As they moved deeper into the fragment, Aiden felt a shift in the air—a tension that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. The terrain became more chaotic, with larger fragments floating precariously close to one another.
"You're not alone here," Sylva said suddenly, her light flickering.
"What do you mean?" Aiden asked.
Before she could answer, a sharp voice called out from behind them. "Not bad, rookie. But you're going to need more than that to survive here."
Aiden turned to see a young woman with short, wild hair and a confident grin. She carried a glowing spear, which she twirled effortlessly. Her stance was relaxed, but her sharp eyes scanned him with interest.
"Who are you?" Aiden asked, raising the quill-sword cautiously.
"Rowan," she said, her grin widening. "And if you want to make it out of this place alive, you'd better stick with me."