The morning sun cast long shadows across the path as the group left the jubilant village behind. Each step felt lighter, the oppressive weight of the darkness they had fought lifted—for now. Alina's staff, still pulsing faintly with the Eternal Flame's glow, remained a comforting presence at her side. Yet, the flame's warmth also reminded her of the visions it had shown—visions of unrest still to come.
Darian walked beside her, his sword secured across his back. He glanced at Alina, who seemed lost in thought. "You've been quiet since last night. Is everything okay?"
Alina hesitated before responding. "I'm fine… just thinking about what's ahead. The Eternal Flame showed me things, Darian. Darker days still lie ahead."
Darian frowned. "We'll face them, just like we always do. Together."
"Together," Alina echoed, though her voice lacked conviction.
Edric, a few paces ahead, stopped abruptly and crouched near a patch of overturned soil on the trail. He inspected it carefully, brushing dirt away with his fingers.
"What is it?" Selara asked, stepping closer, her daggers ready.
"Tracks," Edric replied, his voice low. "Not human. Something heavy passed through here recently."
Selara's gaze scanned the surrounding forest. The trees were dense, their shadows deep and concealing. "Could it be one of the remnants of the Dark Circle?"
"Possibly," Edric said, standing and wiping his hands on his cloak. "Or something worse."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The victory at Umbra Fortress had been hard-fought, but they all knew the Dark Circle's reach extended far beyond that single stronghold.
By midday, the path led them to a small, abandoned outpost. The wooden structures were weathered and covered in moss, the air heavy with the scent of decay. A tattered banner bearing the emblem of a long-forgotten kingdom fluttered weakly in the breeze.
"This place gives me the creeps," Edric muttered, keeping a tight grip on his satchel of potions.
Darian nodded. "Stay alert. This could be a trap."
As they cautiously entered the outpost, Alina felt a strange energy in the air. It was faint but unmistakable—a lingering residue of dark magic.
"Do you feel that?" she asked, her grip tightening on her staff.
Selara nodded. "Yeah, and it's not friendly."
They searched the outpost, finding little of value—broken furniture, rusted weapons, and faded maps that crumbled at the slightest touch. But in the largest building, they discovered something that made their blood run cold.
A circle had been etched into the wooden floor, its edges lined with strange symbols that seemed to writhe when looked at too closely. At its center lay a blackened crystal, faintly pulsing with an unnatural light.
"It's a summoning circle," Alina whispered, her voice tinged with fear.
Darian stepped closer, his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Summoning what?"
Alina shook her head. "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's powerful. This circle wasn't made by an amateur."
Edric crouched near the crystal, examining it carefully. "This thing is radiating dark energy. We need to destroy it before whoever made it comes back to finish their work."
Alina raised her staff, the Eternal Flame flaring to life. The light pushed back the shadows in the room, illuminating the circle and its ominous centerpiece.
As the flame's light touched the crystal, it began to shake violently, emitting a high-pitched wail that made the group cover their ears.
"Destroy it!" Selara shouted over the noise.
Alina concentrated, channeling the Eternal Flame's power into the crystal. The wail grew louder before suddenly shattering into silence. The crystal cracked, then disintegrated into a fine black dust.
The room fell eerily quiet, the oppressive energy dissipating.
But before they could breathe a sigh of relief, a low growl echoed from the shadows outside. The group tensed, weapons at the ready.
The growling grew louder, joined by the sound of heavy footsteps. From the edge of the forest, a massive creature emerged. Its body was a grotesque fusion of flesh and shadow, its eyes glowing with malevolent light.
"It's a sentinel," Alina said, her voice trembling. "A guardian of dark magic."
"Great," Edric muttered. "Just what we needed."
The creature lunged toward them, its claws slashing through the air. Darian met it head-on, his sword clashing against its thick hide. Sparks flew as the two forces collided, the impact shaking the ground beneath them.
Selara moved swiftly, her daggers finding weak points in the creature's armor-like skin. Edric threw a potion that exploded into a burst of flame, forcing the sentinel to stagger back.
Alina focused her energy, the Eternal Flame's light intensifying. She aimed a beam of pure light at the creature, striking it in the chest. The sentinel roared in agony, its form beginning to dissolve.
After a grueling battle, the sentinel collapsed, its body disintegrating into wisps of shadow. The group stood panting, their weapons lowered but still ready.
"That was too close," Selara said, wiping sweat from her brow.
Darian nodded. "If this is the kind of power the Dark Circle still wields, we have a long road ahead."
Alina stared at the spot where the sentinel had fallen, her grip tightening on her staff. "The circle was just the beginning. Whoever created it is out there, and they're planning something far worse."
As they left the outpost behind, the group felt the weight of their mission pressing down on them once more. The battle at Umbra Fortress had been a victory, but it was clear the Dark Circle's influence was far from eradicated.
With the Eternal Flame as their guide and their determination as their shield, they prepared to face whatever new challenges lay ahead. The road was uncertain, but they knew one thing for sure—their fight was far from over.