Kairon awoke before the first light of dawn, a chill running through him despite the relative warmth of the cave. His dream had been vivid, yet again—the same figure cloaked in shadow, the same sense of impending doom. He sat up slowly, trying to shake the lingering feeling of dread that clung to him. His body still ached from the long journey, but something else weighed heavier: the golden light inside him. It had been restless in his sleep, pulsing in tune with the rhythm of his fear.
Across the cave, Elia was awake, crouched at the entrance. Her silhouette was framed against the dark sky, the stars still faintly visible, though the horizon showed the faintest hint of the coming sunrise. She was silent, watching the world outside with the same steely focus that Kairon had come to expect from her. But today, her posture seemed different—tense, on edge, as if she too had sensed something beyond the boundaries of their small refuge.
Kairon rose slowly, careful not to make too much noise. His movements were stiff, his muscles still sore from days of travel and combat, but he forced his body into motion. When he joined her at the mouth of the cave, Elia didn't turn to acknowledge him. She kept her gaze trained on the vast expanse of plains below, her face unreadable.
"They're coming," she said softly, her voice carrying the weight of certainty.
Kairon's heart skipped a beat. "Who?"
Elia finally looked at him, her green eyes narrowed. "The men hunting you. I don't know how far behind they are, but we don't have much time. They'll catch up."
Kairon clenched his fists. He had expected this, of course—ever since the attack in the cursed woods, he had known that they were being pursued. But now, with his strength dwindling and his mind still clouded by the nightmares, it felt as if the walls were closing in.
"How do you know?" he asked, his voice tight.
Elia didn't answer right away. Instead, she stood and moved to the side of the cave, where her pack lay. She opened it and pulled out a small object—something metallic that caught the first rays of the rising sun. It was a dagger, though unlike the one she carried on her belt. This blade was intricately carved, with strange runes etched into the steel. Kairon hadn't seen it before, and it gleamed in a way that made his skin crawl.
"I found this just outside the cave," Elia said, holding it up for him to see. "It was buried in the dirt, but it's fresh. It wasn't here when we arrived."
Kairon's stomach dropped. The dagger was a clear sign that their enemies were closer than he had thought.
"They're marking our trail," Elia continued, her voice low and cold. "Leaving signals for their trackers. It's only a matter of time before they surround us."
Kairon's breath came faster as the reality of the situation sank in. He had wanted to rest, to recover before facing another confrontation, but the world wasn't giving him that luxury. The men who wanted his power were closing in, and he wasn't sure he had the strength left to stop them.
"What do we do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Elia's eyes flicked to him, and for a brief moment, he saw a flash of something in her expression—concern, perhaps, or maybe just frustration at the situation. But then she hardened, her face once again that of the cold, calculating warrior he had come to rely on.
"We can't stay here," she said. "If we're caught in this cave, we'll be trapped. Our best chance is to keep moving, stay ahead of them."
"But we can't outrun them forever," Kairon replied, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him.
Elia nodded, her gaze turning serious. "No. We can't. But we don't need to outrun them. We just need to reach the mountains. Once we're there, we'll have the advantage."
Kairon frowned. "What advantage?"
Elia stood, strapping her dagger back to her belt and shouldering her pack. "The mountains are full of old paths, hidden places that no one else knows about. I've been through them before. If we make it there, we can lose them for good."
Kairon hesitated. The thought of climbing into the mountains, with their jagged peaks and treacherous terrain, filled him with a sense of dread. But he also knew they had no choice. The open plains offered no cover, and the enemy would catch them if they stayed. The mountains, dangerous as they were, at least offered a chance.
"We need to move quickly," Elia added, her voice urgent. "Before the sun is fully up."
Kairon nodded. His body protested the thought of more running, more climbing, but his mind was clear. They had to survive. And the only way to do that was to keep moving.
They left the cave just as the first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. Elia led the way, her movements quick and purposeful. Kairon followed as best he could, though every step seemed to weigh heavier than the last.
The plains stretched out below them, an endless sea of dry earth and sparse vegetation. In the distance, the jagged silhouette of the mountains loomed closer, their dark peaks cutting into the sky. It was still a long way off, but with every step, the distance seemed to shrink, even if only slightly.
As they moved, Kairon couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The wind blew across the plains, carrying with it the faint scent of something foul, something unnatural. His skin prickled, and the golden light inside him stirred, faint but noticeable, as if it too could sense the danger approaching.
"Elia," Kairon said quietly, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Do you think they'll catch up before we reach the mountains?"
Elia didn't answer immediately. Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead, her face set in a determined scowl. But after a moment, she spoke.
"They'll try," she said. "But we won't let them."
Kairon wanted to believe her, but doubt gnawed at him. His power had saved them before, but it had also nearly destroyed him in the process. He wasn't sure he could control it if another battle came. Worse, he feared what might happen if the golden light inside him took over completely.
They continued in silence for what felt like hours, the sun climbing higher into the sky, its heat beating down on them relentlessly. Kairon's legs felt like lead, each step more difficult than the last. He forced himself to keep going, his mind focused on the distant mountains, the only hope they had left.
Suddenly, Elia stopped in her tracks, her hand shooting up in a signal for Kairon to halt. He froze, his heart pounding in his chest as he followed her gaze.
There, on the horizon, he saw it—a small cloud of dust rising in the distance. It was faint, barely noticeable against the bright sky, but it was unmistakable.
Riders.
"They've found us," Elia whispered, her voice tight.
Kairon's heart raced. His first instinct was to run, but he knew they wouldn't outrun horses, not on foot. The riders were too fast, too close. They had to think of something else.
"What do we do?" Kairon asked, his voice hoarse with fear.
Elia's eyes darted around, searching the landscape for something—anything—that could help them. Her face was grim, but her mind was sharp. Kairon could see the wheels turning as she calculated their next move.
"There," she said, pointing toward a cluster of rocks jutting out from the plains. "We can use those to hide, at least for a little while. It'll give us time to plan."
Kairon nodded, though his chest was tight with anxiety. Hiding might buy them some time, but it wouldn't stop the riders from eventually finding them. And when they did, Kairon knew they would be outnumbered and outmatched.
But he followed Elia without question, his feet moving automatically toward the rocks. His mind raced, trying to think of how they would get out of this alive. The golden light inside him pulsed again, stronger this time, as if it were reacting to the approaching threat.
They reached the rocks just as the riders drew closer, their dark figures now visible in the distance. Elia crouched low behind one of the larger boulders, motioning for Kairon to do the same.
"We'll wait here," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let them pass, if we're lucky."
Kairon nodded, though his heart hammered in his chest. He pressed himself against the rough stone, trying to make himself as small and invisible as possible. His breathing was shallow, his body tense with fear.
The riders grew closer, their hoofbeats thundering across the plains. Kairon's pulse quickened, the tension in his chest nearly unbearable. The golden light stirred again, but this time, it didn't feel like a threat—it felt like an answer.
And he was about to find out whether it would save him or destroy him.