The forest felt lighter now, as though the oppressive shadows had retreated, leaving the air clearer and easier to breathe. Kael and his companions retraced their steps from the spring, the golden light of its waters still faintly shimmering in Kael's thoughts. The Heartstone rested warm against his chest, a reassuring presence after their ordeal.
Fara was the first to break the silence. "So, is this what victory feels like? Because it's oddly quiet."
"Quiet's good," Taren said, rolling his shoulders. "Means nothing's trying to kill us. For now."
Dren, trailing at the back, scoffed. "Don't get too comfortable. That forest woman said this was just the beginning."
Kael slowed his pace until he was walking alongside Dren. "She also said we've restored part of the balance. That's worth something."
Dren didn't respond immediately. His expression was unreadable, though his hands were clenched tightly. "Balance won't bring back the people who've already paid for this chaos."
"It won't," Kael admitted, his tone calm but firm. "But it might stop more lives from being lost."
Dren's eyes flicked toward Kael briefly before he turned his gaze to the path. "We'll see."
The group pressed on, their steps guided by the trail of light filtering through the trees. The path wound upward, leading them to a ridge overlooking the forest. From here, they could see the expanse of greenery stretching out to the horizon, the land bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.
Ashir, ever watchful, pointed toward a distant patch of forest that looked darker than the rest. "That's not natural."
Fara squinted. "What is it? Another corrupted grove?"
"Likely," Kael said. "Or something worse."
Ashir nodded. "Whatever it is, it's spreading. We'll have to deal with it."
Kael's thoughts churned as he studied the ominous patch of darkness. The Guardians had spoken of lingering corruption, remnants of the Shadow's influence. But this was different. It felt deliberate, as though something—or someone—was nurturing the imbalance.
"We'll rest tonight," Kael said, turning back to his companions. "But tomorrow, we head there."
Taren groaned. "Couldn't we just have one peaceful evening without planning to walk straight into danger?"
Fara smirked. "You'd be bored in an hour."
Taren chuckled, shrugging. "Fair point."
As night fell, the group set up camp at the ridge. The fire crackled softly, its light dancing across their faces as they shared a quiet meal. Even Dren, though he sat slightly apart from the others, seemed less tense in the fire's warm glow.
Kael sat on the edge of the camp, his gaze fixed on the stars. The Heartstone pulsed faintly, its connection to the land a constant reminder of the weight he carried. He closed his eyes, letting the stillness of the night settle over him. But within the calm, a new sensation stirred—faint and distant, yet unmistakable. A call, low and mournful, echoing through the balance itself.
"What is it?" Fara's voice broke through his thoughts.
Kael opened his eyes to find her standing beside him, her expression curious but concerned.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But something's out there. Something that needs us."
Fara sighed, crossing her arms. "It's always something, isn't it?"
Kael gave her a faint smile. "Wouldn't want it any other way."
Fara rolled her eyes but didn't argue, settling beside him to watch the stars.
The night passed uneventfully, and by morning, the group was ready to move. They descended the ridge and made their way toward the dark patch Ashir had spotted the day before. As they drew closer, the air grew colder, the forest eerily quiet. Even the usual chirping of birds and rustling of leaves was absent, replaced by a heavy stillness.
The source of the darkness soon became clear. A massive tree, its bark blackened and twisted, loomed over the surrounding forest. Its roots snaked through the ground like veins, the earth around them cracked and lifeless. The air reeked of decay.
Kael stepped forward cautiously, the Heartstone pulsing in warning. "This is it. The corruption is coming from here."
Fara wrinkled her nose. "What is it? Some kind of cursed tree?"
Ashir knelt by one of the roots, his hand hovering over it but not touching. "It's alive, but barely. Whatever's feeding this corruption has buried itself deep."
"Then we dig it out," Taren said, hefting his axe.
Kael shook his head. "Not yet. This isn't natural, which means it didn't happen on its own. Something—someone—did this."
As if in response, the ground beneath them trembled. The tree creaked, its branches swaying despite the still air. From its roots, dark tendrils began to emerge, twisting and coiling like snakes.
"Of course," Taren muttered, readying his weapon. "It's never simple."
The tendrils lashed out, forcing the group to scatter. Kael ignited his sword, its flame cutting through the darkness as he deflected one of the attacks. Fara and Taren moved with precision, their blades finding purchase in the writhing mass, while Ashir's arrows struck true, pinning tendrils to the ground.
Dren, to everyone's surprise, joined the fray, his movements rough but effective as he hacked at the tendrils with a scavenged blade.
"Not bad for a raider," Fara called out, a hint of approval in her voice.
"Don't get used to it," Dren shot back, though he didn't falter.
Kael focused on the tree itself, the Heartstone's energy guiding him. He could feel the source of the corruption, a dark knot buried within the tree's core. He moved toward it, his companions covering him as the tendrils grew more frantic.
Reaching the tree, Kael placed a hand on its bark. The Heartstone burned brightly, its light searing through the darkness. A deep, guttural cry echoed through the forest as the corruption began to unravel.
With a final surge of energy, the dark tendrils disintegrated, and the tree shuddered before falling still. The air grew warmer, the oppressive weight lifting as the balance was restored.
Kael stepped back, breathing heavily. His companions gathered around him, their expressions a mix of relief and exhaustion.
"Another victory," Taren said, though his tone was weary.
Kael nodded, though his thoughts were elsewhere. The corruption had been purged, but the lingering sensation of the call remained, pulling him toward an unseen destination.
"It's not over," he said quietly, his gaze distant.
Fara sighed. "It never is, is it?"
Kael didn't answer. Together, they turned away from the tree, ready to face whatever came next.