Kael rose to his feet, brushing the dirt from his clothes as the faint tremors settled beneath them. Around him, the forest seemed alive, not just with sound and movement, but with an almost sentient energy that pulsed through the air. Shafts of golden light filtered through the leaves above, illuminating patches of mossy ground and ancient, towering trees whose roots twisted like coiled serpents.
"This place is strange," Serin murmured, her voice cautious as she scanned the surroundings. "It feels... untouched, as though no one has set foot here for centuries."
"And yet it doesn't seem hostile," Vaelin added, running his hand over the bark of a nearby tree. The surface glowed faintly at his touch, runes flickering across it before fading again. "It's like this forest is asleep."
Kael held the shard in his palm, its dim glow pulsing slowly—almost like a heartbeat. "It brought us here for a reason. The Cradle's power wouldn't send us somewhere random."
"Right," Maris said, flicking her dagger back into its sheath. "So, any guesses as to what we're supposed to do here?"
Before anyone could respond, a soft sound broke the stillness—a chime, faint and distant, like a bell carried on the wind. The group turned toward the source, their gazes narrowing in focus.
"That way," Kael said, pointing toward the thick cluster of trees ahead. "We need to move."
---
Deeper into the Wilds
The forest grew denser as they traveled, its silence punctuated only by the crunch of leaves beneath their boots and the occasional distant call of strange creatures. The air grew cooler, and the canopy above thickened until the sunlight was little more than a faint glimmer.
"I don't like this," Maris muttered, scanning the shadows. "Too quiet."
"Stay alert," Vaelin warned. "Anything could be hiding out here."
Serin stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. "Wait."
Kael froze, his grip tightening on the shard. "What is it?"
Serin crouched, running her fingers over the earth. Etched into the ground was a series of markings—symbols similar to the ones they'd seen in the Cradle. But here, they were faded, carved deep into the roots and stones as though time itself had worn them away.
"These are wards," she said quietly. "Old magic. Something or someone placed them here to seal... something."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Sealed? You mean imprisoned?"
Serin nodded grimly. "That would be my guess."
A sudden rustling to their left broke the silence. They turned sharply as a figure stepped out of the trees. It was cloaked in tattered robes, its face hidden beneath a deep hood. Glowing green runes swirled across its gaunt, clawed hands, and its voice was a hollow rasp when it spoke.
"You should not have come here."
Kael stepped forward, his hand on the shard as it flared faintly in response. "Who are you?"
The figure ignored the question. "The seal holds. It must hold. If you disrupt it, the ruin will return, and all will be lost."
"Hold on," Vaelin interjected, raising his blade cautiously. "What are you talking about?"
The figure pointed a clawed finger at Kael. "You carry the shard. Its power calls to the depths. Leave now, or you will awaken the forgotten."
Before Kael could respond, the ground trembled violently, far stronger than before. The cloaked figure staggered, turning sharply toward the forest as an unearthly roar erupted from deep below. The sound reverberated through the earth, a primal force that shook the very trees.
"It's waking," Serin whispered, eyes wide.
The figure turned back to them, desperation in its voice. "You must go! Now!"
Kael felt the shard grow hot in his palm, its light now blazing. He looked to the others. "We're not running. If something's coming, we have to face it."
The cloaked figure hissed in frustration. "Fools! You doom us all!"
---
The Awakening
The ground split open in a violent quake, roots snapping like brittle twigs as a massive chasm tore through the forest floor. From its depths rose an enormous figure—a behemoth clad in stone and shadows, its form wreathed in ancient magic. Its eyes burned like molten fire, and its roar shook the heavens as it pulled itself free of its prison.
The cloaked figure fell to its knees. "No... it's too late."
"Everyone, move!" Kael shouted.
The behemoth swung a massive arm, its stone fist crashing into the trees with devastating force. Kael threw up a barrier of light just in time to shield himself and the others from the splintering debris.
"Maris, flank it!" Vaelin barked, charging forward with his sword blazing. "Serin, we'll need magic to bind it!"
Maris darted into the shadows, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creature's legs, drawing its attention. Serin raised her staff, weaving glowing sigils in the air as she chanted words of binding.
Kael held the shard high, its light flaring brighter as he focused on the behemoth. "You're not escaping again!"
The monster turned its burning gaze on him, as though recognizing the power he carried. It roared once more, and dark energy spiraled around its form, breaking Serin's bindings before they could fully take hold.
"It's resisting!" Serin shouted. "It's too strong!"
Kael gritted his teeth, the shard's light now almost blinding. He remembered the vision the Cradle had shown him—the figure holding the shard, balancing light and shadow.
I have to do this.
"Cover me!" Kael yelled, running straight toward the behemoth.
"Kael, what are you doing?!" Vaelin roared.
The monster swiped at him, but Kael dodged the blow, sliding beneath its massive arm. The shard burned in his grip, pulsing in time with his racing heart.
"Light and dark," he whispered, holding the shard high. "Bind this chaos!"
The shard erupted with power, streams of light spiraling around him and weaving through the behemoth's form. The creature roared, its dark energy fighting back, but Kael pushed harder, pouring everything he had into the shard.
"Kael!" Maris shouted, her voice frantic.
With one final shout, Kael slammed the shard into the ground. A shockwave of light exploded outward, blinding everyone as the behemoth's roar turned into a pained wail. The earth trembled one last time before falling silent.
---
Aftermath
When the light faded, the behemoth was gone. The chasm had closed, leaving only faint scorch marks on the ground. Kael collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath as the shard dimmed in his palm.
The cloaked figure approached slowly, its tone softer now. "You… sealed it once more. You carry the power of the Cradle, and yet you wield it recklessly."
Kael looked up, his expression hard. "We're not here to destroy. We're here to restore balance."
The figure regarded him in silence before speaking. "Then you will need to learn control. The Forgotten Wilds are only the beginning of your trials."
It turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving the group alone once more.
Vaelin sheathed his sword, letting out a breath. "I thought you were done for."
"Me too," Maris muttered.
Serin crouched beside Kael, concern in her eyes. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Kael looked at the shard, its faint glow steady. "If this is only the beginning, then we have a long road ahead."
He stood, determination burning in his gaze. "Let's keep moving. The next shard won't find itself."
The group pressed on, deeper into the forest, unaware of the trials still waiting for them beyond the trees.