The forest was quieter now, but not in a comforting way. The absence of sound felt unnatural, as if the world was holding its breath. Sam trudged alongside Calder and Delphine, their exhaustion creeping into every step. The gauntlet on their hand felt heavier, its glow dimmer than before, as if it too was drained from the battle.
"Are all conduits like that?" Sam asked, breaking the silence. "Because if they are, I'd like to formally opt out."
Delphine shot them a glance, her expression unreadable. "That was one of the smaller ones."
"Smaller?" Sam repeated, their voice rising. "That thing almost killed us!"
"You'll get used to it," Calder said with a grin, hefting his blade over his shoulder. "Or you won't. Either way, it makes for good stories."
Sam groaned, dragging a hand down their face. "You people are insane."
Calder laughed, the sound echoing through the trees. Delphine, as usual, remained silent, her sharp eyes scanning the misty forest for signs of movement. The box under Sam's arm pulsed faintly, its light steady but subdued.
"How far to the next one?" Sam asked, hoping the answer wasn't as grim as they expected.
"Far enough," Delphine said. "We'll stop for the night soon."
The thought of rest was almost enough to lift Sam's spirits, but the oppressive air of the forest made it hard to feel anything but dread. The shadows between the trees seemed to shift and writhe, and Sam couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"You're quiet," Calder said, glancing at them. "What's on your mind, Herald?"
Sam shot him a look. "Don't call me that. And I'm just wondering how I got stuck with you two."
"Fate," Calder said with a wink. "Or bad luck, depending on how you look at it."
"Definitely the latter," Sam muttered.
Delphine stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. Calder's grin faded, and he drew his blade without a word. Sam tensed, clutching the box tightly as their eyes darted around the clearing.
"What is it?" Sam whispered.
Delphine's gaze swept over the trees, her daggers gleaming faintly in the dim light. "We're not alone."
The words sent a chill down Sam's spine. The air grew colder, and the shadows between the trees seemed to thicken. The box pulsed more urgently now, its glow brighter than before.
A low, guttural sound rumbled through the forest, and Sam's stomach twisted. It wasn't the growl of a shadowbeast—it was something deeper, more resonant. The kind of sound that settled in your bones and refused to leave.
"Stay close," Delphine said, her voice low.
Calder stepped in front of Sam, his blade held at the ready. "Whatever it is, it's big."
Before Sam could respond, the ground beneath their feet shook. The trees around them groaned as if in pain, and a deep crack split the earth just a few feet ahead. From the darkness of the fissure, a figure emerged.
It wasn't a shadowbeast. It was humanoid, tall and clad in blackened armor that seemed to absorb the light around it. Its face was obscured by a helm, and in its hand, it held a massive, jagged blade that pulsed with an ominous red glow.
"Fantastic," Sam said, their voice trembling. "Because what we needed was another thing trying to kill us."
The figure stepped forward, its movements slow and deliberate. When it spoke, its voice was a low, gravelly rumble that seemed to echo in the air around them.
"The Herald of Light," it said, its gaze fixed on Sam. "At last, we meet."
Sam swallowed hard. "Uh… do I know you?"
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it raised its blade, pointing it directly at Sam. The red glow intensified, casting the clearing in an eerie light.
"You know this guy?" Calder asked, his tone unusually serious.
"Not a clue," Sam said, their grip tightening on the box.
Delphine stepped forward, her daggers gleaming. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head, as if amused by the question. "I am the shadow of the light. The end to your beginning. And you, Herald, are a mistake that must be corrected."
"Okay," Sam said, their voice high-pitched. "That sounds bad."
The figure lunged without warning, its blade cutting through the air with terrifying speed. Delphine moved to intercept, her daggers flashing as they met the attack. The clash of steel echoed through the clearing, and Sam stumbled back, clutching the box as Calder rushed to join the fight.
"Stay back!" Delphine shouted, her movements fluid and precise as she deflected another strike. "This isn't like the others!"
"No kidding!" Sam yelled, the gauntlet flaring to life on their hand. The golden light cut through the shadows, but the figure didn't falter. Its blade struck Calder's, the force of the impact sending him skidding backward.
"Strong," Calder muttered, a grin spreading across his face. "I like a challenge."
"This isn't the time for fun!" Delphine snapped, her daggers darting toward the figure's exposed joints. The strikes landed, but the figure didn't react, its armor absorbing the blows like they were nothing.
Sam's mind raced. The box pulsed wildly, its light growing brighter, as if urging them to act. The gauntlet hummed with energy, and Sam raised it instinctively, aiming at the figure.
"Alright," they muttered. "Let's see what you've got."
The gauntlet unleashed a burst of golden light that struck the figure square in the chest. For a moment, it staggered, its movements faltering. Delphine seized the opportunity, her daggers finding purchase between the plates of its armor. The figure let out a guttural growl, its blade swinging wildly as it retreated.
"Nice shot!" Calder called, his blade slicing toward the figure's exposed side.
But the figure recovered quickly, its blade meeting Calder's with a deafening clang. It turned its helm toward Sam, the red glow of its blade intensifying.
"You cannot stop what is coming," it said, its voice colder than before. "The light will falter, and the darkness will rise."
With that, it raised its blade, slashing through the air. A wave of dark energy surged forward, forcing Delphine and Calder to dive out of the way. Sam barely had time to react before the box flared, its light forming a shield that absorbed the impact.
When the light faded, the figure was gone, leaving only the faint echoes of its presence behind.
"What the hell was that?" Sam asked, their voice trembling.
"A problem," Delphine said, getting to her feet. Her expression was grim, her daggers still at the ready.
"Big one," Calder added, dusting himself off. "And it knows you, kid."
Sam stared at the spot where the figure had stood, their chest tightening. The gauntlet's glow had dimmed, and the box pulsed faintly, as if recovering from the attack.
"Fantastic," Sam muttered. "Because I wasn't already in over my head."
Delphine sheathed her daggers, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "We need to keep moving. Whatever that thing was, it won't be the last."
Sam sighed, their exhaustion replaced by a growing sense of dread. "Plan B for destiny," they muttered. "Sure. Why not?"