The early morning sun filtered through the skeletal branches of the forest, casting long, eerie shadows that danced across the ground. Morganna's party moved slowly through the thick woods, their horses treading lightly on the gnarled roots and tangled underbrush. The crimson of her cloak seemed to blaze even in the half-light, a constant reminder to her followers that she was the fire that scorched everything in her path.
Lucian rode beside her, his face etched with a permanent scowl. He had not spoken since Silvergrove, the devastation they had wrought still weighing heavily on his conscience. Though the villagers were technically "free," Lucian could not ignore the truth—that they had traded one kind of terror for another.
"Silent, are we?" Morganna's voice broke the tension, her eyes glancing sidelong at him. Her voice held an amused edge, and her golden gaze flickered with curiosity.
Lucian shook his head slightly, refusing to meet her gaze. "I was merely reflecting on our path, Lady Morganna. The road is becoming... darker."
Morganna let out a low laugh, a sound that was both melodic and chilling. "Oh, Lucian. Still clinging to the illusion of righteousness, are we? We are well past the point of no return. Every step we take only draws us deeper into the abyss."
She reached into her cloak and pulled out a small silver amulet, its surface etched with strange symbols that glowed faintly in the darkened forest. It was an artifact she had taken from one of the fallen soldiers—a relic that had caught her eye amidst the chaos. Morganna turned it over in her hands, her smile growing wider.
"This trinket holds power," she mused, her voice soft, almost reverent. "I can feel the echoes of magic within it. The fools had no idea what they were carrying."
Lucian finally turned to her, his brow furrowing. "Is it wise to meddle with unknown artifacts, Morganna? We have enough enemies without invoking some ancient curse."
Morganna smirked at him, her eyes glinting with mischief. "There's nothing in this world that I fear, Lucian. Besides, the unknown is merely the unexplored. And I, for one, enjoy a little exploration." She closed her eyes briefly, muttering an incantation under her breath, her fingers brushing over the etchings of the amulet. The symbols flared to life, pulsing with energy, and the air around them seemed to hum in response.
Suddenly, the forest darkened, shadows spreading outwards like ink in water, as if the sun had blinked out for just a moment. Morganna's eyes shot open, and she smiled, her voice taking on an almost sing-song quality. "Ah, there it is. The Veil of Shadows."
Lucian looked around, his grip tightening on the reins of his horse. The once-quiet forest had transformed. The very air seemed thicker, more oppressive, and a sense of foreboding settled heavily over them. The distant cawing of a crow echoed, a mournful, almost mocking sound.
"Where have you taken us, Morganna?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, as if louder words would shatter the strange spell around them.
Morganna ignored his question, her focus instead on the darkened path ahead. The forest was different now—its shape twisted, its paths less distinct, like a maze that shifted and swayed under the weight of her magic. This was a place not of the physical world, but something in between—a realm where shadows reigned and light was an intruder.
"It's not where we are, dear Lucian, but what we're about to find," she replied, her smile widening. "This is an ancient place, touched by the chaos of old magic, long before the empires of men. A perfect hiding place for secrets."
Lucian looked ahead, struggling to keep his unease from showing. He had heard of such places before—places where the lines between worlds blurred, where ancient magic seeped into the very fabric of reality. He knew that whatever Morganna sought here would not be a mere trinket. This was something powerful, something dangerous.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself as he followed her deeper into the forest. Her followers trailed behind, their eyes wide, their hands hovering near the hilts of their weapons. They knew better than to question Morganna, even if their instincts screamed that they should flee.
As they ventured further, the trees seemed to close in, their twisted forms casting grotesque shadows that swirled and shifted. The ground beneath them grew uneven, the air colder, until they finally reached a small clearing. In the center stood a stone altar, half-buried beneath thick vines and moss. Strange runes were carved into its surface, glowing faintly with a bluish hue.
Morganna dismounted gracefully, her eyes alight with curiosity and greed. She approached the altar, her fingers brushing over the ancient runes as if caressing a lover. She could feel the power thrumming beneath her fingertips—a wild, chaotic force that had lain dormant for centuries.
Lucian dismounted as well, his expression wary. "What is this place, Morganna?" he asked, his voice hushed.
Morganna turned to him, her smile wide and wicked. "A doorway, Lucian. A doorway to something far greater than any of us. The power sealed here... it could reshape the world."
Lucian's eyes widened, a chill running down his spine. "You intend to unleash it?"
Morganna laughed, the sound echoing off the trees, sending a shiver through her followers. "Unleash it? No, Lucian. I intend to wield it." She raised the amulet, holding it above the altar, her voice rising in a chant that resonated with the pulse of the ancient runes.
The clearing darkened further, the shadows twisting and gathering around Morganna as if drawn to her, the runes flaring to life beneath her magic. The ground trembled, the altar shaking as if resisting her intrusion, but Morganna only laughed, her voice rising in a crescendo.
Lucian took a step back, his hand resting on his sword hilt as he watched. He knew there was no turning back. Morganna's ambition knew no bounds, and her thirst for power was insatiable. He had seen her do terrible things, but this... this felt like something different. Something that could shift the balance of the world.
The runes flared one last time before the altar split open with a deafening crack. A burst of energy shot upwards, swirling into a vortex of shadow and light. Morganna's eyes blazed with triumph as she stood at the center of the storm, her cloak billowing around her.
She reached into the vortex, her hand disappearing into the dark swirl, and pulled something free—a crystalline shard, glowing with an otherworldly light. The power emanating from it was palpable, vibrating through the clearing. Morganna held it aloft, her laughter echoing through the twisted forest.
"This, Lucian, is the key to Asteria's downfall," she declared, her voice carrying above the wind. "A shard of pure chaos—unrestrained, untamed. With this, we shall bring the world to its knees."
Lucian could only watch as she held the shard, its light casting her face in stark relief, her smile as wicked as it was beautiful. She looked like a goddess of destruction, standing amidst the wreckage of what had once been a forgotten secret.
"Come, Lucian," she said, her voice softening as she turned to him. "We have much work to do, and the world waits for no one. Especially not for those who fear what must be done."
Lucian nodded, his expression grim. He knew that, whatever came next, it would change everything. He had chosen his path when he chose to follow Morganna, and now there was no escaping the darkness they would bring.
Together, they left the clearing, the shadows parting for them, the shard's glow lighting their way. Behind them, the forest began to shift once more, the veil slowly closing as if it had never been disturbed. The Veil of Shadows had given up its secret, and now it was in the hands of the Crimson Witch.
And soon, all of Asteria would feel its power.