The morning light filtered through the clouds as Cedric and his companions gathered their supplies and prepared to leave Myrlen behind. The city, with its bustling streets and towering citadel, had offered them temporary shelter, but the real journey lay ahead. The mountains to the east, shrouded in mist and mystery, held the key to stopping the shadow magic, and time was running out.
Cedric adjusted the strap on his pack, his mind focused on the path ahead. Erion had warned them about the dangers of the mountain pass, but the prospect of finding the original seal gave Cedric a sense of urgency. They couldn't afford to delay.
"We're ready?" Lira asked, her gaze steady as she scanned the group.
Maeve tightened her pack and gave a sharp nod. "Ready as ever. Can't wait to see what kinds of 'fun' these mountains throw at us."
Kellen smirked, slipping his daggers into their sheaths. "If by 'fun' you mean traps, monsters, and more dark magic, then yeah, it's going to be a blast."
Tamsin, her expression nervous but determined, stood close to Cedric. "We'll get through this. We have to."
Cedric gave her a reassuring smile. "We will. We've faced worse before, right?"
Lira, ever the pragmatic leader, interrupted. "Let's stay focused. The mountain pass is treacherous, and we don't know how long it will take to find the entrance to the seal. We need to keep our guard up, those people who attacked us aren't going to give up easily."
"Noted," Kellen said, his tone lighter. "No dropping our guard."
Maeve grinned. "That's a first for you."
---
The journey from Myrlen to the eastern mountains took them through dense forests and rugged hills. The road, though worn from years of travel, became less defined the closer they got to their destination. The trees grew taller, their twisted branches casting long shadows over the path, and the air grew cooler with every step.
Cedric walked beside Lira at the front of the group, his mind still turning over everything Erion had told them. "The journal mentioned that the seal was hidden deep within the mountains, but it didn't say exactly where. How do we even know where to start?"
Lira glanced at him, her expression thoughtful. "We'll have to trust our instincts. If the seal is tied to the land, you'll probably be able to sense it."
"I hope so," Cedric replied, though doubt lingered in his mind. "This magic is ancient, older than anything we've dealt with before. If it's connected to the shadow magic, it might not be easy to track."
Kellen, who had been eavesdropping, chimed in. "If Cedric can't sense it, we could always just start poking random rocks. Maybe we'll get lucky."
Maeve laughed, shaking her head. "Not the worst idea, honestly. But let's save the poking for when we're out of options."
Tamsin, ever the cautious voice, looked around nervously as they walked. "Do you think the group that attacked us will follow us here? They seemed pretty determined to get the orb."
Lira's eyes narrowed as she scanned the treeline. "They'll follow. But we'll be ready for them."
---
The sun began to dip lower in the sky as the forest gave way to rocky foothills. The air grew colder, and the distant outline of the mountains loomed ahead, their peaks lost in the mist that clung to the higher elevations.
Maeve pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, her breath visible in the chilly air. "Feels like we're heading into something bigger than just another ruin."
Kellen nodded, his tone unusually serious. "It's the calm before the storm. I can feel it."
Cedric paused, glancing around. The ground beneath his feet felt different, heavier, almost as if it was vibrating with some distant force. "The magic's stronger here," he murmured. "We're getting closer."
Tamsin stepped closer to him, her eyes wide. "You can feel it?"
Cedric nodded. "It's faint, but it's there. We're on the right track."
Lira came to a stop, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as she surveyed the path ahead. "We should camp here for the night. The mountains will be harder to navigate in the dark, and we don't want to get caught in a dangerous area."
Kellen gave a mock sigh. "A night under the stars. Just what I always wanted."
"Better than stumbling into an ancient trap in the dark," Lira replied, her tone firm.
---
As the group set up camp for the night, the warmth of the fire provided a welcome contrast to the cold mountain air. Cedric sat by the fire, his thoughts still on the orb and the shadow magic it contained. The weight of the responsibility hung heavily on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that the path ahead was only going to get more dangerous.
Maeve tossed a small twig into the fire, watching the flames dance. "So, what do you think we'll find at the seal? Some kind of ancient magic ritual? Or maybe more of those shadow monsters?"
Kellen, sitting with his back against a tree, shrugged. "If we're lucky, it'll just be a nice, quiet seal we can fix and be done with. But we're never that lucky, are we?"
Cedric chuckled softly. "Not really. But whatever we find, we'll deal with it together."
Tamsin, sitting beside Cedric, glanced at him with concern. "Do you think the orb will hold out until we get there?"
Cedric hesitated before answering. "I hope so. But the magic in the orb is getting more unstable. We'll have to be quick once we find the seal."
Lira, who had been keeping watch near the edge of the camp, returned to the fire. "We'll be ready. But remember, the group that attacked us in Myrlen isn't going to stop. We need to stay alert, they could strike at any time."
Maeve sighed, leaning back and looking up at the sky. "Great. More sneaky mages trying to kill us in the dark. Just what we needed."
Kellen grinned. "Keeps things interesting."
---
The fire crackled softly, the night around them still and quiet. Cedric was just about to settle in for the night when a sudden rustling in the trees made him freeze. Lira's hand went to her sword instantly, and Kellen stood, his daggers already drawn.
"What was that?" Tamsin whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
Lira motioned for everyone to stay quiet as she moved toward the sound. The rustling grew louder, and just as Lira was about to investigate, a figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was an old man, his face weathered and lined with age, his clothes tattered and worn from years of travel. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace, his voice rough but calm. "I mean you no harm."
Maeve raised an eyebrow, glancing at Kellen. "Well, this is new."
Lira didn't lower her sword, her eyes sharp. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The old man smiled faintly, though his eyes were tired. "I've been watching you since Myrlen. You carry something dangerous with you. The orb."
Cedric's heart raced as he stepped forward. "How do you know about the orb?"
"I know many things," the old man replied, his gaze locking onto Cedric. "The shadow magic within that orb is not something you can control. But I can help you."
Lira frowned, stepping closer. "Why should we trust you?"
The man's smile faded. "Because if you don't, the orb will destroy you, and everything around it."