Dawn crept over the horizon, casting a faint golden light through the dense canopy of trees that surrounded the camp. Kael sat by the remains of the fire, his eyes heavy from a night of restless sleep. The Abyss stirred within him, its presence stronger than ever, tugging at the edges of his mind. Despite Selene's insistence that he rest, he hadn't managed to find peace. His dreams had been plagued with visions—disturbing flashes of a future where the Abyss consumed him whole.
Selene stirred from her bedroll, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat up. Her silver hair glinted in the early light, and her sharp gaze immediately fell on Kael. She frowned slightly as she observed him, knowing well the toll the Abyss had taken on him. Without a word, she walked over and sat beside him, her shoulder lightly brushing his.
"You didn't sleep," she said, though it wasn't a question.
Kael sighed, running a hand through his dark, tousled hair. "Not really. The dreams… they're getting worse."
Selene didn't press him for details, though her concern was evident. She pulled a small, weathered map from her bag and unfolded it across her knees. "We're not far from the next town," she said, tracing their route with a finger. "If we keep moving, we can reach it by nightfall. With any luck, we'll find more information about that stranger there."
Kael leaned forward, his eyes scanning the map without really seeing it. "You really think we'll find anything? Whoever that man was, he didn't exactly seem like someone who leaves a trail."
"I don't know," Selene admitted, folding the map again. "But we have to try. We can't afford to be blindsided again."
Kael nodded, though doubt gnawed at him. The encounter with the mysterious stranger had left him rattled. He couldn't shake the man's words from his mind, nor the unsettling feeling that their paths would cross again soon. And the stranger's knowledge of the Abyss... How did he know? Why did he seem so intent on drawing Kael deeper into its clutches?
As they packed up camp, Kael couldn't help but feel the weight of the Abyss pressing down on him. It was like a shadow that followed him, unseen but ever-present. The forest, which had once felt peaceful and serene, now seemed oppressive. The trees loomed overhead, their twisted branches like skeletal hands reaching for the sky. Even the birds, usually lively at dawn, were silent, as if sensing the growing tension in the air.
"Let's move," Selene said, breaking the silence. Her tone was calm but edged with urgency.
Kael followed her, his senses alert as they pushed deeper into the woods. Every rustle of leaves, every distant creak of branches seemed amplified in the stillness. The Abyss thrummed beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power he held—and the danger that came with it.
After hours of trekking, the trees began to thin, and the outline of a small town appeared on the horizon. It was a modest settlement, surrounded by rough stone walls, with smoke curling from the chimneys of the squat buildings within. Kael could make out the figures of guards standing watch at the gates, their faces obscured by helmets but their postures rigid and alert.
"It looks quiet," Kael observed, scanning the town from a distance. "Too quiet."
"Agreed," Selene replied, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her blade. "Keep your guard up."
As they approached the gates, one of the guards—a burly man with a scar running down the side of his face—stepped forward, blocking their path with a raised hand. "State your business."
"We're travelers," Selene said smoothly, offering a disarming smile. "Just passing through."
The guard's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized them, lingering on Kael for a moment longer than necessary. Kael shifted uncomfortably under the man's gaze, but he kept his expression neutral.
After a tense pause, the guard stepped aside. "Be quick about it. Trouble's been brewing around here lately. Don't go looking for it."
Kael exchanged a glance with Selene as they passed through the gates. The town had a strange atmosphere—quiet, but not peaceful. There was an underlying tension in the air, as if the townspeople were holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. The streets were almost deserted, and the few people they passed kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact.
"Something's wrong here," Kael muttered, his hand unconsciously drifting toward the dagger at his waist.
"Yeah," Selene agreed, her eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced caution. "We should keep a low profile."
They made their way to the town's only inn, a small, run-down building tucked away at the far end of the main street. The innkeeper, a wiry man with a perpetual scowl, barely looked up as they entered, his eyes darting nervously between them before he gestured toward a table in the corner.
Kael sat down heavily, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him again. His mind was still spinning from the encounter with the stranger, and he couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into another trap. He wanted to ask Selene what she thought, but before he could voice his concerns, the door to the inn creaked open behind them.
Kael's blood ran cold.
The stranger had returned.
He moved with the same unsettling grace as before, his dark cloak trailing behind him like a shadow as he crossed the room. His eyes, glowing faintly with that unnatural light, locked onto Kael the moment he entered.
"You," Kael whispered, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword.
Selene tensed beside him, her posture shifting as she prepared for a fight. But the stranger made no move to draw a weapon. Instead, he smiled—a cold, knowing smile that sent a chill down Kael's spine.
"I told you we'd meet again," the stranger said, his voice smooth and unhurried, like someone discussing the weather.
Kael rose to his feet, his heart pounding in his chest. "Who are you? What do you want from me?"
The stranger's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "I told you before. I'm here to help you embrace your destiny, Kael."
"I don't want your help," Kael spat, his grip tightening on his sword. "I don't want anything to do with the Abyss."
The stranger's gaze flickered with amusement, as if Kael had said something amusing. "You say that now, but the Abyss is a part of you. Deny it all you want, but eventually, you'll realize the truth."
Selene stepped forward, her blade drawn, her expression hard. "Leave him alone. Whatever game you're playing, it ends now."
The stranger's gaze shifted to Selene, his smile never faltering. "Ah, the loyal protector. You don't understand, do you? This is bigger than both of you. The Abyss will claim him, whether you like it or not."
Kael's mind raced, fear and anger warring within him. "Why me? Why is this happening to me?"
"Because you're special, Kael," the stranger said softly. "You've been chosen. The Abyss doesn't just take anyone. It saw something in you. Something… powerful."
Kael clenched his fists, fighting back the surge of darkness rising within him. "I don't want it."
The stranger's expression turned almost pitying, as if Kael were a child who didn't understand the world. "You can't outrun your fate. The more you resist, the stronger it becomes. Embrace it, and you'll have power beyond your wildest dreams."
"Get out," Kael growled, his voice trembling with barely restrained fury.
For a moment, the stranger simply stared at him, his glowing eyes unreadable. Then, with a small, mocking bow, he turned and walked toward the door.
"We'll meet again, Kael," he said as he stepped outside. "Sooner than you think."
The door closed behind him, leaving Kael and Selene in a tense, heavy silence.
Selene sheathed her blade, her expression grim. "We can't stay here. We need to move."
Kael nodded, his mind still reeling from the encounter. The stranger's words echoed in his head, and no matter how much he tried to push them away, he couldn't shake the feeling that the man was right.
The Abyss was growing stronger. And Kael didn't know how much longer he could resist.