Aria and Elijah ventured deeper into the forest, following the map to the lost city. But as they walked, the trees grew twisted and gnarled, their branches like grasping fingers.
Suddenly, Aria stumbled upon a clearing, and in the center, a ancient stone pedestal bore an inscription:
"Beware the Blood Reaver, for it shall bring ruin upon the cursed bloodlines."
Elijah's eyes darkened. "What does it mean?"
Aria felt a shiver run down her spine. "I think it's a warning – about me."
Elijah's expression turned grave. "Aria, what are you talking about?"
But before she could answer, a figure emerged from the shadows – a woman with piercing green eyes and skin as white as snow.
"Welcome, Aria," the woman said, her voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you. You see, you're not just any human – you're the last living heir of the Blood Reaver's bloodline."
Let's delve deeper into Aria's cursed bloodline.
The woman's words echoed in Aria's mind as she struggled to comprehend her connection to the Blood Reaver.
"Who was the Blood Reaver?" Aria demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
The woman's smile grew wider. "Ah, dear Aria, the Blood Reaver was your ancestor – a powerful sorceress who made a pact with darkness to gain immortality."
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "What kind of pact?"
The woman's gaze turned cold. "A pact that cursed her bloodline, condemning them to an eternal cycle of darkness and destruction."
Aria felt like she'd been punched in the gut. "No, that can't be true."
But the woman's words struck a chord deep within her. Aria remembered the strange occurrences in her past, the unexplained abilities she'd always possessed.
"Tell me more," Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper.
The woman's smile grew wider. "Oh, dear Aria, you're just beginning to understand your true nature."