The jagged peaks loomed closer with every step, their sharp edges cutting into the sky like the teeth of some colossal beast. The air grew colder, and the vibrant glow of the forest behind them dimmed, replaced by an eerie gray fog that crept along the ground.
Drayk led the way with the confidence of a man who'd walked this path a hundred times. Kiran, however, struggled to keep up. Every snap of a twig or rustle of wind made him flinch, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his machete.
"You're jumpy," Drayk said without turning.
"Can you blame me?" Kiran muttered. "Feels like something's watching us."
Drayk chuckled darkly. "That's because something probably is. The Rift's energy doesn't just disappear, even after it's stabilized. It attracts all kinds of things—things that like to hunt."
"Fantastic," Kiran muttered.
As they climbed higher, the path grew steeper, the ground shifting under their feet. Kiran's muscles burned, but he pushed forward, determined not to show weakness.
"You're slowing down," Drayk said after a while, glancing back.
"I'm fine," Kiran replied through gritted teeth.
"Fine doesn't cut it out here," Drayk said. "If you can't keep up, you'll die. Simple as that."
Kiran glared at him but said nothing, saving his energy for the climb.
As they ascended, the sigil on his wrist began to pulse faintly. At first, Kiran thought it was his imagination, but the pulses grew stronger, syncing with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
"Drayk," Kiran said, holding up his arm. "It's doing something."
Drayk stopped, his expression serious. "The Key's reacting to something. Focus on it—see if you can figure out what."
Kiran frowned, closing his eyes and concentrating on the sigil. The pulsing grew more insistent, and a faint hum filled his ears. Images flickered in his mind—fractured glimpses of another place. A crumbling temple. A swirling void. Shadows moving in the dark.
"What do you see?" Drayk asked, his tone unusually calm.
"A temple," Kiran said slowly. "I think it's… calling to me?"
Drayk's eyes narrowed. "That's the Key trying to guide you. It wants you to understand its power. But be careful—its guidance isn't always safe."
Before Kiran could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. A low growl echoed through the air, and the fog thickened, swirling ominously.
"Get ready," Drayk said, drawing his blade. "We're not alone."
From the shadows emerged a pack of creatures, their forms barely visible through the mist. They were lean and wolf-like, their bodies rippling with otherworldly energy. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, locked onto Kiran.
"Let me guess," Kiran said, raising his machete. "They're here for the Key."
Drayk smirked. "You're catching on."
The first wolf lunged, and Drayk met it head-on, his blade cleaving through its form. Another leaped toward Kiran, and he swung his machete, the Rift energy flaring along its edge. The blade connected, and the wolf dissolved into shimmering particles.
"Not bad," Drayk said, cutting down another. "But don't get cocky."
The wolves were relentless, their movements fast and coordinated. Kiran focused on the sigil, willing its power to flow into him. The energy responded, and his movements grew sharper, his strikes more precise.
But the power came at a cost. Each surge left him more drained, the sigil's glow dimming as the fight dragged on.
"Drayk!" Kiran shouted, parrying a strike. "I can't keep this up!"
"Then finish it!" Drayk barked.
Kiran gritted his teeth, focusing all his energy into one final attack. The sigil flared brightly, and a wave of energy erupted from his machete, scattering the remaining wolves.
As the last creature dissolved, Kiran collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," Drayk said, his tone surprisingly gentle.
"I didn't have a choice," Kiran shot back, glaring at him.
"You always have a choice," Drayk said. "Learn to control the Key, or it'll control you."
Kiran didn't respond, too exhausted to argue.
They reached a small plateau as the sun began to set, the mist parting to reveal a breathtaking view of the mountains. In the distance, Kiran could just make out the ruins of a temple nestled among the peaks.
"That's it," Drayk said, pointing. "The temple in your vision."
Kiran stared at it, the sigil on his wrist pulsing faintly. "What's inside?"
"Answers, if you're lucky," Drayk said. "And probably more trouble."
"Of course," Kiran muttered.
They set up camp for the night, the fire casting long shadows over the rocky ground. As Kiran lay staring at the stars, he felt the sigil pulse again, a gentle rhythm that seemed to echo his thoughts.
"What are you trying to tell me?" he whispered, tracing the mark with his finger.
The energy responded, a warm sensation spreading through his arm. For the first time, it felt less like an alien force and more like… an extension of himself.
"Don't get too comfortable with it," Drayk said, his voice breaking the silence. "The Key isn't your friend. It's a tool—and tools can break."
Kiran glanced at him. "Do you ever stop being cryptic?"
Drayk smirked. "Not when it keeps you on your toes."
As the fire crackled and the stars shifted above, Kiran felt a strange mix of fear and determination. The journey ahead would be dangerous, but for the first time, he felt like he might have a chance.
The temple awaited, its secrets buried beneath layers of shadow and time.
And Kiran was ready to face them.