The wheels of the carriage rattled against the dirt path, the sound echoing in the tense silence of the group. Raiden sat at the edge of the wooden seat, his eyes scanning the forest around them, while Ash leaned back, his arms crossed, occasionally wincing as his still-recovering body reminded him of its limits. Astrid sat beside Raiden, her dark cloak pulled tightly around her, though she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes.
The driver, an older man with a kind face, glanced back nervously. "My princess, I can only take you so far. Beyond this point, the forest grows wild, and the guards will soon be on our trail."
Astrid nodded, her expression resolute. "I understand. Thank you for bringing us this far." She pulled out a small pouch of Talons and extended it toward the driver.
The man shook his head, almost offended. "I cannot take this, my princess. It is my honor to serve you. Please, take care of yourself."
Astrid hesitated, then gave him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you."
The man tipped his hat before turning the carriage around and driving off, leaving the trio standing on the edge of an ominous forest.
Ash stretched his arms and winced. "Well, this is cozy. Just the three of us, wandering into a death trap. What could possibly go wrong?"
Astrid ignored his sarcasm and turned to Raiden. "The cave isn't far from here. I can feel her presence—stronger than before. She's close."
Raiden nodded, his head set. "Then let's not waste any time."
As they walked, the air grew colder, and the trees seemed to close in around them. The once lively forest became eerily quiet, the only sounds being their footsteps crunching against the dry leaves.
Astrid slowed her pace, her hand lightly brushing against Raiden's arm to stop him. "Wait." She closed her eyes, her brows furrowing in concentration. She began to whisper an incantation under her breath.
"What's she doing now?" Ash whispered to Raiden, who shrugged.
Astrid's eyes snapped open, and she extended her hand toward the trees behind them. Dark tendrils of energy erupted from her palm, weaving through the forest like living shadows. Within moments, they heard muffled shouts and the sound of guards stumbling.
"That should slow them down," Astrid said, a hint of pride in her voice.
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Impressive. But, uh, maybe next time warn us before you summon the forces of darkness?"
Astrid smirked. "Noted."
As they ventured further, the forest gave way to a rocky place. At its center stood a gaping cave entrance, with its jagged edges. The air around it was heavy, almost suffocating, and faint whispers seemed to emanate from the darkness within.
"This is it," Astrid said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Raiden stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "Stay close. We don't know what's waiting for us in there."
The three of them entered the cave, their footsteps echoing off the damp walls. The further they went, the darker it became, until the only light came from faint, glowing runes etched into the walls.
"I don't like this," Ash muttered, his voice bouncing off the cavern.
Astrid, walking beside Raiden, glanced up at him. "You're not afraid, are you?"
Raiden smirked. "Not of the dark."
Astrid bit her lip, a small smile on her lips. "Good. Because what's ahead is far worse than darkness."
After what felt like an eternity of walking, they entered a massive chamber. At its center sat a woman with long, flowing white hair, her figure draped in a black, tattered cloak. She sat on a crude stone throne, her piercing eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
Astrid froze, her breath hitching. "That's her," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Lyra slowly rose from her throne, a sinister smile spreading across her face. "Ah, my dear niece," she said, her voice dripping with mock. "I was wondering when you'd come to me. And I see you've brought guests. How delightful."
Raiden stepped forward, his fists clenched. "We're not here to play games. This ends now."
Lyra's laughter echoed through the chamber. "Oh, child. You have no idea what you've just walked into."