The group descended the jagged slope outside the cavern, the night's chill biting into their skin. Seris could feel the Flame pulsing within her chest, its energy restless, as though it sensed the encroaching dangers. Dain walked slightly ahead, his hand on the hilt of his sword, while Kael trailed behind, scanning their surroundings with a mix of awe and paranoia. The dragon, its luminous scales dimmed to blend into the darkness, moved silently alongside them.
The silence between them stretched, heavy with questions left unasked. Finally, Kael broke it.
"Do you think those things in the cavern were the only ones? The Nexus's guardians?" he asked, his voice low.
The dragon rumbled softly, its tone grave. "They were but a fraction of what slumbers in the Nexus's depths. The Core awakens many defenses when its sanctity is threatened. Those shadows were only the first wave."
Dain muttered a curse under his breath. "So, what's next? A whole army of nightmares?"
"Perhaps," the dragon replied simply.
Seris tightened her grip on the staff in her hand, her knuckles white. "We'll deal with whatever comes. We have to."
The path ahead wound into a dense forest, its gnarled trees forming a canopy that blocked out the moonlight. As they ventured deeper, the air grew thick with an unnatural stillness. Even the usual sounds of the night—crickets, rustling leaves, distant calls of nocturnal creatures—were absent.
Seris glanced over her shoulder. "Does anyone else feel like we're being watched?"
Kael nodded grimly. "Ever since we left the cavern."
The dragon stopped abruptly, its golden eyes narrowing as it scanned the treetops. "We are not alone," it said, its voice a low growl. "Be ready."
The shadows around them deepened, and a faint whispering filled the air. It was a language none of them could understand, but its tone was unmistakable—mocking, taunting. The trees seemed to shift and twist as the whispers grew louder, the path ahead fading into an oppressive darkness.
"Seris," Dain said, drawing his blade. "Can you use the Flame to light the way?"
Seris nodded, holding up her staff. A flicker of fire ignited at its tip, casting a warm glow that pushed back the shadows. But the light revealed something far worse: figures emerging from the darkness, their forms humanoid but distorted, their faces blank slates of flesh.
"Wraiths," the dragon hissed. "Corrupted souls bound to the Nexus. They seek to devour the living."
Kael drew his bow, an arrow already nocked. "How do we stop them?"
"Strike quickly, and do not let them touch you," the dragon warned. "Their very essence can drain the life from you."
The first wraith lunged, its movements unnaturally fast. Seris swung her staff instinctively, a burst of flame erupting and consuming the creature. It shrieked, a sound that clawed at their ears, before dissipating into ash.
"Stay close!" Seris shouted as more wraiths emerged, their numbers growing. The group formed a tight circle, fending off the creatures with fire, steel, and the dragon's powerful strikes.
But the wraiths were relentless. For every one they destroyed, two more took its place. The whispers in the air grew deafening, drowning out their cries of determination.
"We can't keep this up!" Kael yelled, loosing an arrow that struck a wraith square in its featureless face.
The dragon reared back, its golden scales flaring with light. "Then we must break their hold on this place. Seris! The Flame can banish them, but you must focus its power."
Seris hesitated, the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. She closed her eyes, reaching deep within herself, to the connection she felt with the Nexus. The Flame responded, flaring brighter, its heat coursing through her veins.
The wraiths hesitated, their whispers faltering as the light grew more intense. Seris raised her staff, and with a shout, unleashed a wave of fire that engulfed the clearing. The wraiths screamed as the flames consumed them, their forms disintegrating into nothingness.
When the fire died down, the forest was silent once more. Seris collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. Dain and Kael rushed to her side, while the dragon stood watch, its gaze still scanning the darkness.
"You did it," Kael said, his voice filled with relief.
Seris shook her head. "No. I only bought us time. They'll come again, and next time... I don't know if I'll have enough strength."
The dragon stepped forward, its tone firm but not unkind. "You must learn to harness the Flame's power without fear. It is not just a weapon; it is a part of you now."
Seris met the dragon's gaze, determination flickering in her eyes. "Then teach me. Show me how to control it."
The dragon inclined its head. "We will begin, but not here. This forest still holds dangers, and we must keep moving."
As the group pressed on, none of them noticed the faint shimmer in the air behind them. A lone wraith lingered in the shadows, its form shifting as it observed their departure. Its blank face twisted into something resembling a grin before melting back into the darkness.
lts join our channel on Patreon
p@treon com/Horizons685