The path grew narrower as the group ventured deeper into the forest. The towering trees cast long shadows, their branches intertwined like skeletal fingers. The tension among them was palpable. Though Selene had shared valuable information, her sudden arrival and cryptic demeanor had left doubts lingering in everyone's minds.
Alina walked near the back of the group, her thoughts muddled. Her hands brushed against the rough bark of a tree as she trailed her fingers along its surface. She was still processing Selene's warning about the Orb. A key to breaking the barriers between worlds? The implications were staggering.
Ahead, Fenrir sniffed the air, his wolfish nose twitching. He suddenly stopped and raised a hand.
"Wait," he said, his voice low and tense.
Everyone froze. The sound of rustling leaves filled the air, but it was not the gentle swaying of the wind. It was deliberate—calculated. Ariel, her wings glimmering faintly, moved closer to Alina.
"What now?" Ariel whispered.
"I don't like this," Fenrir growled. "There's something out there."
Selene's crimson eyes scanned the forest, her expression unreadable. "It could be a scout from the Coven," she said. "They don't give up easily."
"They're relentless," Lorian muttered, drawing his sword. The faint glow of the Orb, still hidden in his pack, pulsed in rhythm with his movements.
Alina felt a shiver run down her spine. The forest seemed to close in around them, the trees now feeling more like silent sentinels. She tightened her grip on the small dagger Lorian had given her earlier. Though she lacked their combat skills, she didn't want to be defenseless.
A sound—a faint echo of footsteps—reached her ears. It was distant at first, but it grew louder, more distinct. The group formed a tight circle, weapons drawn and spells ready.
"Show yourself!" Lorian called out, his voice commanding.
The footsteps stopped abruptly. For a moment, the only sound was the pounding of Alina's heart. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.
It was a boy, no older than seventeen, with pale blue skin and glowing silver eyes. His clothes were tattered, and his movements were sluggish, as if he were injured.
"Help me," he rasped, collapsing to his knees.
Ariel rushed forward, her golden magic already swirling around her hands. "Wait!" Selene snapped, grabbing Ariel's arm.
"What are you doing?" Ariel demanded, pulling free. "He's hurt!"
"Or he's a trap," Selene said coldly. "Don't be naïve."
Alina stepped forward cautiously. "He doesn't look like a threat."
Selene raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her gaze fixed on the boy. Fenrir, however, stepped closer, sniffing the air.
"He's not human," Fenrir growled. "He smells… strange."
The boy looked up, his silver eyes locking onto Alina. "Please," he whispered. "They're coming."
"Who's coming?" Lorian demanded, his sword still raised.
The boy's lips moved, but no sound came out. His body convulsed, and he collapsed fully onto the ground.
Ariel knelt beside him, her magic flowing over his body. "He's alive, but barely. Whatever happened to him, it drained almost all his energy."
"We can't stay here," Selene said sharply. "If he's right, and someone's coming, we need to move. Now."
"We can't just leave him like this!" Ariel protested.
"She's right," Alina said, surprising even herself. "We can't abandon him. He needs our help."
Lorian hesitated, his gaze flicking between Selene and the boy. "Fine. But we're moving. Ariel, stabilize him as best you can. Fenrir, carry him."
Fenrir grumbled but didn't argue. He slung the boy over his shoulder with surprising ease, his claws careful not to scratch the boy's fragile-looking skin.
As the group hurried through the forest, Alina couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. She glanced over her shoulder repeatedly, her imagination conjuring shapes in the darkness.
"You sense it too," Selene murmured, walking beside her.
Alina nodded. "It's like we're being hunted."
"We are," Selene said matter-of-factly. "The Coven has eyes everywhere. They won't stop until they have the Orb."
"Why do they want it so badly?" Alina asked, lowering her voice so the others wouldn't hear.
Selene's expression darkened. "Because with it, they can do what no one else can. They can erase the barriers entirely. No rules. No boundaries. Just chaos."
Alina swallowed hard, her grip on her dagger tightening. "And what about you? What's your stake in all this?"
Selene smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Let's just say I have unfinished business with the Coven."
Before Alina could press further, a loud, inhuman shriek tore through the forest. Everyone froze.
The sound came again, closer this time. It was high-pitched and grating, like metal scraping against stone. Fenrir set the boy down carefully, his claws fully extended.
"Wraiths," Selene hissed. "They've found us."
"What do we do?" Ariel asked, panic creeping into her voice.
"We fight," Lorian said firmly, drawing his sword.
"No," Selene interjected. "We run. We're outnumbered and outmatched. Staying here is suicide."
"Running will only delay the inevitable," Lorian argued.
"Maybe," Selene said. "But it'll give us time to regroup."
Alina's heart pounded as the shrieks grew louder. She looked around at her companions, their faces tense and resolute. She didn't feel ready for a fight, but she knew there was no other choice.
"Alina," Lorian said, his voice steady. "Stay close to Ariel. Protect each other."
Alina nodded, though her hands trembled. She positioned herself near Ariel, who was already chanting a protective spell.
The first Wraith burst through the trees, its skeletal frame illuminated by an eerie blue light. Its empty eye sockets seemed to bore into Alina's soul.
Lorian charged, his sword slicing through the air. The Wraith screeched as the blade made contact, its form flickering like a dying flame. More Wraiths emerged, their shrieks creating a cacophony of sound.
Alina held her ground, her dagger clutched tightly in her hand. One of the Wraiths lunged at her, its clawed hand reaching out. She ducked instinctively, slashing upward with her dagger. The blade passed through the Wraith, but it staggered back, its form destabilizing.
"Good!" Ariel shouted. "They're weak to physical attacks!"
Encouraged, Alina focused on dodging and striking, her movements growing more confident. She caught glimpses of the others fighting—Lorian's sword glowing as it cut through the Wraiths, Fenrir tearing through them with his claws, and Selene moving with deadly precision, her strikes swift and lethal.
The group fought with everything they had, but the Wraiths kept coming. It felt like an endless wave, each one more ferocious than the last.
Finally, Selene shouted, "We can't keep this up! We need to retreat!"
Lorian hesitated, his jaw clenched. But when another Wraith lunged at him, he nodded grimly. "Fall back!"
The group began to retreat, their movements coordinated despite the chaos. Alina stayed close to Ariel, her heart pounding as they ran through the forest.
They ran with all they had evading attacks from the wraiths as well as traversing the rough forest eventually the group burst out of the forest into a clearing, only to find themselves face-to-face with an unexpected figure: a man cloaked in shadow, his presence exuding power and malice.