The descent from Caldrith Pass was treacherous, the rocky path winding sharply between cliffs that plunged into unseen depths. The air grew colder as they moved further from the ruined outpost, and the faint hum of distant winds carried an eerie stillness that set Kael's nerves on edge.
"Watch your step," he called back to the group of villagers. Many of them were pale and sluggish, their strength already stretched thin. He caught Elara's eye as she helped a young boy navigate a particularly steep section of the path. Her face was stoic, but the tightness in her jaw betrayed her exhaustion.
"How far to Veyland?" she asked once they reached a brief plateau, brushing loose strands of hair from her face.
Kael hesitated. "A day, maybe two. If the map's accurate."
"And if it's not?" she pressed.
Kael sighed, his hand brushing over the hilt of Veyrune. "Then we find another way."
Elara shook her head, muttering something under her breath that Kael chose not to ask about. She had a way of vocalizing her doubts that made them feel heavier than they were, though he suspected it was her way of keeping him grounded.
By nightfall, they had reached the edge of the forest below the pass. The trees here were tall and ancient, their twisted branches forming a canopy that blocked out the faint starlight. Kael led the group into a small clearing, the air thick with the scent of damp earth.
"This will have to do for tonight," he announced, setting down his pack. "We'll keep watch in pairs."
Elara moved to his side, her tone low but firm. "We're not safe here. You've felt it, haven't you? The shadows are closer."
Kael glanced toward the treeline, where the darkness seemed almost alive. He nodded. "I've felt it. But the villagers can't keep going without rest. We'll make it to Veyland tomorrow."
"And if the shadows find us tonight?" Elara's voice carried a sharp edge.
Kael met her gaze. "Then we fight."
She held his stare for a moment, then let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But I'm taking the first watch with you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Kael said, managing a faint smile.
The fire crackled softly in the clearing, its light flickering against the faces of the sleeping villagers. Kael sat near the edge of the camp, Veyrune resting across his knees. Elara was beside him, her knife in hand as she stared out into the forest.
"You ever think about what it was like before the Rupture?" she asked suddenly, her voice quiet.
Kael glanced at her. "Before everything fell apart?"
She nodded, her gaze distant. "I mean… it wasn't perfect. But it wasn't this. We had homes. Families. Something to believe in."
Kael's grip on Veyrune tightened. "Yeah. And we thought we could protect it."
"You still think we can?" she asked, turning to him.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked down at the blade, its runes faintly glowing in the firelight. "I don't know," he admitted. "But if we don't try, then what's the point?"
Elara let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Always the optimist."
Kael smirked faintly. "Someone has to be."
The first watch passed uneventfully, but Kael's unease only grew. As he handed the watch over to one of the villagers and lay down to rest, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Sleep came slowly, and when it did, it was restless and filled with fragmented dreams of shadows and fire.
He woke suddenly to a faint sound—something between a whisper and a growl. Sitting up, he reached for Veyrune, the blade's hum steadying him. Around him, the camp was still, the villagers asleep or too exhausted to notice anything amiss.
"Elara," he whispered, nudging her awake. She stirred groggily, her hand immediately going to her knife. "Something's out there."
She was on her feet in an instant, her eyes scanning the darkness. "Where?"
Kael shook his head, rising slowly. "I don't know. But it's close."
The sound came again, louder this time. It was low and guttural, coming from the treeline to the east. Kael stepped toward it, Veyrune's runes flaring faintly as he drew the blade.
"Stay with the villagers," he told Elara, his voice firm.
"Like hell I will," she shot back, moving to his side. "You're not facing this alone."
Kael wanted to argue, but there was no time. The shadows at the edge of the clearing shifted, and a figure stepped forward.
At first, Kael thought it was another of the twisted creatures they'd encountered before, but as it moved closer, he realized it was human—or at least, it had been. Its skin was pale and taut, its eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light. The way it moved was wrong, jerky and unsteady, like a puppet on invisible strings.
"Elara," Kael said softly, his grip on Veyrune tightening, "stay behind me."
The creature stopped a few paces away, tilting its head as if studying them. Then it spoke, its voice hollow and rasping. "The blade… it calls."
Kael's stomach turned. The creature's gaze was fixed on Veyrune, its glowing eyes unblinking. "What are you?" he demanded.
The creature let out a rattling laugh, the sound sending a chill down Kael's spine. "The same as you. Bound. Chained. But not for long."
Before Kael could respond, the creature lunged, faster than he'd expected. Veyrune flared as Kael brought it up to block, the blade meeting the creature's claws with a deafening clash. The impact sent sparks flying, and Kael stumbled back, the force of it stronger than anything he'd faced before.
"Elara, get back!" he shouted, but she was already moving, her knife flashing as she aimed for the creature's side. It twisted unnaturally, dodging her strike and swiping at her with its claws. She barely managed to dodge, the claws grazing her arm.
Kael roared, swinging Veyrune in a wide arc. The blade's magic surged, a wave of light searing through the creature. It let out a shriek, its form flickering like a dying flame before collapsing into a heap of ash.
Elara clutched her arm, blood seeping through her fingers. "What the hell was that?"
Kael stared at the ashes, his heart pounding. "I don't know. But it knew the blade. It knew Veyrune."
Elara frowned, her gaze darting between him and the sword. "What does that mean?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't have an answer. But as he looked out into the forest, he knew one thing for certain: whatever was waiting for them in Veyland, it was far worse than he'd imagined.