The first light of dawn barely crept through the thick mist as Kai, Lyra, and Arion stood on the outskirts of the village. The landscape ahead seemed endless, a sea of rolling hills and dark forests stretching to the horizon. The eastern mountains, where Arion claimed the Codex's creators could be found, were still far off in the distance, barely visible as jagged peaks piercing the sky. But the journey ahead was more than just a physical one. The real danger was already inside Kai's mind—inside the Codex.
Kai adjusted his pack, his fingers brushing the worn cover of the Codex inside. Since meeting Arion, the Codex had been unusually quiet, its energy subdued as if it was waiting for something. But Kai knew better than to let his guard down. He could feel its presence lurking, like a predator stalking its prey.
Lyra stood beside him, her gaze hard as she surveyed their path. She hadn't said much since they'd agreed to follow Arion. Her mistrust of him hadn't faded, and Kai could see the tension in her posture, the way her hand never strayed far from her dagger. She was ready for anything—and so was Kai.
"Are you sure about this?" Lyra asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kai nodded, though he couldn't hide the uncertainty in his eyes. "We don't have a choice. If we don't stop the Codex now, it'll destroy everything. I can't let that happen."
Lyra didn't argue, but Kai could see the worry in her expression. She didn't trust Arion, and Kai wasn't sure he did either. But they had no other leads. If Arion was telling the truth, the only way to control the Codex was to find the creators.
Arion, standing a few paces ahead, glanced back at them. His expression was calm, but there was a sense of urgency in his movements. "The road ahead is long, and the Codex's influence will grow stronger the closer we get to the mountains. If either of you have doubts, now is the time to speak."
Kai shook his head. "We're ready."
Without another word, the three of them set off, leaving the village behind. The path ahead was winding and uneven, leading them deeper into the wilderness. Trees towered above them, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out much of the morning light. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the only sound was the soft crunch of their footsteps.
As they walked, Kai found himself lost in thought. The weight of the Codex hung over him like a dark cloud, its power a constant presence in the back of his mind. He wondered how much longer he could resist its pull, how much longer he could fight against the temptation to use it. He had seen what it had done to Tharun, how it had twisted him into a monster.
Would that be his fate too?
"Kai," Arion's voice broke through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.
Kai glanced over at him, his hand instinctively moving toward the Codex. "What is it?"
Arion's eyes flicked to the trees around them, his expression serious. "The Codex's influence will try to manifest in different ways. You've already seen how it affects the people around you—the mercenaries, Tharun—but it can do much worse. As we get closer to the mountains, it will try to deceive you, to manipulate your mind. You'll need to stay focused."
Kai frowned, a sense of unease settling in his chest. "Deceive me? How?"
Arion's gaze was sharp. "The Codex can create illusions—visions that feel real, memories that aren't yours, emotions that don't belong to you. It will try to make you doubt yourself, doubt your friends. It will use your fears against you."
Kai swallowed hard, glancing at Lyra. She was listening intently, her eyes narrowing. "So how do we stop it?" she asked.
"You can't," Arion said simply. "All you can do is recognize when it's happening and resist. The Codex thrives on chaos and confusion. It wants to break your spirit. But if you can hold on to your sense of reality, you can fight it."
Kai clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. The thought of the Codex messing with his mind was unsettling, but he knew Arion was right. The Codex was dangerous, far more dangerous than he had realized.
They continued walking in silence for a time, the forest growing denser around them. The path became narrower, forcing them to move in single file. The shadows lengthened, and the trees seemed to loom closer, their branches twisting in unnatural shapes.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Kai's feet shifted, and he stumbled. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he wasn't in the forest anymore. He was standing in a vast, open field, the sky above a swirling mass of dark clouds. Lightning flashed in the distance, and a cold wind whipped around him.
He blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. "What…?"
Then he heard it. A voice, faint but unmistakable.
"Kai…"
He turned, his heart pounding. Standing a few feet away was a figure, cloaked in shadow. He couldn't see its face, but the voice was hauntingly familiar.
"Kai… you can't escape."
Kai's blood ran cold. The voice wasn't just familiar—it was his own.
"You can't stop it," the figure said, stepping closer. "You think you're strong enough, but you're not. The Codex will consume you. It's only a matter of time."
Kai shook his head, backing away. "No. This isn't real. This is the Codex."
The figure laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Is it? Or is this your future? You've seen what happens to those who wield the Codex. You've seen Tharun. Do you really think you'll be any different?"
Kai's hands trembled as he drew his sword, pointing it at the figure. "I won't let it control me."
The figure stopped, its shadowy form shifting. "You already have."
Before Kai could react, the figure lunged at him, its form dissolving into a cloud of darkness that wrapped around him, suffocating him. Kai gasped, struggling to breathe as the darkness closed in, crushing him from all sides.
"Kai!"
Lyra's voice broke through the darkness, and suddenly, he was back in the forest. He stumbled, gasping for air, his vision clearing. Lyra was at his side, her hand on his shoulder, her expression filled with concern.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice urgent.
Kai shook his head, still trying to catch his breath. "The Codex… it's already trying to mess with me."
Arion approached, his expression grim. "This is only the beginning, Kai. The closer we get, the more powerful the illusions will become. You'll need to stay strong."
Kai nodded, though his heart was still racing. He glanced down at the Codex, its dark symbols glowing faintly through his pack. The weight of it felt heavier than ever.
As they resumed their journey, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that the Codex was watching him, waiting for the right moment to strike again.
And with each step, he knew that moment was drawing closer.
End of Chapter 15