The night stretched on as Arin and Lira continued their journey, the weight of the Harbinger's words still pressing down on them. The forest was eerily quiet now, as though even the wind had decided to retreat from the darkness that had passed through. Every step they took felt heavier, the tension between them growing as the dangers of the Veil became more real with each encounter.
Arin glanced at Lira, who had fallen silent after their run-in with the Harbinger. Her face was set in a determined frown, though he could sense the uncertainty that lingered beneath the surface. He wanted to say something, anything to reassure her, but what could he offer? They were being hunted, and the world they had known was unraveling before their eyes.
The orb in Arin's hand flickered faintly, its light steady but dimmer than before. It was a constant reminder that they weren't alone, even if they hadn't yet found the others who shared their power.
"We need to stop for the night," Arin said, breaking the long silence. His legs ached, and he could feel the exhaustion pulling at his mind. "We can't keep going without rest."
Lira looked like she wanted to argue, but after a moment, she nodded. "Fine. But we need to find somewhere safe. If that thing finds us again…" She trailed off, her expression darkening.
"We'll find somewhere," Arin assured her. He looked around the forest, searching for any signs of shelter. The trees were thick and twisted, their branches forming a dense canopy overhead. In the distance, he spotted a rocky outcropping, its base sheltered by large boulders.
"There," he said, pointing toward it. "That should give us some cover."
The two of them made their way to the outcropping, and as they approached, Arin felt a sense of relief. The rocks formed a natural alcove, just large enough for them to rest in. It wasn't much, but it would provide some protection from the elements—and hopefully, from anything lurking in the shadows.
Once they were settled, Arin sat down on the cold ground, leaning his back against one of the large stones. Lira remained standing for a moment, her arms crossed as she scanned the darkened forest. Finally, she sighed and sat down beside him, though she kept her distance.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
"Do you think that man will come after us again?" Lira finally asked, her voice quiet but edged with fear.
Arin frowned, thinking about the Harbinger's words. A servant of the Forgotten. He didn't know what that meant, but the Harbinger had clearly been after their power—after the Veil. And if there were more like him, then they were in far greater danger than they had realized.
"I don't know," Arin admitted. "But I think he's part of something bigger. He called himself a Harbinger. I don't know who the Forgotten are, but I don't think he's the only one."
Lira shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Great. So we're being hunted by some ancient cult or something."
"Maybe," Arin said, his voice grim. "But the Guardian said there are others like us. If we find them, maybe we can figure out how to fight back."
Lira's expression hardened. "If they're anything like us, they'll be just as clueless."
"Maybe," Arin agreed, "but we don't have a choice. If we don't gather everyone, we won't stand a chance."
Lira stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. "I hate this," she muttered, her voice filled with frustration. "I hate not knowing what's going on. I hate being scared all the time."
Arin understood her frustration. Everything they were facing was unknown, and the constant threat of danger weighed on both of them. But beneath Lira's anger, he could sense her fear—fear of the power she didn't understand, fear of the enemies hunting them, and fear of what it all meant for her.
"You're not alone," Arin said quietly. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Lira glanced at him, her green eyes searching his face for a moment before she sighed again, this time softer. "I hope you're right."
The night grew colder, and the silence of the forest deepened. The tension between them eased slightly as exhaustion began to take its toll. Arin could feel his eyelids growing heavy, and despite the dangers lurking in the shadows, sleep beckoned.
But just as he was about to drift off, the orb in his hand flared with a sudden, intense light.
Arin jolted awake, his heart racing. Lira sat up as well, her eyes wide as the orb glowed brightly, its light pulsing in rhythmic waves.
"What is it now?" Lira whispered, her voice tense.
Arin stared at the orb, his mind racing. The orb had only reacted like this when they were near danger—or near someone connected to the Veil. He rose to his feet, holding the orb out in front of him as its light grew even stronger.
"Someone's here," Arin said, his voice low.
Lira stood up beside him, her hand going to the pendant around her neck. "Another one of us?"
"Maybe," Arin replied, his gaze scanning the dark forest. "But we need to be careful."
They stepped out of the alcove, the orb's light guiding them as they moved cautiously through the trees. The air felt different now—thicker, charged with an energy that set Arin's nerves on edge.
Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead of them, stepping out from behind a tree. It was a young man, around their age, with disheveled dark hair and sharp, intense eyes. He wore a tattered cloak, and his clothes were worn, as though he had been traveling for a long time.
The orb flared again, and the light from Lira's pendant pulsed in response. The connection was undeniable.
Arin and Lira froze, staring at the stranger as he approached them.
"You're one of us," Arin said, his voice a mixture of relief and suspicion.
The young man nodded, his eyes glinting in the light of the orb. "I felt the pull of the Veil," he said, his voice steady but guarded. "I've been looking for others like me."
Lira crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing. "And how do we know we can trust you?"
The young man's expression hardened. "You don't. But if you don't trust me, you'll be fighting this battle alone."
Arin studied him for a moment, sensing the same energy that he and Lira shared. This stranger was part of the Veil, just like them—but there was something else in his eyes, something that hinted at secrets and danger.
"I'm Arin," he said finally, extending a hand. "This is Lira."
The young man hesitated for a moment before taking Arin's hand. "My name is Kael," he said. "And if we don't work together, we're all going to die."