The forest was eerily silent as Kael, Varya, and Eiran moved through the trees, their footsteps muffled by the soft underbrush.
The chaos of the battle with the Raven Order still weighed heavily on their minds, and though they had escaped for now, the tension between them was palpable.
Eiran was barely conscious, his body weak from the toll of the relic's power. Kael carried him, his grip tight as if fearing that if he let go, Eiran would slip away entirely.
Varya led the way, her eyes scanning the forest for any signs of danger."We need to rest," Kael finally said, his voice hoarse from the strain of carrying Eiran.
"He can't go on like this."Varya slowed her pace, glancing back at the two of them.
"There's a clearing up ahead. We can stop there, but only for a short while. We're not safe here."Kael nodded, his thoughts consumed by the man in his arms.
Eiran's face was pale, his breathing shallow, but his grip on Kael's arm was tight as if he was clinging to the last remnants of his own control.When they reached the clearing, Varya set up a perimeter, keeping watch while Kael gently laid Eiran down on a soft patch of grass.
Eiran's eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, Kael saw the man he had once known—the warmth, the stubborn determination—but it was quickly replaced by the exhaustion and pain that had come to define him since the relic's curse had taken hold.
"You shouldn't have saved me," Eiran whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I could've ended it back there."Kael's heart clenched at the words. He knelt beside Eiran, his hand brushing the hair from his forehead.
"Don't say that. We're going to figure this out. We just need time."Eiran let out a bitter laugh, though there was no joy in it.
"Time? I'm running out of time, Kael. This... thing inside me... it's only getting stronger. I don't know how much longer I can fight it."Kael's hand tightened on Eiran's shoulder, his eyes filled with determination.
"You don't have to fight it alone. I'm here, Varya's here—we'll find a way. But giving up isn't an option."Eiran's gaze softened for a moment, his hand reaching out to grip Kael's.
"You always believe in me, even when I don't deserve it."
"You deserve it," Kael said firmly. "You always have."
Eiran's eyes closed, his body relaxing slightly as if Kael's words had offered him a small respite from the relentless torment of the relic. But the reprieve was short-lived.The ground beneath them suddenly rumbled, and Kael's heart sank. Varya was instantly on high alert, her daggers drawn, her eyes scanning the perimeter.
"We're not alone," she said, her voice low and tense.Kael cursed under his breath, quickly drawing his sword. "The Raven Order?"Varya shook her head, her eyes narrowing.
"No. This feels different."The rumbling grew louder, and the ground beneath them seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy.
The air around them thickened, charged with dark magic. Kael's stomach churned as he recognized the familiar, sinister presence—it wasn't the Raven Order, but something far worse.
The relic inside Eiran's pack began to glow, its dark energy pulsating wildly as if reacting to the presence of whatever was approaching."Kael," Eiran rasped, his eyes flying open.
"It's coming..."Kael's grip tightened on his sword as he stood protectively over Eiran.
"What is it?"Before Eiran could respond, a figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in darkness. It was taller than any human, its form twisted and grotesque, its eyes glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light.
The creature moved with an unnatural grace, its presence exuding pure malevolence.Kael's heart raced. This was no ordinary foe—this was a Shadowborn.
"Stay back," Varya warned, her voice steely as she took a defensive stance. "We're not ready for this fight."The Shadowborn let out a low, guttural growl, its eyes fixed on Eiran.
"The relic," it hissed, its voice like nails on a chalkboard. "It belongs to us."Kael stepped forward, placing himself between the creature and Eiran.
"You'll have to go through me first."The creature's eyes gleamed with malice as it regarded Kael with disdain.
"Foolish human," it sneered. "You think you can protect him? The relic's power is beyond your comprehension. He is already lost."Eiran struggled to sit up, his body trembling with the effort.
"No," he gasped.
"I'm not... lost."The Shadowborn's gaze shifted to Eiran, and for the briefest moment, it seemed almost... amused.
"Not yet," it whispered. "But soon."
Without warning, the creature lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air with blinding speed.
Kael barely had time to react, raising his sword to block the attack. The force of the blow sent him stumbling back, his arms straining under the weight of the creature's strength.
"Kael!" Varya shouted, rushing to his side. She launched herself at the Shadowborn, her daggers flashing in the moonlight as she struck at the creature's exposed side.
But her blades barely made a dent, the dark magic that surrounded the creature protecting it from harm.The Shadowborn turned its attention to Varya, swatting her away with a single, powerful strike.
She hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of her as she struggled to stand.Kael's blood ran cold as he saw the creature's eyes lock onto Eiran once more. It began to advance, its movements slow and deliberate, savoring the moment.
"No!"
Kael roared, throwing himself at the creature. His sword clashed against its dark armor, sparks flying with every strike.
But no matter how hard he fought, the creature barely seemed to notice his attacks.The Shadowborn reached out, its clawed hand extending toward Eiran.
"The relic is calling. You cannot resist it."Eiran's breath quickened as he felt the pull of the relic intensify. The dark energy inside him surged, threatening to take control once again. His hands shook as he tried to fight it, but he knew he was losing.
"I won't..." Eiran whispered, his voice barely audible.
"I won't give in..."Kael, his body aching from the battle, pushed himself to his feet. He couldn't let Eiran fall—not like this. He ran toward the creature, his heart pounding in his chest.
With a roar of pure desperation, he swung his sword with all his strength, aiming for the creature's head.But the Shadowborn was faster. It caught Kael's sword in its hand, its grip crushing the blade with ease.
Kael's eyes widened in horror as the creature raised its other hand, ready to strike him down.In that moment, something inside Eiran snapped.A blinding light erupted from the relic, and for a moment, everything was consumed by its brilliance.
The Shadowborn recoiled, its body writhing in agony as the relic's power surged through the air.Kael fell to the ground, shielding his eyes from the light.
When he dared to look again, he saw Eiran standing, his eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy. The dark power of the relic was flowing through him, but unlike before, he wasn't fighting it. He was controlling it.
The Shadowborn hissed in fury, its body dissolving into the shadows as it retreated.
"This isn't over," it snarled before disappearing into the darkness.Eiran stood there, his body trembling, but he was still standing.
The power of the relic crackled around him, but for the first time, he seemed in control.Kael, still reeling from what had just happened, slowly approached him.
"Eiran?"Eiran turned to him, his eyes still glowing faintly, but there was something different in them—something resolute.
"I can't keep running from this," he said quietly.
"If I'm going to survive... if we're going to win this war... I have to master it."Kael stared at him, his heart heavy with both fear and hope.
"Are you sure?"Eiran nodded, his expression determined.
"It's the only way."
As the three of them stood in the clearing, the weight of the battle lingering in the air, they knew that the road ahead would only grow more dangerous. But for the first time in a long while, there was a glimmer of hope.
Eiran wasn't lost yet.