The group moved quickly away from the ruins, their steps heavy but determined. The trees thickened around them, the forest's shadows offering some cover as the sun began to dip below the horizon. The silence between them was tense, broken only by the crunch of leaves and the occasional rustle of the underbrush.
Caden's thoughts churned. The encounter with the Reclaimers lingered in his mind—their leader's escape, the Echo beast's unnatural strength, the overwhelming power of the shard and fragment combined. He could still feel the echo of the energy coursing through him, leaving behind a faint ache in his chest and an unsettling hum in his thoughts.
"We can't keep doing this," Caden said finally, his voice cutting through the quiet.
Kael, walking slightly ahead, glanced back at him. "Doing what? Surviving?"
"Being hunted," Caden replied, his tone sharper than he intended. "The Reclaimers keep finding us. They know what we're doing, where we're going. It's only going to get worse."
Kael shrugged, her dagger spinning idly in her fingers. "You say that like we've got another option. Unless you've got a plan to take the fight to them, we keep running. That's the game."
"She's right," Garrick said, though his voice carried a weariness that matched the exhaustion in his steps. "We don't have the resources or the strength to face them head-on. Not yet."
"Not yet," Caden muttered, more to himself than the others. His hand brushed against the shard in his pocket, its pulse subdued but present. "We need to do something, though. I can't keep using the shard like this. It's... it's taking too much."
"Then don't," Garrick said, his tone firm. "The shard is a tool, not a crutch. You need to rely on your skills, not just its power."
Caden clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Easy for you to say. You've had years to figure out your magic. I've had weeks."
Garrick stopped walking, turning to face him. "And you've accomplished more in those weeks than most do in years. But if you don't learn control, it won't matter how strong you become. The shard will consume you."
Caden looked away, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I know," he said quietly.
Kael sighed, slipping her dagger back into its sheath. "This is all very heartfelt, but maybe we save the soul-searching for after we're not being chased by fanatics?"
"Agreed," Garrick said, his tone softening as he turned back toward the trail. "We'll head for the town on the forest's edge. It's a day's journey if we push through the night. Once we're there, we can rest—and plan our next move."
The forest seemed to grow darker as they pressed on, the trees looming taller, their branches intertwining to block out the faint moonlight. Caden's steps grew heavier, his body still recovering from the strain of the battle.
The shard pulsed faintly in his pocket, its presence a constant reminder of the path he had chosen.
"Kael," Garrick said after a while, his voice low. "Scout ahead. Make sure the path is clear."
Kael nodded, slipping into the shadows with practiced ease. Her footsteps faded quickly, leaving Caden and Garrick alone on the trail.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Garrick broke the silence. "You're angry."
Caden glanced at him, startled. "What?"
"You're angry," Garrick repeated, his tone calm but pointed. "At the Reclaimers, at the shard, at me. Maybe even at yourself."
Caden didn't reply immediately. Instead, he stared ahead, his thoughts racing. "I just... I don't know if I can do this," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
Garrick stopped walking, turning to face him fully. "What makes you say that?"
Caden hesitated, the weight of his doubts pressing heavily on him. "I'm not strong enough. Every time I use the shard, it feels like I'm losing a part of myself. And now... now they know who I am. They'll keep coming. And I don't know if I can stop them."
Garrick's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable. "You're right," he said after a moment. "The Reclaimers will keep coming. They're relentless, and they won't stop until they get what they want."
Caden's stomach tightened. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"No," Garrick said. "But this might: You don't have to do it alone."
Caden frowned, his brow furrowing.
"You're not the only one fighting this fight," Garrick continued. "Kael, me, even the people in the towns we've passed—we're all in this together, whether we like it or not. You don't have to carry the burden by yourself."
For a moment, Caden didn't respond. Then, slowly, he nodded. "I'll try."
"That's all anyone can ask," Garrick said, his voice softening. "Now, let's keep moving. The sooner we're out of this forest, the better."
Kael reappeared a short while later, her expression guarded. "Path's clear for now," she said. "But we should pick up the pace. Something about this place gives me the creeps."
"You and me both," Caden muttered.
They moved quickly, the oppressive weight of the forest pressing down on them with every step. The faint sound of rushing water reached their ears, and soon the trees began to thin, revealing a small river cutting through the landscape.
"We'll camp here," Garrick said, motioning toward a cluster of rocks near the riverbank. "It's too risky to push on through the night."
Kael sighed, dropping her pack onto the ground. "Finally."
Caden sat heavily on one of the rocks, his body aching from the day's journey. The shard pulsed faintly, its energy subdued but present. He stared at the river, the water reflecting the faint glow of the moonlight, and let out a slow breath.
The fight with the Reclaimers wasn't over. The shard's power wasn't fully understood. And the road ahead was filled with uncertainty.
But for now, they had a moment's respite.
And Caden would take it.