The morning mist clung to the forest, shrouding their path in an ethereal haze. The air carried a biting chill, and though the forest was quiet, a sense of unease hung heavy. The Nexus Flame within Seris flickered faintly, as though mirroring her apprehension.
Kael walked a few paces ahead, his bow in hand, scanning the woods for any signs of danger. Dain stayed close to Seris, sword ready, while the dragon prowled on the group's flank, its fiery gaze piercing the fog.
"We're being watched," the dragon rumbled, breaking the silence.
Seris stiffened. "Do you sense something?"
"Yes," it growled. "But it's more than one presence. Something unnatural is closing in."
Before anyone could respond, the forest erupted into chaos. Black tendrils shot from the trees, snaking toward them with unnatural speed. Kael reacted first, loosing an arrow that struck one of the tendrils, causing it to writhe and dissolve.
"Ambush!" Dain shouted, swinging his blade to sever another tendril.
The ground beneath them trembled, and from the shadows emerged a group of dark figures cloaked in tattered robes. Their faces were obscured, but their glowing red eyes pierced through the mist. Each carried weapons forged from a strange, blackened metal that seemed to absorb light.
"Riftspawn," the dragon snarled. "Servants of the darkness."
The creatures advanced, their movements jerky and unnatural. One lunged at Seris, its blade aimed for her chest. She raised her hands instinctively, and the Nexus Flame surged to life, creating a barrier of shimmering light that deflected the attack.
Kael darted to her side, firing arrows with precision. "Stay close! They're targeting you!"
Dain waded into the fray, his sword gleaming as he struck down two of the Riftspawn. "We need to push through! Staying here will only attract more!"
The dragon roared, releasing a torrent of flame that engulfed several enemies, but more kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
Seris felt the Flame's warmth grow within her, urging her to act. Closing her eyes, she focused on its energy, letting it guide her. Her hands glowed with fiery light, and she unleashed a wave of power that sent the Riftspawn reeling.
"That's it!" Kael shouted. "Use the Flame to drive them back!"
But as the light pushed the Riftspawn away, a chilling laugh echoed through the forest. From the shadows emerged a figure clad in gleaming black armor, their face hidden behind a menacing helm. In one hand, they carried a massive sword etched with glowing runes that pulsed with the same dark energy as the Riftspawn.
"Ah, the bearer of the Nexus Flame," the figure said, their voice smooth yet menacing. "I've been waiting for you."
The dragon snarled, positioning itself between the group and the armored figure. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled. "You may call me Malrik. I serve the Shadow Warden, the true ruler of this realm. And you, little Flamebearer, are an inconvenience that must be extinguished."
Before anyone could react, Malrik raised his sword and swung it downward. A shockwave of dark energy erupted from the blade, tearing through the ground and scattering the group. Seris was thrown back, the Nexus Flame flaring wildly within her as she struggled to regain her footing.
Kael rushed to her side, helping her up. "Seris! Are you alright?"
She nodded, though her hands trembled. "We can't let him win."
The dragon roared and charged Malrik, its claws slashing at the armored figure. Malrik met the attack head-on, his blade colliding with the dragon's claws in a burst of sparks.
"Go!" the dragon shouted. "I'll hold him off! Find safety and regroup!"
"But—" Seris began, only for Dain to grab her arm.
"He's right! We can't fight him here. Not yet!"
Reluctantly, Seris allowed Dain and Kael to pull her away, her heart heavy as the sounds of battle echoed behind them. The Flame flickered within her, its light dim but persistent.
As they ran, Kael glanced back at her, his expression serious. "That man, Malrik... he's no ordinary enemy. If we're going to stand a chance against him, we need to find a way to unlock the Flame's full power."
Seris nodded, determination hardening her features. "Then that's what we'll do. No matter what it takes."
Ahead of them, the forest began to thin, revealing the faint outlines of a forgotten ruin shrouded in mist. Seris felt a pull toward it, as if the Flame within her was guiding her once again.
"This way," she said, her voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at her. "There's something here we need to find."
The group pressed on, the shadows of the Riftspawn lingering behind them, and Malrik's chilling laugh echoing in the distance.