Morning came far too quickly for Sam's liking. The faint light of dawn spilled through the cracks in the shutters, painting the room in muted hues. Calder was already up, leaning against the wall near the door, sharpening a blade that looked suspiciously oversized for practical use. Delphine sat at the table, poring over the map Rhys had given them, her focus unwavering.
Sam groaned, rubbing the sleep from their eyes. The gauntlet rested on the table beside the box, both faintly pulsing as if eager to get moving. "Morning people," Sam muttered, "are the worst kind of people."
Calder chuckled, not looking up from his blade. "Sleep well, Herald?"
"Like a rock," Sam said, dragging themselves to the table. "A rock that got kicked down a hill."
Delphine glanced up briefly. "We leave in ten minutes. Eat something if you haven't already."
Sam wrinkled their nose. "No time for a leisurely breakfast? What a shame."
"There's bread and cheese on the counter," Calder said. "Help yourself."
Sam grabbed a piece of bread, chewing it absently as they joined Delphine at the map. The Wyrmwood was marked in thick, jagged lines, its sprawling mass dominating the southeastern portion of the map.
"Looks cozy," Sam said, swallowing a bite. "What's the over-under on us getting ambushed the second we set foot in there?"
"High," Delphine said without missing a beat. "The Wyrmwood is one of the darkest places in this region. If the shadowbeasts are gathering, they'll be everywhere."
Sam sighed. "Great. Just what I needed to hear."
The journey to the Wyrmwood was mercifully uneventful. The trio moved quickly, following a narrow dirt path that wound through rolling hills and sparse forests. The box pulsed occasionally, its light faint but steady, as if guiding them toward their destination.
By the time they reached the outskirts of the Wyrmwood, the sun was high in the sky. The trees here were unlike anything Sam had ever seen—tall, twisted things with gnarled branches that reached out like skeletal hands. A thick mist clung to the ground, swirling around their feet with every step.
"Cheery place," Sam said, tightening their grip on the box. "Really puts you in the mood for a stroll."
"Stay alert," Delphine said, her voice low. "Shadowbeasts don't always attack head-on. They like to stalk their prey first."
"Comforting," Sam muttered.
Calder unsheathed his blade, the metallic ring cutting through the heavy silence. "You'll know them when you see them, kid. Just don't freeze up."
Sam shot him a glare but didn't respond. Their eyes scanned the misty forest, every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig setting their nerves on edge. The gauntlet on their hand felt heavier than usual, its glow barely perceptible beneath the dim light filtering through the canopy.
The first attack came without warning.
A dark shape lunged from the mist, its glowing red eyes and jagged claws cutting through the air. Sam barely had time to react before Delphine was there, her twin daggers flashing as they struck the creature mid-leap. It let out an unearthly shriek, its form dissolving into smoke as it hit the ground.
"Move!" Delphine barked, spinning to face another shadowbeast emerging from the trees. Calder was already on it, his blade cleaving through the creature with practiced ease.
Sam stumbled backward, clutching the box as another shadowbeast lunged at them. The gauntlet flared to life, releasing a burst of golden light that struck the creature in midair. It screeched, its body disintegrating before it could reach them.
"Not bad," Calder called, dispatching another beast with a heavy swing of his blade. "You might just survive this."
"Not helping!" Sam shouted, the gauntlet glowing brighter as more shadowbeasts emerged from the mist.
They raised the gauntlet instinctively, releasing another pulse of light that sent the creatures scattering. Delphine and Calder moved in tandem, cutting down the beasts with a precision that spoke of years of experience. Sam, on the other hand, was just trying to stay alive.
The fight was over as quickly as it began. The shadowbeasts dissolved into wisps of smoke, leaving the forest eerily quiet once more. Sam stood in the clearing, chest heaving, the gauntlet's glow dimming as the box pulsed faintly under their arm.
"Well," Sam said, their voice shaky. "That wasn't terrifying at all."
Delphine wiped her blades clean on a scrap of cloth, her expression grim. "That was just a scouting party. The closer we get to the ruins, the worse it'll be."
"Of course it will," Sam muttered. "Why wouldn't it?"
Calder clapped them on the back, his grin infuriatingly casual. "Cheer up, Herald. You did alright for your first real fight."
Sam scowled. "If this is your idea of encouragement, it sucks."
"Focus," Delphine said sharply, cutting off Calder's retort. "We need to keep moving."
The ruins came into view as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in deep shadows. The crumbling stone structures jutted out of the ground like jagged teeth, their surfaces covered in moss and faintly glowing runes. A heavy silence hung over the area, broken only by the distant sound of running water.
Sam shivered, pulling their cloak tighter around their shoulders. "So, what's the plan? Walk in, hope for the best, and try not to die?"
Delphine shot them a pointed look. "Stay close, watch your surroundings, and let the gauntlet do its job."
"Right. No pressure," Sam said, their sarcasm failing to mask the nervous tremor in their voice.
The box pulsed faintly, its light guiding them toward the largest of the ruins. The air grew colder with each step, and Sam couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The gauntlet's glow brightened, as if sensing the same thing.
When they reached the entrance to the ruin, Delphine stopped, her daggers drawn. Calder moved to her side, his blade gleaming in the dim light.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sam took a deep breath, the weight of the gauntlet and the box suddenly feeling monumental. "Not even a little bit."
"Good," Calder said with a grin. "Keeps things interesting."
With that, they stepped into the darkness, the ruins swallowing them whole