The fragmented expanse of the Otherworld grew more erratic as Aiden and Sylva ventured deeper. Pieces of what once resembled familiar streets and buildings now floated at awkward angles, spinning slowly as if caught in a silent storm. The air grew colder, heavier with an oppressive tension. Aiden gripped the quill-sword tightly, its faint hum the only thing grounding him in this disjointed reality.
"Something's wrong," Aiden muttered, his eyes darting to the flickering shadows that danced across the jagged fragments.
"You're not alone here," Sylva said suddenly, her voice low and urgent. Her light dimmed slightly, as if in response to an unseen presence.
Aiden froze, his grip tightening. "What do you mean? What's—"
Before she could answer, the sound of hurried footsteps and panicked cries echoed through the expanse. A small group of people stumbled into view, their faces pale and their movements frantic. They were ordinary—dressed in casual clothes, their expressions wild with confusion and terror.
"Help us!" one of them, a middle-aged man with a bloodied forehead, shouted as he sprinted toward Aiden and Sylva. "Please, they're coming!"
Aiden's stomach twisted. He stepped forward instinctively. "Wait, what—?"
The answer came in the form of a guttural roar that tore through the fragmented space. From the shadows emerged jagged humanoid forms, their glowing crimson eyes locking onto the fleeing group. These weren't like the shadows Aiden had faced before. They were larger, faster, and more violent. Tendrils of darkness extended from their forms, lashing at the air like whips.
The first shadow lunged, slamming into a man at the back of the group. The force sent him sprawling to the ground. He barely had time to scream before the creature's claws tore into him, shredding his body in an instant. Where he had fallen, a new shadow rose, its form even more twisted than the others.
"Oh my God," Aiden breathed, his chest tightening. His mind raced as he raised the quill-sword. "Sylva, what the hell is going on?"
"The Core's influence," Sylva said grimly. "These people were pulled here during the collapse. They're as much prey to the shadows as you are. You must act quickly, or they'll all be consumed."
The shadows surged forward, tearing into the remaining pedestrians. A woman screamed as a tendril wrapped around her ankle, dragging her toward the darkness. Aiden didn't think—he leapt forward, slashing with the quill-sword. The blade shifted mid-swing, forming a glowing chain that snapped taut around the tendril. He yanked hard, freeing the woman and sending the shadow staggering back.
"More shadows emerged, their whispers growing louder.
You can't save them all. Why even try?
The remaining civilians clung to one another, their terror palpable. Sylva turned to them, her tone calm yet commanding. "Follow the eastern root path. It will lead you to a safe zone where others have gathered. Do not stop. Do not look back."
The man with the bloodied arm hesitated. "What about you? What about them?" He gestured to Aiden, who was now locked in combat with two more shadows, his movements frantic but determined.
"We will hold them off," Sylva said firmly. "Go. Now."
The civilians exchanged a brief, fearful glance before obeying, disappearing down the root-lined path Sylva had indicated. Their footsteps faded quickly, leaving Aiden and Sylva alone with the advancing shadows.
Aiden struck down another shadow, his breathing ragged. "This doesn't end, does it? They just keep coming."
"You're right," a new voice chimed in, cutting through the tension with an almost playful edge. "They don't stop. But that's why I'm here."
Aiden whirled, spotting a figure leaping gracefully from a floating platform above. She landed effortlessly, her glowing spear spinning in her hand before coming to rest at her side. Her short, wild hair framed a sharp grin, and her confident stance radiated authority.
"Name's Rowan," she said, her grin widening as her eyes met Aiden's. "I see Sylva picked herself a new recruit. Good. You'll need all the help you can get."
Aiden's grip on the quill-sword tightened as he eyed her warily. "Who are you, and why should I trust you?"
Rowan chuckled, twirling the spear with a practiced flourish. "Relax, rookie. I'm on your side. Been working with Sylva longer than I can remember." Her expression turned serious, her gaze flicking to the shadows. "And trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Sylva floated closer, her glow steadying. "Rowan has been fighting the Core's corruption for a long time. She's here to help."
"How long, exactly?" Aiden asked, his voice tinged with skepticism.
Rowan's grin faltered for a moment, her eyes distant. "Long enough to lose track. Time doesn't mean much here." She shook her head, snapping back to the present. "Anyway, we can talk later—if you survive."
The shadows lunged again, more coordinated this time, their tendrils weaving together like a net. Rowan moved first, her spear blazing with light as she thrust it into the mass of darkness. The shadows recoiled, shrieking as the light consumed them.
"See? Told you I've got this," Rowan called over her shoulder, her tone light but her movements precise.
Aiden rolled his eyes but couldn't deny her skill. He turned back to his own fight, the quill-sword shifting into a bow as he imagined arrows of piercing light. He fired rapidly, each shot finding its mark and dissolving a shadow into mist.
"Not bad, rookie!" Rowan shouted, slicing through another tendril. "You might actually last more than a day here."
"Can you focus?" Aiden snapped, dodging a clawed strike. "This isn't exactly fun for me."
Rowan laughed, driving her spear into the ground. A pulse of energy radiated outward, forcing the shadows back. "You'll get used to it."
As the last shadow dissolved, the whispers quieted, leaving an unsettling silence in their wake. Aiden lowered his weapon, his chest heaving.
"Is it always like this?" he asked, his voice laced with exhaustion.
Rowan leaned on her spear, her grin returning. "Pretty much. But you'll learn to love it."
Sylva floated between them, her gaze softening as she addressed Aiden. "You did well. And Rowan is right—you'll adapt. But the Core's forces will only grow stronger the closer we get."
Aiden nodded, though his grip on the quill-sword remained firm. He glanced toward the path where the civilians had disappeared. "Do you think they'll make it?"
"They have a chance now," Sylva said. "Thanks to you."
Rowan clapped a hand on Aiden's shoulder, her grin turning mischievous. "You've got potential, rookie. Stick with me, and you might even make it out of here alive."
Aiden sighed, shaking his head. "This place is insane."
"Welcome to the Otherworld," Rowan said with a smirk, spinning her spear once more. "You'll fit right in."