The journey back from the Lost City was marked by a heavy silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The weight of what they had discovered—that the ancient civilization had been destroyed by their own attempts to control The Source—was sobering. Claire walked ahead, her face pale and drawn, still reeling from the revelation that she had narrowly escaped the same fate. Marcus stayed close to her, his protective instincts heightened, while Evelyn lagged behind, her mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
They were returning to Riverton, back to where this all began. But something felt wrong. As they passed through the dense forest that bordered the ancient ruins, Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The trees loomed tall and foreboding, their branches swaying ominously in the cold wind. Every rustle of leaves and crack of a twig made her heart pound.
"Do you feel that?" Marcus asked, glancing back at her.
Evelyn nodded, her hand instinctively tightening around the artifact they had recovered from the Lost City. The weight of it in her pocket was both reassuring and troubling. "We're not alone," she whispered.
Claire turned, her eyes wide with fear. "Is it the Order?"
Evelyn's stomach twisted. "I don't know."
They pressed on, moving faster now, their senses on high alert. The forest seemed to close in around them, and the path grew narrower and more difficult to follow. The oppressive energy that had followed them since the Lost City clung to the air, thick and suffocating. But it wasn't just the Arcane Order they were worried about.
It was him.
Lucian.
The memory of his betrayal was still fresh in their minds. He had led them into the heart of the Arcane Order's trap, pretending to be their ally, only to reveal his true loyalties at the worst possible moment. Evelyn had always known he was dangerous, but his betrayal had cut deeper than she had expected. She had trusted him, and he had shattered that trust in a way that couldn't be repaired.
And now, she couldn't shake the feeling that he was out there, waiting.
As they neared the edge of the forest, the silence was broken by the soft sound of footsteps behind them. Evelyn's heart raced, and she spun around, her hand going to the hilt of the small dagger at her side.
A figure emerged from the shadows, moving toward them with slow, deliberate steps. The moment Evelyn saw him, her blood ran cold.
Lucian.
His face was as she remembered it—sharp, handsome, and filled with the same arrogance that had always defined him. But there was something different about him now. His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, and his once-dark cloak was tattered and torn, as though he had been through hell since they last saw him.
"I see you've survived," Lucian said, his voice smooth but laced with malice. "I wasn't sure you'd make it out of the Lost City."
Evelyn's hand tightened on her dagger. "What do you want, Lucian?"
He smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "I want what I've always wanted. Power. Control. The Source."
Marcus stepped forward, his expression dark. "You betrayed us. We trusted you."
Lucian shrugged, as if it meant nothing. "I did what I had to do. The Arcane Order offered me more than you ever could. And now, I've come to collect what's mine."
Evelyn's heart pounded. She knew what Lucian was after—he wanted the artifact, the key to The Source. But more than that, he wanted to finish what the Arcane Order had started. His ambition was boundless, and he would stop at nothing to gain control of the power he believed he was entitled to.
"You'll never get The Source," Evelyn said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. "You don't understand its power. It destroyed the Lost City, and it will destroy you too."
Lucian's smile widened. "That's where you're wrong, Evelyn. I understand The Source better than anyone. And with the knowledge I've gained from the Order, I'll be able to control it. I won't make the same mistakes as the civilization before."
Claire, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, her voice trembling with anger. "You're wrong, Lucian. No one can control The Source. It's too powerful."
Lucian's eyes flicked to Claire, and his smile faltered for a moment. "You were always the weakest link, Claire. Too afraid of your own power. But that's why I'm going to succeed where you failed."
Evelyn's heart sank as she realized what was happening. Lucian wasn't just after the artifact—he was after Claire. He still believed she was the key to unlocking The Source, and he would do anything to get to her.
"You're not taking her," Marcus growled, stepping in front of Claire.
Lucian's eyes narrowed, and his expression hardened. "I'm not asking."
Before anyone could react, Lucian moved. He was faster than Evelyn remembered, a blur of motion as he lunged toward them. Marcus tried to block his path, but Lucian was too quick. He slammed into Marcus with a force that sent him crashing to the ground, his head hitting a nearby rock with a sickening thud.
"Marcus!" Claire screamed, rushing to his side.
Evelyn's blood boiled as she drew her dagger and charged at Lucian, her anger fueling her every movement. But Lucian was ready for her. He dodged her attack with ease, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You've always been so predictable, Evelyn," he said, his voice taunting. "Always trying to play the hero."
Evelyn gritted her teeth, refusing to let his words get to her. She swung the dagger again, but Lucian caught her wrist and twisted, forcing her to drop the weapon.
"Give me the artifact," he hissed, his face inches from hers. "And I'll let you walk away."
Evelyn glared at him, her heart pounding. "Never."
Lucian's grip tightened, and for a moment, Evelyn thought he might snap her wrist. But then, a burst of light erupted from behind them, and Lucian staggered back, his grip loosening.
Evelyn spun around to see Claire standing there, her hands glowing with a faint, shimmering light. She looked terrified, but determined.
"You won't touch her," Claire said, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes.
Lucian's expression darkened, and he wiped a trickle of blood from his lip. "You're stronger than I thought," he sneered. "But it won't be enough."