The shadows attacked with precision, forcing the group to scatter. Kieran stepped forward, his shield glowing brightly as he absorbed the brunt of the assault. Rowan darted between the creatures, her spear shifting into a whip that lashed at their limbs.
Aiden summoned the quill-sword, which dissolved into a glowing bow. He fired arrows of light, striking the creatures with precision, but the shadows kept coming.
"These things don't stop!" Rowan shouted, her voice strained. "What's the plan, rookie?"
Aiden gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The whispers clawed at his thoughts, filling his head with doubts. You're too weak. You'll fail. You'll lose her.
"No," he muttered, raising the ring. The bow dissolved, and jagged chains of darkness erupted from the ground, binding the creatures in place.
Kieran glanced back, his voice sharp. "Careful, Aiden. That's too much shadow."
"I've got it!" Aiden snapped, his voice tense.
The chains twisted, merging with glowing spikes of light that pierced through the shadows. The creatures dissolved, and the bridge stabilized, its crimson veins fading.
Rowan let out a breath, leaning on her spear. "Nice save, but you're walking a fine line, rookie."
Aiden looked at the ring on his finger, its glow steady but tinged with shadow. "I'm fine."
Sylva floated closer, her tone gentle. "You must maintain balance, Aiden. The darkness is not your enemy, but it must not control you."
Aiden nodded, though doubt lingered in his mind. "Let's keep moving."
As the group moved deeper into the fragment, the chaotic bridges gave way to a dense forest. The trees were warped and glowing faintly, their branches weaving into a canopy that blocked out the light.
"This feels familiar," Rowan muttered, her voice unusually quiet.
Sylva's light flickered. "This fragment is tied to you, Rowan. It reflects a piece of your world—a memory that the Core has corrupted."
Rowan frowned, her grip on her spear tightening. "I don't need this right now."
The forest opened into a clearing, where a small house stood in the center. Its windows were dark, and the air around it felt heavy with tension. Shadows flickered at the edges, their forms shifting unnaturally.
"Rowan?" Aiden asked, his voice hesitant.
"It's nothing," Rowan said sharply. "Let's just get this over with."
The group moved cautiously toward the house, but as they approached, the shadows solidified into human-like figures. Their forms flickered with static, and their hollow eyes locked onto Rowan.
"You left us," one of them said, its voice hollow and distorted. "You failed us."
Rowan froze, her usual confidence replaced by hesitation. "They're not real," she muttered, her voice shaky. "They're just tricks."
The shadows advanced, and Rowan raised her spear, but her movements were slower than usual. The whispers grew louder, and the air felt suffocating.
"Rowan, focus!" Kieran shouted, stepping forward. His shield glowed brightly as he struck the shadows, forcing them back.
Aiden gripped the quill-sword, which shifted into a glowing chain. He lashed at the shadows, binding them in place. "We've got you, Rowan. You're not alone."
Rowan gritted her teeth, her spear glowing faintly. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Yeah. I know."
With renewed determination, Rowan's spear shifted into a massive glaive. She charged forward, cutting through the shadows with precision. The whispers faded, and the fragment began to stabilize.