The morning dawned gray and misty as Isla and Auren set out from Wayward. The settlement's gates closed behind them with a low groan, leaving them alone on the winding path that led north. The air was crisp, and the morning fog clung stubbornly to the ground, making the landscape feel ethereal and uncertain. Isla pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, glancing at Auren, who strode ahead, seemingly unaffected by the chill.
Auren moved with purpose, his golden eyes fixed on the horizon. He hadn't said much since they left the inn, his expression focused and his aura radiating determination. Isla followed in silence, her mind still buzzing with the events of the day before—Lyra's kindness, the strange atmosphere of Wayward, and now the daunting task of venturing into a supposedly haunted shrine. She couldn't help but feel both excitement and trepidation about what they might find there.
"What do you think we'll find at this shrine?" Isla finally asked, her voice cutting through the quiet of the morning.
Auren didn't turn his head, his gaze still fixed on the path ahead. "Power," he replied simply. "Or clues as to where it was taken from me. Either will suffice."
Isla sighed. It was the same answer as always. Power, vengeance, reclaiming what was his—Auren's goals were singular, and she wondered if there was anything else to him beneath that cold exterior. Perhaps she would never know.
As they continued on, Isla absentmindedly opened the interface of her system—an integrated feature that all mortals had gained during the Mana Surge. She glanced at her [Status] screen, noting her current Level: 3, with skills like [Archaeology Expertise], [Trap Awareness], and the recently unlocked [Mana Sensitivity] glinting softly in her vision. She sighed. Her mana reserves were still pitifully low, but at least her [Mana Sensitivity] was growing stronger, something that might be useful if the shrine contained the power Auren believed.
They continued in silence for a while, the path winding through dense woods. The trees grew thicker as they ventured further from Wayward, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blocked out much of the light. Strange, glowing fungi clung to the trunks, casting an eerie luminescence that painted the shadows in shifting patterns. The air felt heavier here, as if the forest itself was watching them, and Isla couldn't shake the feeling that they were being followed.
"Do you feel that?" Isla whispered, her eyes darting to the sides of the path, her [Trap Awareness] prickling uneasily.
Auren paused, his head tilting slightly as he listened to the silence around them. Then, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "We are not alone."
Before Isla could react, a low growl echoed from the shadows, and suddenly, the underbrush erupted with movement. Figures, cloaked in ragged garments, emerged from the woods, their faces obscured by hoods and masks. Bandits. Isla counted at least six of them, each armed with crude weapons—daggers, clubs, and one with a rusted sword that glowed faintly with mana.
A notification blinked into her view, a flash of red—[Hostile Presence Detected]—and Isla's heart began to pound. She shifted her stance, readying herself, as the bandits approached.
"Well, well," one of them sneered, stepping forward. His voice was rough, his eyes glinting with malice. "What have we here? A couple of travelers, lost in the woods? You picked the wrong path, friends."
Auren's expression remained unchanged, his gaze moving over the bandits with something akin to boredom. "Step aside," he said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority that made Isla shiver.
The bandit leader laughed, a harsh sound that echoed through the trees. "I don't think you understand, friend. You're the ones stepping aside—after you hand over everything of value."
Isla's heart pounded, her hand instinctively moving to the dagger at her belt. A prompt appeared in her [System Interface]: [Equip Weapon: Iron Dagger]. She accepted, feeling the reassuring weight in her hand as the dagger shimmered into view. She glanced at Auren, her mouth dry. He didn't seem concerned in the slightest, and that was either reassuring or deeply worrying.
Auren raised his hand, the air around them shimmering as mana coalesced into an illusion. Shadows twisted, forming into the shape of a great beast—a wolf with glowing eyes, its form barely distinguishable from reality. The bandits hesitated, their expressions shifting from confidence to uncertainty as the spectral wolf let out a low growl, its eyes fixed on them.
"Last warning," Auren said, his tone cold.
The bandit leader cursed, his bravado faltering. He took a step back, his eyes darting to the others. "Let's get out of here!" he shouted, turning and bolting into the woods, the others following suit in a panicked scramble.
Within moments, the forest was silent once more, the only sound the rustling of leaves as the bandits fled. Auren lowered his hand, the illusion fading into nothingness. He glanced at Isla, who let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"You could have warned me," she said, her voice shaky but trying for levity.
Auren raised an eyebrow. "And spoil the fun?" His lips curved into a faint smirk, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something that almost resembled amusement in his eyes.
Isla rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. "You're impossible, you know that?"
Auren didn't respond, simply turning back to the path ahead. "Come. We're wasting time."
A notification appeared in Isla's vision: [Experience Gained: +50XP]. She sighed as she followed, her heart still pounding but her spirits lifted slightly. It wasn't much, but it was a reminder that perhaps she could trust Auren to keep them safe—at least when it suited his purposes. She adjusted her satchel, falling into step beside him once more.
The Shrine in the Woods
The forest grew denser as they continued, the path narrowing until it was little more than a trail winding between ancient trees. The air grew colder, and Isla could feel the weight of the place pressing down on her, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. There was something unnatural about the stillness, and the further they went, the more Isla felt as though they were stepping into a different world entirely.
A system notification appeared: [Danger Zone: High Mana Density Detected]. Isla glanced at Auren, but his expression was as composed as ever. If anything, he seemed more at ease now that they were away from Wayward, his focus entirely on their destination.
Finally, they reached a clearing, and at its center stood the shrine. It was old, its stone surface weathered and cracked, vines creeping up its sides. Strange runes were carved into the stone, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. The air around the shrine buzzed with energy, a low hum that made Isla's skin prickle.
Auren approached the shrine, his eyes narrowing as he studied the runes. He raised his hand, his fingers brushing against the stone. The runes flared brightly for a moment, then dimmed, as if reacting to his presence. Isla watched, her curiosity piqued.
"What is this place?" she asked, stepping closer.
"A remnant of the old world," Auren replied, his voice distant. "A place where mortals once sought the favor of the gods." He turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "It may still hold power, if one knows how to ask."
Isla swallowed, glancing at the runes. There was something hauntingly beautiful about them, the way they glowed against the dark stone. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cool surface. The moment she touched it, she felt a jolt—like a shock of electricity that traveled up her arm, making her gasp.
A system notification blinked before her eyes: [Mana Surge Detected: Mana Reserves Increased +5%]. Isla's eyes widened in shock as the energy coursed through her. She could feel it, cold and powerful, threading through her veins like liquid ice.
Auren's gaze sharpened, his eyes locking onto her. "What did you do?"
"I—I don't know," Isla stammered, stepping back. The runes began to glow brighter, the hum of energy growing louder. The air around them seemed to vibrate, and Isla felt her heart race. Something was happening, something she didn't understand.
Auren stepped forward, his hand moving to cover hers against the stone. The moment their hands touched, the runes flared with blinding light, and Isla felt a rush of energy—cold, powerful, and overwhelming. She closed her eyes, her knees buckling under the force of it, but Auren's grip held her steady.
Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the light faded. The hum of energy quieted, the runes dimming until they were barely visible once more. Isla opened her eyes, her vision swimming, and looked up at Auren. He was watching her, his expression tense, his golden eyes blazing with intensity.
"What was that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Auren was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the shrine. "A fragment," he said finally. "A piece of what was lost. The shrine still holds power—enough to awaken what lies dormant."
A notification appeared in Isla's system: [New Skill Unlocked: Minor Mana Channeling]. She blinked, trying to process what had happened.
Isla took a shaky breath, her mind reeling. "Did we... did we take it?"
Auren looked at her, his expression softening slightly. "Some of it, perhaps. But there is more. This is only the beginning."
He released her hand, stepping back. Isla swayed on her feet, her legs feeling like they might give way, but she steadied herself, her mind still buzzing with the energy she had felt. She looked at the shrine, then back at Auren, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and wonder.
"What now?" she asked.
Auren turned, his gaze moving to the dark woods beyond the clearing. "Now, we continue. There are more shrines, more fragments. We will find them all."
Isla nodded, her resolve hardening. She didn't know what lay ahead, but she knew one thing—she wasn't going to back down. Not now, not after everything they had faced. She adjusted her satchel, her eyes meeting Auren's.
"Then let's go," she said, her voice steady.
Auren's lips curved into a faint smile, and he nodded. Together, they turned away from the shrine, stepping back into the shadows of the forest, the path ahead uncertain but filled with purpose.
System Interface - Isla Vale
Name: Isla Vale
Level: 3
Mana Reserves: 15% (Mana Surge Boost: +5%)
Skills:
[Archaeology Expertise]: Proficiency in deciphering ancient languages and understanding historical artifacts.
[Trap Awareness]: Passive skill that alerts to traps and dangerous mechanisms.
[Mana Sensitivity]: Ability to sense the presence of mana in the environment, particularly useful for detecting hidden power sources.
[Minor Mana Channeling]: Newly unlocked skill allowing basic manipulation and use of mana for spells or energy transfer.
Equipped Weapon: Iron Dagger
Experience Points: +50XP (towards Level 4)