, they had to stay ahead of them.
As dawn approached, Serena woke Rebecca and prepared to move out. The fire was doused, and within minutes, they were ready to face the narrow mountain pass.
The sun barely crested the horizon as they stood at the entrance of the trail that wound through the cliffs. The path was treacherously narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. On one side, sheer rock walls loomed above them, and on the other, a steep drop into the mist-filled valley below. One wrong step could mean certain death.
Serena felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her chest as she looked out over the jagged cliffs. The trail ahead looked more like a trap than a safe route, but there was no other way. Alaric had assured them this was the only path to the temple, but Serena couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking straight into danger.
"We need to move quickly but carefully," Alaric said, his voice low. "There are traps set along the path—some old, some newer. We'll need to stay alert."
Rebecca gave him a sharp look. "Traps? That's new information. Anything else we should know before we head into this deathtrap?"
Alaric's expression remained calm. "I've disarmed what I could the last time I was here, but there are still a few surprises along the way. Just stay close and follow my lead."
Serena nodded, though unease prickled at her spine. They had no choice but to trust Alaric's knowledge of the pass, but that didn't mean they could let their guard down.
They started their trek, moving single file along the narrow trail, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the soft wind that swept through the cliffs. The path was rocky and uneven, making every step feel precarious. Serena kept her eyes fixed ahead, her muscles tense with anticipation, ready to react to any sudden danger.
Alaric led the way, moving with the practiced ease of someone who had navigated the treacherous path before. Behind him, Serena followed, her gaze scanning the cliffs for any signs of traps or ambushes. Rebecca brought up the rear, her eyes sharp, her hand resting on her weapon.
The cliffs loomed above them like jagged teeth, casting long shadows over the path. The air was thin, making it harder to breathe as they climbed higher and higher along the narrow trail. Every now and then, the path would widen slightly, giving them a brief reprieve from the constant tension, but it never lasted long. The cliffside dropped sharply to their right, a dizzying fall into the valley below. One misstep, and it would be over.
They had been walking for over an hour when Alaric suddenly raised his hand, signaling for them to stop. Serena froze, her heart skipping a beat as she scanned the area. The wind had picked up, howling through the cliffs, but there was something else in the air—an unnatural stillness, like the calm before a storm.
Alaric crouched down, studying the ground ahead. "There's a pressure plate here," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind. "Step on it, and we'll trigger whatever trap it's connected to."
Serena's pulse quickened. "Can you disarm it?"
Alaric nodded, though his expression was focused and tense. "I can, but it'll take time."
Rebecca glanced around, her eyes narrowing. "We don't have time. There's no way the Syndicate isn't on our trail by now. They'll catch up if we're not careful."
Alaric didn't respond, his attention fully on the trap in front of him. He carefully reached into his pack, pulling out a small set of tools. Serena watched as he worked, her heart pounding with each passing second. The cliffs felt too exposed, too vulnerable. If the Syndicate was nearby, they'd be easy targets on this narrow trail.
After what felt like an eternity, Alaric stood up, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's done. We can move forward, but stay close. There are more traps ahead."
They continued down the path, their movements even more cautious now. Serena's nerves were on edge, every muscle in her body tense as they navigated the treacherous terrain. Alaric disarmed two more traps along the way, each one more intricate than the last. Whoever had built this trail had been determined to keep intruders out.
As they rounded a bend in the trail, the path widened slightly, giving them a brief moment of relief. But Serena's relief was short-lived. In the distance, she spotted movement—figures emerging from the mist further down the trail, moving toward them with alarming speed.
"The Syndicate," Alaric muttered, his eyes narrowing. "They've found us."
Serena's heart raced. There was no time to set up an ambush, no place to hide. The path was too narrow for a full-on fight, but if they didn't stop the Syndicate here, they'd be overwhelmed before they ever reached the temple.
"We can't fight them head-on," Serena said quickly. "We need to find a way to slow them down."
Alaric's gaze flickered to the cliffs above them. "There's a section of the path further up that's unstable. If we can trigger a rockslide, we can block the path and buy ourselves time."
Rebecca glanced at the approaching figures, then back at Alaric. "And how exactly are we supposed to trigger a rockslide without getting caught in it?"
Alaric's expression was grim. "We'll have to be quick. There's a ledge up ahead where we can take cover, but we need to move fast."
Serena nodded, her mind racing. "Then let's go."
They hurried up the trail, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the cliffs. The Syndicate was gaining on them, their figures growing clearer with each passing moment. Serena's pulse thundered in her ears as they neared the unstable section of the path. She could see the loose rocks and gravel that lined the cliffside, just waiting for the right push to send them tumbling down.
"Now!" Alaric shouted.
Serena and Rebecca moved quickly, using their knives to pry loose the larger rocks. With each shove, the ground beneath them rumbled, the rocks shifting and sliding. Within seconds, the entire cliffside began to tremble, and a deafening roar filled the air as the rockslide was triggered.
Serena barely had time to dive for cover before the avalanche of stone crashed down the mountainside, burying the path beneath tons of debris. Dust filled the air, choking and blinding, but when it finally cleared, the path was blocked—and the Syndicate was nowhere to be seen.
For now.
Serena caught her breath, her heart still racing. They had bought themselves time, but the Syndicate wasn't far behind. They had to keep moving.
"Let's go," she said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through her veins. "The temple is close."
With the rockslide behind them and the unknown dangers of the temple ahead, Serena led the way up the path, her resolve stronger than ever. The Lumen Corvus had to be destroyed—no matter the cost.