The towering mountains loomed ever closer, their jagged edges cutting into the sky like sharp teeth. The higher they climbed, the thicker the fog became, swirling around them in ghostly patterns. Kael shivered, not just from the cold but from the sense of unease that had settled deep in his chest.
"Are we close?" Sylvie asked, her voice barely above a whisper as though she feared the mountains might overhear.
Elara, riding just ahead, glanced back at her. "The seer's lair is beyond that ridge. We'll reach it before nightfall."
Kael shifted uncomfortably in his saddle. The closer they got, the heavier his head felt, as though something was pressing against his mind. His visions of the past few days—flashes of unknown places, strange symbols, and terrifying creatures—flickered in his mind like a broken memory he couldn't piece together.
Marcus noticed his son's discomfort. "We'll get through this, Kael," he said firmly. "Whatever it is, you're stronger than it."
But Kael wasn't so sure. Every step closer to the seer made him feel like he was sinking further into a dark pit. He glanced over at Sylvie, who seemed unnaturally quiet. Normally, his sister's constant questions and chatter kept the mood light, but even she appeared tense.
"Something's wrong," Clara whispered to Marcus, as she guided her horse beside him. "The air feels... unnatural."
"Magic," Elara said sharply, without turning around. "Old magic. We must be careful. The closer we get, the more it will try to turn us back."
Kael's stomach twisted. He had never heard Elara sound this cautious. Whatever was waiting for them at the seer's lair, it wasn't just an ordinary destination. It was as though the mountains themselves didn't want them there.
As they continued to ascend, the fog thickened, becoming almost impenetrable. The path narrowed to a single trail along the edge of a cliff, and beneath them, the vast expanse of the valley seemed to disappear into the clouds below. Each step felt like a gamble, and Kael's heartbeat pounded in his ears.
Suddenly, a soft voice, barely audible, floated through the air. It was distant, almost like a murmur carried by the wind.
"Do you hear that?" Sylvie whispered, her eyes wide as she clutched the reins of her horse.
Kael nodded, his heart quickening. The voice was faint but persistent, whispering words that he couldn't quite make out. It was as if the mountains themselves were speaking to them.
"I hear it too," Clara said, her hand tightening on her dagger. "It's getting louder."
The group stopped, each member on edge, straining to listen.
"Turn back..." The voice became clearer, more insistent. "This place is not for you..."
Kael's skin prickled with fear. The voice wasn't just in the air; it was in his mind, pressing down on him, making it hard to think. He looked at Marcus, who had a grim expression on his face. Even his father, who rarely showed fear, looked unsettled.
"We're close," Elara said, her voice tight. "The magic is trying to push us away. Stay focused."
They pressed on, the voices growing louder and more desperate. "Leave... before it's too late..."
Kael gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to turn back, to leave this cursed place and run far away. But something deeper inside him, something ancient and powerful, urged him forward. He had to know. He had to understand what was happening to him.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached a large stone archway carved into the side of the mountain. It was old—ancient, even—covered in strange symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light. The whispers faded into silence as they approached, replaced by a heavy stillness that made Kael's heart race even faster.
"This is it," Elara said quietly, dismounting her horse and stepping toward the archway. "The seer's lair."
Kael slid off his horse, his legs trembling beneath him. The air around the archway crackled with energy, as though the very stones were alive with magic. He could feel the power pulsing through the air, tugging at something deep inside him.
Marcus stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Kael's shoulder. "We're with you," he said. "Whatever happens next, we face it together."
Kael nodded, though his fear hadn't lessened. The archway seemed to beckon him forward, its glowing symbols almost hypnotic.
As they passed through the archway, the air grew warmer, the fog lifting to reveal a winding path that led deeper into the mountain. The seer's lair awaited them at the end of this path, and with it, the answers they sought.
But Kael couldn't shake the feeling that those answers might come at a price.