The forest stretched endlessly ahead, its twisted trees casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to shift and writhe as Kairon and Elia pressed onward. The encounter with the monstrous creature had left them both on edge, but there was no time to rest. The cursed woods held more secrets, and they were far from safe.
Kairon's body ached, every muscle burning from exhaustion and the strain of controlling his magic. The golden light still pulsed faintly beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power he carried—power that was both a weapon and a curse. He could feel it stirring, restless, as if the forest itself was calling to it.
Elia moved ahead, her steps light and precise, though her eyes were constantly scanning their surroundings. She hadn't spoken much since the fight, but Kairon could tell she was thinking, planning. Whatever danger lay ahead, she was ready for it.
"We're close to the edge of the forest," Elia said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of tension beneath it. "Once we're out, we'll be safer."
Kairon nodded, though he wasn't sure he believed her. The forest had felt alive with danger, but outside its borders, there would still be those hunting him. The men they had evaded earlier wouldn't stop. They would come for him again, and next time, they might not be so easily avoided.
"Do you think... they'll follow us out?" Kairon asked, his voice hesitant.
Elia glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "If they're smart, they won't," she said. "But they've already proven they're persistent."
Kairon's stomach twisted with unease. He had barely survived the last encounter. If more of those warriors were sent after him, he wasn't sure how long he could keep running.
The trees began to thin as they approached the edge of the forest, the shadows less oppressive but still looming. The air felt lighter, less suffocating, and Kairon breathed a small sigh of relief. But even as they neared safety, the weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him.
As they stepped out of the cursed woods and into the open plains beyond, the horizon stretched before them—a vast expanse of land, empty but for the distant silhouettes of mountains. The sky above was a pale gray, heavy with the promise of rain, but for now, it remained mercifully dry.
Elia slowed her pace, glancing at Kairon as they walked. "We'll need to find shelter soon," she said. "We've been running for days, and we can't keep this pace forever."
Kairon nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The power inside him was growing, and with it, the danger that followed. He knew that whatever came next, the path ahead would not be an easy one.
But he had no choice.