The wraith's shadowy form lunged toward them, its claws slicing through the air with a shriek that sent shivers down Arin's spine. Instinct took over as he thrust the orb forward, its light bursting outward in a radiant arc. The wraith hissed and recoiled, its shadowy body retreating into the darkness, though not for long. It circled them, its glowing eyes fixed on the two of them, waiting for the moment to strike again.
Arin's heart raced as he looked to the girl, whose wide eyes were still locked on the pendant glowing in her hand. She seemed frozen, torn between confusion and fear. There wasn't time for explanations, but something told him she was just as important to the Veil as he was.
"Trust me!" he shouted over the creature's growls. "We can fight it together, but I need you to focus!"
The girl blinked, as if snapping out of her daze. She glanced from the wraith to Arin, her expression still wary, but her grip on the pendant tightened. "What… what is this?" she asked, her voice trembling, but there was a flicker of determination in her eyes now.
"I'll explain later!" Arin replied, stepping back beside her as the wraith prepared for another attack. "But right now, we need to stop that thing!"
The wraith lunged again, and this time the girl raised her pendant, its light flaring in sync with Arin's orb. The combined glow seemed to form a barrier between them and the creature, forcing it back with a screech. The air around them crackled with energy, and Arin could feel the power of the Veil pulsing between them, stronger than when he had faced the first wraith alone.
The wraith snarled, its body warping and twisting as it circled them, but it couldn't break through the light. Arin's mind raced—he could feel the power building, but he didn't know how to control it fully yet. The whispers of the Veil guided him, but they were faint, elusive.
He looked at the girl, who was breathing heavily but holding her ground. "We have to combine our power," he said, his voice urgent. "The Veil is connected to both of us. We can push it back together, but you have to trust me."
The girl hesitated, her green eyes flickering with uncertainty, but then she nodded. "Okay," she said softly, her voice steadier now. "I don't know how, but I'll follow your lead."
Arin nodded, feeling a surge of relief. "Focus on the light," he instructed. "Feel it… let it flow through you."
They stood side by side, their hands gripping the orb and pendant tightly as the wraith circled closer, its movements growing more erratic, desperate. The light between them brightened, forming a radiant barrier that pulsed with power. Arin closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself, searching for the connection to the Veil that had stirred when he first touched the crystal in the cavern.
He felt it—like a thread of energy that linked him to the girl, to the wraith, to everything around them. The Veil was not just a barrier; it was the fabric of reality itself, woven through the world in ways he was only beginning to understand.
Now.
The command came not from the whispers, but from within himself. With a deep breath, Arin focused all his will into the light, and the girl did the same. The air around them crackled, and the light between the orb and pendant erupted outward, surging toward the wraith like a wave of pure energy.
The wraith let out a piercing shriek as the light engulfed it, its shadowy form disintegrating into ash and smoke. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and for a moment, everything went still.
Then, the wraith was gone.
The silence that followed was deafening. Arin lowered the orb, his hands shaking from the release of energy, and turned to the girl, who was breathing heavily but unharmed. Her pendant still glowed faintly, but the light was fading now.
For a moment, they just stood there, staring at each other in disbelief.
"What… was that?" the girl finally asked, her voice hoarse. She looked down at the pendant in her hand, then back at Arin. "And who are you?"
Arin let out a long breath, feeling the exhaustion settle into his bones. "I'm Arin," he said, offering a tired smile. "And I don't really have all the answers. But I think we're connected. By the Veil."
The girl frowned, her brows furrowed in confusion. "The Veil?"
"It's… complicated," Arin admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I think we both have pieces of it. Power from the Veil. That's why the wraith came after us."
She was silent for a moment, her gaze drifting to the pendant. "I've had this my whole life," she said softly. "I never knew what it was. It was just… something my mother left me before she disappeared."
Arin's eyes widened slightly. "Your mother?"
The girl nodded, her expression hardening. "Yeah. She vanished when I was a baby. No one knows where she went. But she left me this pendant… and now you're telling me it's connected to some kind of… magical barrier?"
"It's not just a barrier," Arin explained, though he barely understood it himself. "It's a force that keeps our world separate from others. And it's weakening. That's why those creatures are getting through. That's why we have to find others like us. People with the same power."
The girl stared at him for a long moment, her green eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. Finally, she sighed and crossed her arms. "This is insane," she muttered. "But… I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?"
Arin smiled slightly. "I don't think either of us do."
She hesitated, then extended her hand. "I'm Lira."
"Nice to meet you, Lira," Arin said, shaking her hand. "Looks like we're stuck with each other now."
Lira snorted, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Yeah, I guess so. But if we're doing this, I want answers. I'm not just going to follow you blindly into whatever madness this is."
"Fair enough," Arin agreed. "We'll figure it out together."
With the wraith defeated and the forest now quiet, the two of them stood there for a moment longer, taking in the stillness. But Arin knew this was only the beginning. The Veil's power was vast and mysterious, and the dangers that lurked beyond it were far from over.
But with Lira by his side, he didn't feel quite so alone anymore.
As the orb pulsed softly in his hand, the whispers of the Veil stirred once more, guiding them forward.
Their journey had only just begun.