The morning light filtered through the old curtains, casting soft designs on the wooden floor of Aria's grandmother's house. Despite the early hour, Aria was already awake, the weight of her conversation with Elias still heavy on her mind. The thought that the veil was growing thin because of her presence gave her a cold shock down her spine. How was she tied to this ancient power? And what does this mean for Wolvesbane Hollow?
She leaned against the kitchen table and looked at the map Elias had deciphered from the coded glyphs in the book. It was not complete, but it was a beginning, a way into the heart of the mystery. The source of the veil's power was out there, hidden somewhere in the village or its surrounding forests, and Aria was determined to find it.
Her grandmother's death had set everything in motion, but this was deeper than one woman's passing. Aria could sense it in her marrow; every stride she made into Wolvesbane Hollow seemed to draw her deeper into its clutches. The secrets of the veil weren't just historical—they were alive, breathing, and moving with her.
As she mulled over the next steps, the door creaked open. Elias stepped in, his expression grim yet composed, his presence as solid as ever.
"Ready? he asked, his voice steady but cautious.
Aria looked up at him, her gaze on the map. "Do you think we'll find it today?"
Elias shook his head slowly. "It's hard to say. The veil is an old force; not just physical barriers protect it. Whatever we find won't give up its secrets easily."
Aria exhaled sharply, nodding. She put the map back in her bag and got her coat. As they walked out into the morning mist, she noticed how the village seemed quieter than usual. There were no people on the streets, and a dense fog rolled over the buildings, consuming everything it touched. It was as if Wolvesbane Hollow itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
The woods loomed ahead of them, dark and forbidding. Elias had said that the path to the source of the veil's power would take them through the ancient forest—an area that had always felt unsettling to Aria as a child. It was the sort of forest where the trees appeared to call your name and shadows deceived your eyes.
As they walked into the forest, the air became colder and the light faded under the dense canopy of trees. Aria could feel the weight of the veil pressing down on them, like a presence that was watching patiently. She stayed close to Elias, her hand brushing against the hilt of the small dagger she had taken from her grandmother's collection.
Elias moved with caution, his eyes ever alert, scanning the surroundings. His silence was comforting in its own way—he wasn't one for unnecessary words, and that made his presence feel even more solid.
"Elias, Aria finally said, her voice cutting through the stillness of the woods, "why didn't you tell me about the connection sooner?"
He paused, glancing back at her with a mixture of regret and caution in his eyes. "I didn't want to overwhelm you. This is a lot to comprehend, Aria. You've been thrust into a world most people never even imagine.
"I know, but I deserve to know everything. I need to understand why I'm involved in this." She didn't intend for her voice to be so commanding, but the authority she heard in her voice surprised even her. There was a fire burning inside her now—a need for answers.
Elias nodded; his expression softened. "You're right. You do deserve to know". He gestured for her to follow him deeper into the woods. "There's something I haven't told you—about your family, your grandmother, and why the veil is so important."
Aria's heart raced as she followed Elias through the trees. The floor under them was so uneven, and the air got denser the deeper they got. Finally, they came to a small clearing where a circle of ancient stones stood, their surfaces covered in strange, unreadable markings.
Elias stopped in the center of the stones and turned to face Aria. "The veil is not only a separation of this world and another. It's a prison."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. "A prison?"
He nodded. "Long ago, something powerful was sealed away beyond the veil—a force that could destroy everything if it ever broke free. The guardians, your family included, were tasked with ensuring that the veil remained strong, keeping that force contained."
Aria took a step back, her mind racing. "But why me? Why is my presence weakening the veil?"
Elias hesitated, his gaze intense. "Because you're more than just a guardian, Aria. Your bloodline carries a unique power—something that not even your grandmother fully understood. You're tied to the veil in ways that no other guardian has been. The veil answers to you; that's why it grows thin. It's recognizing you."
Aria's pulse quickened. The weight of Elias's words settled over her, heavy and suffocating. If what he spoke was fact, she wasn't just a pawn in this timeless battle. She was at the center of it.
"What happens if it breaks? She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elias's expression darkened. "If the veil breaks, the force behind it will be unleashed, and it will consume everything in its path."
Aria's hands trembled. This was bigger than anything she had ever imagined. She had only come to Wolvesbane Hollow to settle her grandmother's estate, and now she might be dealing with something much worse. The fate of the entire village—maybe even the world—rested on her shoulders.
She looked up at Elias, searching his eyes for reassurance. "What do we do?"
"We find the source of the veil's power", Elias said firmly. "We strengthen it. And we keep whatever's on the other side from breaking through."
Aria swallowed hard, nodding. But even as she tried to muster her courage, a deep sense of unease gnawed at her. The veil was somehow connected to her, and the more they tried to find the source, the more perilous it became.
They moved out of the clearing and further into the forest, and Aria couldn't help but feel that something was watching them, following them just out of sight of the trees. The air felt thick with anticipation, like a storm about to break.
And then she heard it—a soft, almost imperceptible whisper, carried on the wind. She held still, her hand automatically going to her dagger.
Elias stood next to her, his body rigid. "Did you hear that? He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Aria nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The whisper grew louder, more distinct, as if it were calling her name.
Without thinking, Aria took a step forward, her gaze locked on the shadows ahead. There was something there, in the clearing, just past the edge, waiting for her.
The veil
was thinning, and whatever was on the other side was drawing near.