The forest pressed in around Kael and the wanderer as they trekked deeper into the heart of the wilds. Shadows grew longer, and the air felt heavier with each step. Kael kept his spear close, his eyes scanning for any movement beyond the tree line. Despite his best efforts to focus, his body betrayed him—a constant ache coursed through his limbs, and his thoughts were clouded by a strange fog that seemed to settle over his mind.
The wanderer walked ahead, their pace unrelenting. They hadn't spoken much since the fight with the mutated beasts, but Kael caught occasional glances cast his way. There was something calculating about those looks, as though the wanderer were assessing him—not as a person, but as a tool.
Finally, Kael couldn't take the silence any longer. "What are we heading toward?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
The wanderer slowed, turning slightly to regard him. "A source."
Kael frowned. "A source of what?"
"Answers," the wanderer said simply, as though that explained everything. When Kael didn't respond, they sighed and continued, "The beasts didn't come at you by chance, Kael. They're being drawn to you, and you're being drawn to something in return. If we're going to figure out what that is—and if we're going to survive—we need to find the source of that pull."
Kael clenched his jaw. He didn't trust the wanderer, not entirely. They were too vague, too comfortable with secrets. But they were also right. Something was happening to him, something far beyond his comprehension. He needed answers, and the wanderer seemed to know where to find them.
Hours passed before the pair reached their destination—a massive ravine that cut through the forest like a scar. The air here was different, charged with an energy that made Kael's skin crawl. At the bottom of the ravine lay a network of jagged rocks and pools of dark, shimmering water. Faint wisps of mist curled upward, carrying a metallic tang that stung Kael's nostrils.
"This is it," the wanderer said, their voice hushed.
Kael stepped closer to the edge, peering down into the ravine. "What am I looking at?"
"An ancient wound," the wanderer replied. "A place where the balance of the wilds was broken."
Kael glanced at them, his skepticism evident. "And you think this... 'wound' is what's pulling the beasts?"
The wanderer nodded. "It's not just the beasts, Kael. It's you. Whatever changed you, whatever ties you to the wilds, it's connected to this place. If we're going to figure out what's happening, you need to confront it."
Kael didn't like the sound of that. He had faced countless dangers in the wilds, but this was different. This wasn't just a fight for survival; it was something deeper, something he didn't fully understand. Still, he couldn't back down—not now.
"How do we get down there?" he asked.
The wanderer smirked. "Carefully."
The descent into the ravine was treacherous. Loose rocks crumbled beneath Kael's boots, and the air grew colder with every step. The mist thickened, wrapping around him like a shroud. He kept one hand on the jagged wall for balance, his other gripping his spear tightly. The wanderer moved ahead, their movements fluid and precise, as though they had done this a hundred times before.
When they finally reached the bottom, Kael was struck by the eerie stillness of the place. The pools of water glimmered faintly, their surfaces unnaturally smooth. The ground was covered in strange, vein-like patterns that pulsed faintly with light, as though the ravine itself were alive.
"What is this place?" Kael asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"The heart of the wilds," the wanderer replied. "Or what's left of it."
Kael frowned, his gaze sweeping over the strange patterns. "What happened here?"
The wanderer hesitated, their expression unreadable. "A long time ago, something tore through this place. Something powerful. The wilds have been trying to heal ever since, but the wound runs too deep. That's why the beasts are drawn here. And that's why you are, too."
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but a sudden noise cut him off—a low, resonant hum that seemed to emanate from the ground itself. The light beneath their feet grew brighter, the pulsing more erratic. Kael's grip tightened on his spear as the air around them grew heavier, pressing down like an invisible weight.
"What's happening?" he demanded.
The wanderer's eyes narrowed. "It's waking up."
Before Kael could ask what "it" was, the ground beneath them trembled violently. Cracks spiderwebbed through the rocks, and the pools of water began to churn. A deafening roar echoed through the ravine, and Kael felt a surge of energy rip through him—a sensation so intense that he staggered, dropping to one knee.
Pain flared through his body, sharper and more excruciating than anything he had felt before. It wasn't like the previous mutations; this was something different, something wrong. His vision blurred, and he struggled to catch his breath as his muscles spasmed uncontrollably.
The wanderer was at his side in an instant, their hands gripping his shoulders. "Kael! Focus. You have to fight it."
"Fight what?" Kael gasped, his voice raw with pain.
"The wilds," the wanderer said. "They're testing you again. If you let them take control, you'll lose yourself."
Kael clenched his teeth, forcing himself to push through the pain. The energy coursing through him was overwhelming, but he refused to let it consume him. Slowly, he regained his footing, though his legs trembled beneath him.
"What... was that?" he managed to say.
The wanderer's expression was grim. "Your bond with the wilds is changing again. The deeper we go, the more it will demand from you."
Kael's fists clenched. He had already endured so much—what more could the wilds possibly take from him?
As they moved deeper into the ravine, Kael began to notice a strange sensation creeping over him. His body felt heavier, his movements sluggish. At first, he thought it was exhaustion, but then he realized it was something else entirely—a craving. It started as a faint itch at the back of his mind, but it quickly grew into an all-consuming need.
He glanced at the pools of shimmering water, and his mouth went dry. The craving intensified, pulling at him with an almost magnetic force. He stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on the nearest pool.
"Kael?" the wanderer said, their tone sharp. "What's wrong?"
Kael didn't respond. He took a step toward the pool, his movements stiff and mechanical.
"Kael!" The wanderer grabbed his arm, snapping him out of his trance. "Don't. That water isn't what it seems."
Kael shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "What... what's happening to me?"
The wanderer's expression was grave. "The wilds are binding you to this place. That craving you're feeling—it's the price of your bond. If you give in, you'll become dependent on it."
Kael's stomach twisted. He had always prided himself on his resilience, his ability to survive no matter the odds. But this? This was different. The idea of being tethered to the wilds, of needing something outside his control, was almost too much to bear.
"I won't let that happen," he said, his voice firm.
The wanderer nodded. "Good. But it's only going to get harder from here."
As they continued their journey, Kael couldn't shake the lingering craving. It gnawed at the edges of his mind, a constant reminder of the price he was paying for his connection to the wilds. But he refused to let it control him. He had faced worse—he would overcome this, too.
Finally, they reached the heart of the ravine—a massive, glowing fissure that pulsed with energy. The air here was almost suffocating, thick with the scent of metal and decay. Kael could feel the energy pulling at him, tugging at the very core of his being.
"This is it," the wanderer said. "The source."
Kael stared at the fissure, his chest tightening. Whatever lay beyond it, he knew it would change him forever. But he also knew he had no choice. If he wanted to survive—if he wanted to protect the bastion from whatever was coming—he had to face it.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, ready to confront the unknown.