The campfire flickered in the middle of the clearing, its light casting long shadows that danced like specters across the trees. The air had cooled as the night settled in, and the eerie quiet of the Duskwood seemed to close in on us, despite the small flame we had managed to kindle. The weight of Aelira's words still hung heavy in my mind—The things that walk here are not of your world.
I watched her now, sitting across the fire from us. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight against the blackness of the forest, and her eyes, though calm, betrayed nothing. Her expression was as unreadable as the ancient trees that surrounded us. I couldn't shake the feeling that she knew something we didn't, that the threat we were facing was far greater than any of us had imagined.
Lyria sat beside me, her hand resting on the hilt of her dagger, her gaze scanning the trees. I could see the tension in her posture, the subtle clenching of her muscles. It was the same unease I felt, though I was trying not to let it show.
"Do you think she's telling the truth?" Lyria whispered, her voice low but filled with concern.
I glanced over at Aelira, who sat perfectly still, her back straight, her focus on the shadows beyond the firelight. "I think... I think we have no choice but to trust her for now."
Lyria looked at me, her brow furrowed. "But what if she's leading us into a trap?"
"She could've done that already," I pointed out. "If she wanted to betray us, she'd have done it when we were surrounded by those shadow beasts. She didn't."
Lyria seemed to consider this, her gaze shifting to the elf once more. "I guess you're right. But it doesn't sit well with me."
I understood her concerns. We had no way of knowing if Aelira's intentions were truly as pure as she claimed. But one thing was certain: the path ahead was fraught with dangers beyond our understanding, and for now, we needed all the help we could get.
The fire crackled as silence settled over us once more. Then, without warning, a sharp rustle echoed from the trees, followed by the unmistakable sound of something—someone—moving through the underbrush.
Lyria's hand shot to her dagger, her eyes wide with alertness. My hand instinctively went to my sword, though I wasn't sure if I was ready for whatever was about to emerge from the shadows.
Aelira didn't move. She didn't even seem to react, but her eyes narrowed slightly, her focus sharpening. She was waiting, watching.
The sound grew louder, closer, and I could feel my heartbeat quicken. Then, from the darkness, a figure emerged—tall, cloaked, and silent. I tensed, ready for a fight, but the figure didn't appear hostile. Instead, it stopped just outside the firelight, its eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
The stranger spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
I exchanged a quick look with Lyria, both of us on edge. I half-expected Aelira to give some sort of command, but instead, she remained still, her gaze locked on the newcomer.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease creeping up my spine.
The stranger chuckled softly, pulling back the hood of his cloak to reveal a face lined with age and experience. His skin was dark, his features sharp, and his hair was a mass of gray curls. But it was his eyes that caught my attention—bright, almost unnaturally so, with a glimmer of something ancient in their depths.
"I'm someone who's been watching you," he said, his gaze flicking briefly to Aelira before returning to me. "You've come too far into the Duskwood without understanding what you're dealing with. I figured I'd save you the trouble of learning the hard way."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do you mean?"
The stranger sighed, as if disappointed. "The Duskwood is not a place for travelers. It has a way of... changing those who wander too far into its heart. And right now, there are forces at work in these woods—forces that you can't even begin to comprehend."
"Is this some kind of warning?" Lyria demanded, her voice sharp. "Or are you trying to scare us off?"
The man's gaze softened slightly, and he raised a hand. "No, child. It's not my intention to scare you. I'm simply here to offer... guidance. The creatures of the Duskwood are not the worst of your problems. There are things much darker that lurk here—things that even I cannot fully protect you from."
Aelira finally spoke, her voice cool and measured. "And why should we trust you, stranger?"
The man smiled faintly. "You don't have to trust me. But you would be wise to heed my warning. The Blackthorn is not the only danger you face here. There are older powers in this forest—ancient forces that were sealed away long ago. But those seals are weakening, just as the barriers between your world and others are thinning."
I swallowed, trying to process the gravity of his words. The Blackthorn. He spoke of it as if it were only one piece of a much larger puzzle, something far beyond our comprehension.
"What do you want from us?" I asked, my voice low, my eyes narrowing on him. I could feel that the situation was slipping from under our control, and I didn't like it.
The man's smile widened ever so slightly. "Nothing. I've already given you the warning. But there are those who would rather see you fail. Those who would use you as pawns in their game. Watch the shadows, and trust only those who have shown you their true intentions."
Before I could respond, the man turned and melted into the darkness, disappearing as silently as he had come. The air around us seemed to grow even heavier in his absence.
Lyria was the first to break the silence. "Who the hell was that?"
Aelira's gaze lingered on the spot where the stranger had stood, her expression unreadable. "He's a Watcher—someone who guards the boundaries of the Duskwood. He's not a threat, but his words hold weight."
"Watcher?" I echoed, feeling the weight of the term. It felt like a warning in itself.
Aelira nodded. "The Duskwood is ancient, and it does not welcome outsiders. There are many such watchers, and they protect the secrets buried within. Some are more helpful than others."
Lyria shook her head, still unsettled. "So, what now? Are we supposed to trust him?"
Aelira finally turned to face us fully. "We do not have the luxury of trust, Lyria. We have a mission. But we will take care, as always, to remain vigilant."
I stared into the dark forest ahead of us. The words of the stranger echoed in my mind. The barriers between your world and others are thinning. What did he mean by that? And what kind of forces were we truly up against?
The answers, I realized, were still out of reach. But the dangers were growing, and we would need to be ready for whatever came next.