The forest was no longer the same. After the encounter with the Forgotten, every step Darian took felt heavier, as though the very ground beneath him was dragging him down. The whispers that had once seemed like mere background noise now clung to his thoughts, growing louder and more insistent.
Sumner noticed the change in Darian's demeanor. "You okay, Darian?" he asked, keeping pace beside him. "You've been quieter than usual."
Darian hesitated before answering. "It's just… what the Forgotten said. About the price of power. It keeps echoing in my mind."
Sumner shrugged, his wings twitching as he adjusted his stride. "Look, we knew this wouldn't be easy. The sanctuaries were always going to test us. But we've made it this far, right? We'll figure it out."
"Yeah, but what if the price is more than we're willing to pay?" Darian murmured. He glanced down at the Heart of Aetherindor, still glowing faintly in his hand. It had become an extension of himself, but with it came a weight he hadn't anticipated.
Sumner's expression softened, his usual bravado taking a back seat. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together. No one's facing this darkness alone."
Darian gave him a grateful nod, but his mind remained clouded. The path before them twisted, narrowing as the trees grew taller and darker, their branches like skeletal hands clawing at the sky.
As they pressed on, the air grew thick with an unnatural fog, swirling around them like a living entity. Every breath felt labored, and Darian's vision began to blur. The forest was changing again, but this time, it wasn't just shadows. It was something far more sinister.
Suddenly, a sharp cry echoed through the trees. Darian and Sumner froze, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons.
"Did you hear that?" Darian whispered.
Sumner nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dense fog. "It came from up ahead."
Cautiously, they moved forward, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thickening mist. The cry came again, more desperate this time, followed by the unmistakable sound of something—or someone—struggling.
They broke through the fog to find a small clearing. In the center stood a young girl, her long black hair tangled and wild, her pale skin almost glowing in the dim light. She was surrounded by dark, shadowy figures—creatures made entirely of smoke and shadow, their forms shifting and writhing as they closed in on her.
Darian didn't hesitate. He summoned the power of the Heart of Aetherindor, sending a beam of light toward the nearest creature. The light struck it, and the creature dissolved into a wisp of smoke, vanishing into the air.
Sumner charged forward, his sword aflame as he sliced through two more of the shadowy creatures. "Back off!" he shouted, sending a wave of fire through the remaining enemies.
The creatures recoiled, their smoky forms evaporating in the heat of Sumner's flames. Within moments, the clearing was silent, the shadows gone.
The girl remained where she was, trembling, her wide eyes fixed on Darian and Sumner. She looked no older than sixteen, but there was something ancient about her gaze, as though she had seen more than her years would suggest.
"Are you okay?" Darian asked, stepping closer.
The girl didn't respond immediately. She seemed to be struggling to find her voice. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely more than a whisper. "You saved me… but you shouldn't have."
Darian frowned. "What do you mean?"
The girl shook her head, her dark eyes full of sorrow. "Those shadows… they weren't just creatures of the forest. They were drawn to the power you carry. They wanted the Heart of Aetherindor."
Sumner groaned. "Great. Now the shadows want a piece of us, too."
The girl took a shaky breath, her hands gripping the folds of her tattered dress. "There is more danger ahead. The darkness knows you're coming. It will do everything it can to stop you."
Darian's heart sank. "How do you know this?"
The girl hesitated again, her gaze flickering to the Heart in Darian's hand. "Because I was once like you. I, too, carried the Heart… long ago."
Darian's breath caught in his throat. "You… carried the Heart?"
The girl nodded, her eyes dark with memory. "I was chosen to protect this world, just as you are now. But I failed. The darkness was too strong, and I was consumed by it."
Sumner exchanged a glance with Darian. "So, what are you now? A ghost? A memory?"
"I am what remains of my former self," she said, her voice laced with regret. "When I failed, the Heart abandoned me, and I became a prisoner of the shadows. But now that you carry the Heart, I can sense its power again."
Darian felt a chill run through him. "What do you want from us?"
The girl's gaze softened, and she stepped forward, her hand reaching out toward the Heart. "I don't want to harm you. I want to help you. I know what lies ahead, and I can guide you through it. But you must be careful. The shadows are relentless, and the darkness will stop at nothing to claim the Heart for itself."
Sumner crossed his arms, still wary. "And how do we know you're telling the truth? For all we know, you could be working for the darkness."
The girl's eyes flashed with anger, but it quickly faded into sorrow. "I am no servant of the darkness. I have been trapped in this forest for centuries, waiting for someone strong enough to wield the Heart. You must trust me… or you will fall as I did."
Darian studied her for a moment, weighing her words. She seemed sincere, and there was a pain in her voice that couldn't be faked. But still, the risk was too great to trust her completely.
"Alright," Darian said slowly. "You can guide us. But if we find out you're leading us into a trap—"
The girl nodded. "I understand. I only wish to see the darkness defeated."
Sumner looked skeptical but didn't argue. "Fine. Let's just keep moving. The longer we stay here, the more shadows will come."
As they moved deeper into the forest, the girl stayed close to Darian's side, her presence both a comfort and a reminder of the dangers they faced.
The path ahead was dark and uncertain, but with each step, Darian's resolve grew stronger. The shadows might be relentless, but so was he. And with the Heart of Aetherindor in his grasp, he would not fail.
The darkness would not win this time.