Athena knelt beside them, her gaze scanning the clearing. "Whatever that thing was, it's gone—for now. But we need to figure out why it came for you, Jea. And how to stop it from coming back."
Jea nodded weakly, her tears soaking into Mathea's tunic.
Athena's breath caught as she watched Jea slowly come back to herself, the shadows around her dissipating. Relief surged through her, but it was short-lived. A flicker of something unnatural shimmered in the clearing, like a mirage twisting the edges of reality.
Then she saw him.
Nathaniel. Her brother.
Athena froze, her heart lurching painfully as the world around her shifted. The dense forest gave way to a battlefield drenched in blood and ash. The air reeked of iron and death. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move.
"Nathaniel?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
He stood in the distance, his sword clashing against the curved blades of elven warriors. His movements were swift but desperate, each strike more labored than the last. Blood dripped from a gash across his brow, his golden hair matted and darkened.
Athena took a shaky step forward, her legs threatening to give out beneath her. "No, this isn't real. It can't be…"
But it felt real. The sharp clang of metal. The cries of the wounded. The suffocating heat of flames consuming the battlefield.
"Athena!" Nathaniel's voice rang out, full of pain and desperation. He was losing ground, his attackers closing in.
"No!" Athena screamed, tears streaming down her face. Her hands trembled, sparks of magic sizzling at her fingertips. "Nathaniel, I'm here! I'm coming!"
She ran toward him, but the battlefield seemed endless, stretching farther with every step she took. The elven warriors struck again, their blades sinking deep into Nathaniel's side. He collapsed to his knees, blood pooling beneath him.
"Stop! Leave him alone!" Athena roared, her magic bursting from her in fiery waves. She felt the searing heat of her own power, but the pain only fueled her fury.
Nathaniel turned his head toward her, his blue eyes dimming. "You weren't there," he whispered, his voice hauntingly soft. "You let them take me."
"No!" Athena screamed again, her hands blazing with uncontrollable magic. "I didn't—I couldn't save you, but I'm here now!"
The world around her burned, the battlefield merging with the forest. Her magic erupted wildly, flames licking at the trees and consuming the underbrush.
"Athena, stop!" Mathea's voice cut through the chaos, commanding but filled with urgency.
Athena didn't hear her. She was lost in her torment, reliving the agony of her brother's death. The flames spread rapidly, their heat forcing the others to back away.
"Everyone, stay close!" Mathea barked, her voice steady despite the panic in her chest. "Jea, we need you. Your healing touch—now!"
Jea hesitated, fear still evident in her shaky movements, but she nodded and stepped forward. "I'll try," she whispered, clutching her hands together as if to summon strength.
The heat from Athena's flames made it nearly impossible for Jea to approach. Each time she reached out, the fire flared, forcing her back.
"Athena, please!" Jea pleaded, her voice cracking. "It's me—Jea! You're safe, but you have to stop!"
Athena's screams continued, her magic spiraling out of control. The memory of Nathaniel's lifeless body burned into her mind, fueling her rage and sorrow.
Yhan Yhan, the lion, let out a ferocious roar, the sound reverberating through the clearing like a thunderclap. The force of it startled Athena, piercing through her hallucination.
She froze, the battlefield dissolving around her. The forest returned, charred and smoldering from her magic. Yhan Yhan stepped forward, his golden eyes locking onto hers. He let out another deep, commanding growl, his presence grounding her in reality.
"Athena," Mathea said firmly, her voice steady but gentle. "Look at me. You're back. It wasn't real."
Athena's chest heaved as the flames around her flickered and died out. Her hands shook violently, the glow of her magic fading. "Nathaniel… he was here. I saw him."
Jea approached cautiously, placing a trembling hand on Athena's shoulder. The warmth of her healing magic seeped into Athena, calming her racing heart and easing the raw pain coursing through her.
"It wasn't real," Jea whispered, her tone soft but resolute. "He's gone, Athena. But we're still here. You're not alone."
Athena sank to her knees, her body wracked with silent sobs. Yhan Yhan nuzzled against her side, his steady presence anchoring her further.
"I… I lost control," Athena admitted hoarsely. "I could have hurt you all. I'm so sorry."
Mathea knelt beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "We'll deal with the aftermath together. But you're not to blame, Athena. This forest—it's messing with our minds. We need to stay united."
Athena nodded weakly, her gaze still fixed on the scorched earth around her. "I saw him die. And I couldn't save him… just like before."
Mathea's voice softened. "I don't know what happened but there is really something wrong with this place."
"I agree," Juan nodded with Janna, the dragon on his side, watching them with alert eyes.
Athena looked at her friends—Mathea's determined gaze, Jea's comforting smile, and Yhan Yhan's unwavering loyalty. She wiped her tears and stood, though her legs felt weak beneath her.
"Let's keep moving," she said, her voice steadier now. "But if this place can turn our fears against us, we need to be ready. No more losing control."
Mathea nodded, taking the lead. "Stay close, everyone. We're not out of this yet."
The group sat in uneasy silence, the air thick with tension. The forest around them was eerily quiet now, as though holding its breath after the chaos that had just unfolded. Jea broke the silence, her voice trembling and almost inaudible.
"What happened to us? There is something wrong with this place. It makes us… see things. Our greatest fears."
Athena nodded slowly, her face pale and drawn. She still felt the lingering ache of her hallucination, the image of Nathaniel's dying eyes burned into her mind. "It wasn't just fear. It was real—too real. Like it pulled the memory straight from my soul."
Mathea's glowing necklace pulsed faintly as she glanced at each of them. "This isn't natural. Something is amplifying our emotions and twisting them into nightmares. But why now?"
Juan, who had been leaning against a tree, shifted uncomfortably. His dark eyes darted to the clearing where they had buried Andrei. "I… I think I might know why."
Everyone turned to him, the weight of their stares making him hesitate.
"Speak," Mathea urged, her voice calm but firm.
Juan exhaled sharply. "It's the plant. The one we used to preserve Andrei's body. My grandmother, Igo, told me once that it's not just a preservation herb—it has hallucinogenic properties."
Jea frowned. "Hallucinogens?"
"Are you sure?" Mathea asked.
Juan shrugged, his expression troubled. "Grandmother said it wasn't just for preservation. It's supposed to keep the spirit anchored, preventing it from moving on too quickly. But if the living are exposed to it for too long…"
"It messes with your mind," Athena finished grimly, rubbing her temples. "That explains why we're all seeing things. Our fears. Our regrets."
Mathea stood, her necklace casting a faint glow over her determined face. "If that plant is the cause, then we can't stay here. We need to leave this camping ground—now."
"But it's still midnight," Jea said, glancing nervously at the dense shadows of the forest. "Traveling in the dark could be dangerous."
"Dangerous, yes," Mathea agreed, her voice steady, "but staying here is worse. We don't know how much longer the effects of the plant will last—or if it will get worse. The longer we remain, the more vulnerable we are."
Jea nodded reluctantly, her hand brushing against Yhan Yhan's mane for comfort. "Then we should pack quickly and move together. We can't risk anyone getting separated."
Athena looked at the others, her jaw tightening. "I'll keep watch while we pack. If anything comes near, I'll deal with it."
"Not alone," Mathea said firmly. "We stick together, Athena. No exceptions."
Juan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll help gather our things. Let's get this over with before anyone starts hallucinating again."
As the group worked quickly to dismantle their campsite, the forest seemed to close in around them, its silence oppressive. Even the animals—Yhan Yhan and Janna—seemed on edge, their ears twitching at the slightest sound.
Jea couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone was watching them, her skin crawling with unease. "Mathea," she whispered as she helped roll up the tents, "do you think the hallucinations are all the plant… or could it be something else?"
Mathea paused, her gaze scanning the shadows. "I don't know. But I don't want to stick around to find out."