The breath was coming fast in Micheal's lungs, his heart still punding hard from the battle. The last shadow beast had melted into the ground, its dark essence vanishing into the undergrowth. The fight was brutal, but he'd survived.
Total silence as the trios journeyed deeper in to the woods. There came a place where suddenly there is a shift in the atmosphere,a light from afar set in on them
"What is happening" Selene asked curiously
"Another attack I think" Kai muttered tightening his sword.
As the tension faded, their eyes remained locked on the warrior monk standing before them.
Riven.
His gold eyes glowed in the dim light, his torn robes barely stirring even as the wind whispered through the trees. He wasn't breathing hard. Not in the slightest.
Micheal's hold on the Veralune Staff tightened. He wasn't sure which was worse.
"You are stronger than I expected," Riven finally said.
Kai crossed his arms. "Yeah? And you just 'happened' to be in the area when we were ambushed?"
Selene's silver eyes remained sharp, her sword still raised. "Who are you?"
For a moment, Riven said nothing. Then, he exhaled.
"I am Riven," he said. "Last of the Order of the Verdant Flame."
Micheal frowned. He had never heard of them before.
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Should that mean something to us?"
Riven's face didn't change. "No. That was by design."
Selene's eyes narrowed. "You knew about the shadow beasts, and the staff. What else do you know?"
Riven's eyes flashed to the Veralune Staff in Micheal's hand.
And then he said something that weighed on the air.
"More than you are ready to hear."
Micheal went rigid. "Try me."
A very long time, the monk eyed him, before he spoke.
"There is a prophecy."
"Prophecy?" Micheal repeated. "What prophecy?"
Riven faced the trees, standing tall over them. "One that was kept under wraps for centuries."
Kai rolled his eyes. "Of course, another hidden prophecy. Do tell what's it say? Doom and destruction, fate, yadda, yadda." He yelled.
Riven looked back at Kai but didn't say a word,he remained calm.
He turned quickly to Micheal.
"It speaks of a warrior," he said. "One who will wield the Veralune Staff."
Micheal felt his grip tighten on the weapon.
Riven's voice was calm. Too calm.
"The warrior will either restore balance… or shatter it completely."
Everywhere remained still.
Micheal's heart pounded.
Selene frowned. "You think that warrior is Micheal?"
Riven nodded. "It is not a matter of belief...It is a matter of truth."
Micheal exhaled sharply. "That's impossible. I didn't even know about this place a few weeks ago."
Riven stepped forward, his golden eyes locked onto Micheal's.
"You think it was an accident?" he asked. "That you found the staff by chance? That the jungle allowed you to enter freely?"
Micheal didn't answer. He couldn't.
Because deep down, a part of him knew it was never just luck.
Riven lowered his voice.
"You were meant to be here. You were meant to serve the jungle"
Then the earth shook.
A heavy heartbeat surged through the jungle, causing the trees to quake.
Micheal stumbled, barely catching himself. "What was that?"
Riven's face turned grim. "The jungle is listening."
In an instant, the roots burst upwards.
Thick vines burst from the ground, twisting and weaving together like snakes. The canopy above sealed them in.
The jungle wasn't going to let them get away.
Kai got up quickly, daggers ready. "Oh, I don't like this."
Selene slashed at vines, but they moved too fast.
"The jungle wasn't attacking,it was testing." Riven said.
Micheal heart pounding really hard and looked confused
'What is the jungle trying to do?' he thought
Riven took a glance at Micheal once again
"The jungle wasn't just watching anymore.... It was choosing"
"Perhaps it is testing you, Micheal." Riven said calmly
Micheal's breath caught. "Me?"
And then the roots lashed out before he could say more.
One coiled around his wrist, pulling him forward. Another attempted to wrap around his leg. He narrowly cut his body sideways, slamming the Veralune Staff against the earth.
Light flared.
The vines recoiled,but not for long.
They were learning. Adapting.
Kai hurled a dagger, but the jungle devoured it whole.
She tried to reach him, but vines barred the way.
Micheal was left to face it alone.
Then a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. At first, it was nothing but mist.
But then, it shifted. Took shape.
Micheal's blood ran cold.
It was him.
An exact reflection, Yet older, Darker.
The figure smiled. "You are not prepared."
Then, it attacked.
Micheal barely had time to react. His own shadow lunged at him.
He raised the Veralune Staff, but the shadow was quicker. It struck first,right to his chest.
Pain exploded through him.
The jungle vanished.
And suddenly he was somewhere else.
A great, endless white mist surrounded him. The jungle was gone. The others were gone.
Only one person stood before him.
Himself.
But older and Stronger. Eyes filled with something he couldn't name.
Older Micheal tilted his head. "You think you can run from this?"
Micheal swallowed hard. "What are you?"
The older version of himself smiled.
"The one who wins."
"Whattt" Micheal said loudly
Then the mist shattered.
Micheal took a deep breath, snapping back to reality.
The vines were gone. The jungle was still. the others were by his side,but he barely heard them.
His mind was still operating because he knew what he had just saw wasn't a dream.
It was a warning.
Riven stepped forward, his voice steady. "Now you understand."
"Understand what?" Micheal's voice deepened clenching his fists.
Riven's gaze hardened.
"The prophecy is not in saving the jungle."
His following words sent a shiver down Micheal's spine.
"It speaks about whether you will destroy it."
Micheal's heart choked. Looking surprised and confused at the same time.
It had picked him for a reason.
"But for salvation, or for destruction?"