"Carefully," the Alchemist said. "Destroying a Shadowstone isn't easy. If we don't do it the right way, we could end up making things worse."
"Worse than living shadows?" Jack asked incredulously.
The Alchemist gave him a grim look. "Much worse."
Jack sighed and grabbed his coat. "Alright then. What do we need, and where do we get it?"
The Alchemist began scribbling a list of ingredients and materials. "Some of it we have here. The rest… we'll need to gather from outside the village. And we'll have to be quick. Now that the Shadowstone's been disturbed, it'll attract attention—possibly from things far more dangerous than that shadow."
Jack frowned. "You mean there's more out there?"
"There's always more," the Alchemist said darkly.
Jack took a deep breath. "Alright. Let's get to work."
The Alchemist handed Jack the list. It was a mix of mundane items like salt and iron filings and more unusual ones—moonstone dust, wolfsbane root, and something called starfire essence.
Jack scanned the list, his eyebrows climbing higher. "Starfire essence? Sounds expensive."
"It is," the Alchemist said, already pulling jars from shelves. "But we don't need much. And there's a traveling trader who passes through the next town. If we hurry, we can catch him before he leaves."
"Great," Jack muttered. "Just a simple trip to the next town. Nothing bad ever happens on those."
The Alchemist shot him a wry glance but didn't comment. She was already packing a small satchel with basic tools and supplies. "I'll stay here and start preparing the ritual circle," she said. "The Shadowstone will need to be contained the moment it's destroyed. You, meanwhile, will gather these."
"Alone?" Jack asked.
"Unless you'd like to leave the containment spell to chance, yes," the Alchemist replied.
Jack groaned but nodded. "Fine. I'll head out first thing."
The next morning, Jack saddled his horse and set off for the neighboring town of Black Hollow. The ride was uneventful at first, the sun breaking through the gray clouds to cast a warm glow over the countryside. But as Jack neared the dense woods marking the edge of Black Hollow, the atmosphere shifted.
The air grew colder, and an unnatural stillness settled over the forest. No birds chirped, no insects buzzed. The only sound was the crunch of Jack's boots as he dismounted and led his horse along the narrow trail.
"Just a forest," Jack muttered to himself, trying to shake off the creeping unease. "Nothing to worry about."
Then he saw it—a figure standing just ahead on the path.
"Hello?" Jack called out, his voice echoing faintly.
The figure didn't move. It was cloaked in black, its face obscured by a deep hood.
Jack tightened his grip on the reins. "Look, I don't want any trouble," he said.
The figure raised a hand, pointing directly at Jack.
Before Jack could react, the shadows around him began to stir, slithering across the ground like living things. His horse whinnied in panic, rearing back.
"Not this again," Jack muttered, drawing the lantern from his pack and lighting it with trembling hands.
The shadows recoiled slightly at the light, but they didn't retreat completely. The figure stepped closer, its voice low and echoing. "You carry something that doesn't belong to you."
Jack's mind raced. "The Shadowstone?" he asked.
The figure tilted its head. "The stone does not belong to your world. Return it, or suffer the consequences."
Jack hesitated. "I'm not trying to keep it," he said. "We're trying to destroy it."
The figure stiffened, and for a moment, the shadows around it seemed to shudder. "Destroy it? Foolish mortals. You do not understand the forces you meddle with."
Jack raised his lantern higher. "Then why don't you enlighten me?"
The figure let out a low, humorless laugh. "The Shadowstone is a key—a gateway. Destroying it will not close the door. It will tear it open."
Jack's stomach dropped. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying," the figure replied, "that you are playing with fire you cannot extinguish. Leave the stone where it is and walk away."
Jack squared his shoulders, even as fear clawed at his chest. "I can't do that. It's already caused enough damage."
The figure's voice turned icy. "Then you have sealed your fate."
The shadows surged forward, wrapping around Jack's legs like icy tendrils. He struggled, swinging the lantern wildly. "Let go!"
Just as the darkness threatened to pull him under, a flash of light erupted from behind him. The shadows recoiled with a shriek, retreating into the forest.
Jack turned to see a man standing there, holding a staff that glowed with a soft, golden light.
"You alright?" the man asked, stepping forward.
"Who are you?" Jack asked, still catching his breath.
"Name's Darian," the man said. "I've been tracking that thing for weeks. Looks like I got here just in time."
Jack frowned. "You're a mage?"
"Something like that," Darian said with a faint smile. "More importantly, I know how to deal with the Shadowstone. If you're trying to destroy it, you're going to need my help."
Jack hesitated, then nodded. "We'll take all the help we can get."
"Good," Darian said, his tone serious. "Because things are about to get a lot worse."
Jack sighed, already exhausted by the weight of Darian's words. "Worse? I'm really starting to hate that word. Care to explain?"
Darian motioned for Jack to follow him off the path. "Not here. The forest has ears," he said, leading them to a small clearing surrounded by towering oaks. Once there, he set his staff into the ground, and a faint golden barrier shimmered into place around them.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
"A ward," Darian said. "It'll keep anything from listening in—or sneaking up on us."
Jack sat on a fallen log and crossed his arms. "Alright. Talk."
Darian leaned on his staff, his expression grim. "The Shadowstone isn't just a random artifact. It's part of a much larger puzzle. Whoever created it didn't just make a portal—they anchored it to this world. That's why the shadows keep coming back."
Jack frowned. "Anchored? How?"