The cool night air wrapped around Edward, Lyssa, and Aran as they stood in the ruins of the temple, their chests still heaving from the frantic escape. The stars above twinkled coldly, indifferent to the chaos they had just survived. Yet, despite the calm surroundings, an eerie tension still hung over them.
Lyssa sheathed her sword, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. "We need to move. The collapse might have bought us some time, but if the Harbinger has allies—or if anyone else sensed the disturbance—it's only a matter of time before something else finds us."
Aran nodded in agreement, still rubbing his shoulder from the earlier impact. "Yeah. We barely survived that, and it felt like the Harbinger was just toying with us. We can't stay out in the open like this."
Edward stood silently, staring down at the Heart of the Abyss in his hand. Its once wild pulsations had slowed to a rhythmic beat, almost like a heartbeat. But something in it unnerved him. Even after sealing the Harbinger, he could still feel the dark power resonating from it. Holding it felt like clutching the edge of an abyss, one misstep away from being pulled into something far worse than death.
"You're right," Edward finally said, his voice quieter than usual. "We need to leave, but we also need to find answers. We can't keep running blind without knowing what we're up against." He tucked the Heart into his satchel, making sure it was securely sealed away from any curious eyes.
Lyssa, ever the warrior, nodded. "We need to get back to the council. Maybe they can help us figure out how to truly stop the Harbinger for good. This seal won't last forever."
Aran hesitated, glancing over at Edward. "And what about the Heart? Are we sure it's safe to even carry that thing around?"
Edward's gaze darkened. "Safe? No, it's not. But leaving it behind is an even greater risk. The Harbinger was searching for it—others will be too. If we can understand its power, we might find a way to use it against them. But we can't let it fall into the wrong hands."
Lyssa grunted in agreement. "The Heart of the Abyss is too dangerous. But I trust you, Edward. Just don't let it consume you."
Edward gave a faint smile, though the weight of her words settled deep in his chest. The Heart had already shown him a glimpse of its power—a power that tempted him in subtle, unsettling ways.
"We need to find a safe place to rest for the night. Then we head for the council," Edward decided, turning toward the woods. "We'll stick to the forests until we reach the eastern mountains. Fewer eyes that way."
The trio set off under the cover of night, the dense trees of the forest providing some cover from potential threats. As they walked in silence, the only sounds were the rustling leaves and the occasional snap of a twig beneath their feet. The events of the temple weighed heavily on all of them, but none more so than Edward, whose mind raced with questions about the Heart of the Abyss and the Harbinger's intentions.
The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more Edward's unease grew. Every shadow seemed to stretch longer, every gust of wind felt colder than before. His instincts screamed that something wasn't right, though he couldn't place what it was.
After several hours of walking, they finally found a small clearing sheltered by overhanging rocks. It wasn't much, but it was enough to give them a vantage point and some protection from the elements. Lyssa began setting up a small perimeter of traps while Aran built a fire.
Edward sat by the fire, staring into the flames, lost in thought. The warmth of the fire barely reached him, as if the chill of the Heart was seeping into his bones. His hand unconsciously drifted toward the satchel where it was stored, the pulse of the artifact faint but insistent.
"I'll take first watch," Lyssa offered, her voice cutting through the silence. "Get some rest, both of you."
Aran quickly lay down by the fire, too exhausted to protest. Within moments, he was asleep, his breathing steady.
Edward nodded, though sleep was the last thing on his mind. As the night wore on, the forest grew quieter, as if even the wildlife sensed something unnatural in their presence.
Hours passed, and Edward drifted in and out of a light, restless sleep. Images of the Harbinger flashed in his mind, followed by flashes of the Heart of the Abyss, pulsing with dark energy. In his dreams, he saw something more—an endless void, and in that void, something… watching him.
Suddenly, Edward jolted awake, his heart pounding. He wasn't sure what had woken him, but a deep sense of dread filled him.
Lyssa noticed his movement and looked over. "What is it?"
Edward shook his head, unsure himself. "I don't know. Something feels… wrong."
Before either of them could react further, a faint rustling came from the edge of the clearing. Lyssa was on her feet in an instant, her sword drawn, eyes sharp.
"Aran, wake up," she hissed quietly, nudging him with her boot.
Aran stirred, groggy but alert enough to recognize the urgency. "What is it now?"
The rustling grew louder, followed by a low, menacing growl that sent chills down their spines. From the shadows of the trees, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared, followed by the silhouette of something massive, moving through the underbrush with terrifying grace.
Edward's heart sank. The creature stepped into the light of the fire—a hulking, wolf-like beast with fur as black as the night, its eyes burning with an unnatural glow. It was unlike anything they had encountered before.
"A shadowbeast," Aran whispered, fear lacing his words. "We're in trouble."
Lyssa raised her sword, her expression grim. "We've fought worse. Stay sharp."
But even as she said it, Edward could feel the oppressive energy radiating from the creature. This wasn't just a random predator—it was drawn here by something. His hand instinctively moved toward the satchel.
The Heart.
The shadowbeast growled again, its gaze locked on Edward. It knew. It could sense the Heart of the Abyss.
"We need to move. Now," Edward whispered, his voice tense. "It's after the Heart."
Without warning, the beast lunged, faster than any of them could react.
Lyssa sprang into action, her sword slashing through the air to meet the creature mid-leap. Sparks flew as the blade connected with its claws, but the impact sent her staggering backward.
"Run!" Edward shouted, grabbing Aran by the arm. "We can't fight it head-on!"
Aran hesitated, but another snarl from the shadowbeast made the decision for him. They bolted toward the trees, with Lyssa covering their retreat, her sword flashing in the firelight.
But even as they fled, Edward couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning—that the Heart of the Abyss was calling to more than just the Harbinger. And whatever came next would be far worse.