The forest was no longer silent. The faint hum of magic had been replaced by something darker—a sense of movement in the shadows, the feeling of being watched. Aric could feel it as surely as the weight of the veil in his satchel. Kael felt it too. The ranger's sharp eyes darted from tree to tree, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his curved dagger.
"Something's coming," Kael murmured, his voice tight.
Aric stiffened. "The guardian?"
Kael shook his head. "No. The guardian's trial is over. This… this feels different. Like the forest itself is warning us."
The veil trembled inside the satchel, almost as if it too sensed what approached. Aric pulled the strap tighter across his chest, an unspoken promise to protect it. Whatever the cost.
The forest seemed to darken as they hurried forward, the trees pressing closer, their limbs twisting like grasping fingers. The mist thickened, rising up to Aric's knees, and with every step he felt the weight of unseen eyes. The feeling was maddening.
"Kael, what's out there?" Aric asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kael didn't answer immediately. When he did, it was through gritted teeth. "Shadowborn."
The word fell like a stone. Aric's heart slammed in his chest. He had seen them once before, in the ashes of his village. Creatures of darkness, clad in shifting, smoke-like forms. Where they walked, death followed. The memory of their glowing eyes and cruel laughter sent a chill through him.
"How close are they?"
Kael stopped abruptly, crouching low to press his hand to the earth. His eyes narrowed as he listened to something Aric couldn't hear. A heartbeat later, he rose.
"Closer than we want," he said. "They know about the veil. They can smell its power. We need to move faster."
Aric didn't need to be told twice. He broke into a jog, keeping pace with Kael as they wove through the increasingly gnarled forest. The roots underfoot tried to trip him, and every snap of a twig behind them made him flinch. The hum of power from the veil grew stronger with every step.
"Why do they want it so badly?" Aric asked as they ran.
"Because the veil's power can undo them," Kael replied. "The Shadowborn thrive in the dark places between worlds. The veil's magic restores the light—seals the gates they slither through. If you use it, you'll shut them out. Forever."
Aric's mind reeled at the weight of those words. Could he really wield that kind of power? And if he did, what would it cost?
A howl pierced the air behind them. It was low and guttural, like the sound of a wolf made of smoke and ash. Aric's blood turned cold.
"Run!" Kael barked, drawing his dagger as he sprinted ahead.
Aric followed, his lungs burning with every breath. Branches whipped against his face, and the mist tore at his ankles, as if trying to drag him back. The howling grew louder, joined now by the thundering of countless footsteps. The Shadowborn were hunting them.
Suddenly, Kael skidded to a halt, his arm shooting out to stop Aric.
"What—?"
"Quiet!" Kael hissed. He pointed ahead to where the forest opened into another clearing. But this one was different. At its center stood a crumbling stone ruin, overgrown with ivy and pulsing faintly with blue light.
Aric squinted. "What is that?"
"A shrine," Kael said. "Old magic still lingers here. It'll mask the veil's power—at least for a little while."
Another howl echoed behind them, closer this time. Kael grabbed Aric's arm and dragged him toward the shrine. They stumbled into the clearing just as the first of the Shadowborn emerged from the trees.
Aric turned and froze.
The creature looked human at first glance, but its form rippled and shifted like liquid shadow. Its face was an empty void, save for two glowing white eyes that fixed on Aric with predatory hunger. Smoke rose off its body in tendrils, and where it stepped, the grass withered and died.
"Move, Aric!" Kael shouted, snapping him out of his stupor.
Aric bolted toward the shrine. Behind him, he heard the hiss of arrows—Kael's bowstring singing as he loosed shot after shot. Each arrow struck true, embedding itself in the Shadowborn's form. But the creature only staggered, smoke filling the holes left behind before it pressed forward again.
"Kael!" Aric called, reaching the shrine. "It's not stopping!"
Kael fired another arrow, then sprinted to join Aric. "They never do."
The two of them clambered onto the shrine's platform, its stones cold and slick with age. The blue light flared brighter as Aric approached, and he felt the veil in his satchel resonate with it.
"What now?" Aric asked, panting.
"Hold the veil," Kael said. "Focus on it. The shrine's magic will amplify it. It's our only chance."
Aric hesitated, his hands trembling as he pulled the veil from the satchel. The fabric glowed brighter than ever, the silver threads weaving patterns that seemed to shift of their own accord. Aric's heart pounded as he held it out in front of him.
The Shadowborn advanced into the clearing, their numbers growing. Ten… twenty… thirty of them, each more monstrous than the last. Their white eyes glared at the shrine, and their howls rose into a deafening chorus.
"Focus, Aric!" Kael shouted, slashing at a tendril of shadow that reached for him.
Aric closed his eyes and gripped the veil tightly. He forced himself to steady his breathing, to push past the fear gnawing at his mind. The veil was the key. He just had to unlock it.
The hum of magic grew louder, vibrating through his fingertips. He felt it pull at him, as if testing him once again. Memories flooded his mind—the faces of his family, the laughter of his friends, the smell of burning wood and ash.
Protect them, a voice whispered. Do not let the shadows consume this world.
The veil flared to life. Silver light exploded from its threads, flooding the clearing with a brilliance so pure it burned. The Shadowborn recoiled, shrieking in agony as the light touched them. Their forms began to unravel, smoke peeling away in ribbons until they dissolved into nothingness.
Aric felt the power rushing through him, overwhelming and relentless. He grit his teeth, his body trembling as he struggled to control it. The light poured out of the veil in waves, pushing back the shadows inch by inch.
When the last of the Shadowborn vanished, silence fell over the clearing. The light dimmed, and Aric collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The veil slipped from his hands, its glow fading back to a faint shimmer.
Kael knelt beside him, gripping his shoulder. "You did it."
Aric looked up, his vision swimming. "They're gone?"
"For now," Kael said. "But they'll be back. And next time, they'll bring worse."
Aric stared at the veil, lying innocently on the shrine. He had felt its power—vast and unyielding. It terrified him.
"What am I supposed to do with this, Kael?" Aric whispered.
Kael's face was grim. "You learn to use it. And fast. The Shadowborn won't stop hunting you now. The veil has chosen you, Aric. You're its wielder."
Aric swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the forest beyond the clearing. Somewhere out there, the Shadowborn were regrouping, and he knew they wouldn't rest until the veil was theirs.
"Then we don't have much time," Aric said, forcing himself to stand. "Let's go."
Together, they left the clearing behind, the shrine's light fading into darkness. The forest watched them go, its shadows deeper and more ominous than before. And somewhere far away, something ancient stirred.
The hunt had only just begun.
The forest had quieted, but its silence was heavier than before. The lingering echo of the Shadowborn's howls haunted the air, a reminder of what waited in the dark. Aric and Kael moved quickly, leaving the clearing and the ancient shrine behind.
Night had fallen fully now, the moon a pale sliver veiled by clouds. Kael led them through winding paths, his steps steady, though his hand never strayed far from his bow. Aric followed, clutching the satchel that held the veil as though his life depended on it—because now, it did.
The magic that had surged through him at the shrine still tingled in his veins, faint but unmistakable. It had felt like holding lightning, raw and blinding. That kind of power was not meant for mortal hands.
"Kael," Aric began hesitantly, "what happened back there? The veil… it spoke to me."
Kael didn't stop moving, but his shoulders tensed. "Spoke?"
"Yes. Not words exactly, but… I heard it. I felt it. It told me to protect this world, to stop the Shadowborn."
Kael glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable in the dark. "That's what it does. The veil isn't just magic—it's a living relic, older than the kingdoms, older than men. It judges those who touch it, decides whether they're worthy. You felt its voice because it's testing you."
Aric frowned. "Testing me? I thought I passed its trial."
"That was the first trial," Kael said grimly. "There will be more. The veil doesn't trust easily, and neither should you. Its power doesn't come without a cost."
Aric opened his mouth to reply, but the forest ahead of them suddenly broke into an open clearing. A small, flickering fire burned at its center, the glow faint but steady.
Kael motioned for Aric to stay quiet as they approached. "Travelers?" Aric whispered.
"Maybe." Kael pulled his bow free and nocked an arrow. "Or worse."
The two crept toward the clearing. Aric's heart pounded, his instincts screaming danger. But as they drew closer, the fire revealed its lone keeper—a woman, cloaked in deep red, her face hidden beneath a hood. She sat cross-legged beside the flames, humming a soft tune that carried an eerie calm.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, stepping forward with his arrow trained on her.
The woman didn't flinch. Instead, she lifted her head slowly, and Aric caught a glimpse of her face—a sharp jawline, pale skin, and eyes like molten gold that shimmered in the firelight. When she spoke, her voice was melodic but hollow, as though it echoed from a great distance.
"Lower your bow, ranger. I mean you no harm."
Kael didn't move. "Answer me."
The woman's lips curled into the faintest of smiles. "I am Selene, a keeper of truths." Her golden eyes turned to Aric, as if peering straight through him. "And you, young one, carry something far greater than you know."
Aric stiffened. "You know about the veil?"
Selene nodded. "All who walk the paths between worlds know of the Veil of Eldara. Its power sings even now, and those with ears to hear can follow its melody."
Kael's grip on his bow tightened. "How do you know of the veil? Are you with the Shadowborn?"
Selene's expression darkened, and for a moment, the flames seemed to flare as though mirroring her anger. "No," she said sharply. "The Shadowborn are my enemies as they are yours. They seek to unmake this world, and the veil is the last thing standing between them and total dominion."
Aric swallowed, the weight of her words sinking in. "Then you know how to stop them? How to use the veil?"
Selene tilted her head, studying him as though weighing his very soul. "To wield the veil is to walk the edge of madness. Its power is vast, but it is not yours. It belongs to the world—to the forces that gave it life."
"I don't care," Aric said, the determination in his voice surprising even himself. "If it's the only way to stop the Shadowborn, I'll do whatever it takes."
Selene rose slowly, her crimson cloak flowing like liquid around her. She stepped toward Aric, and though her movements were graceful, there was an otherworldly weight to her presence.
"Such courage," she said softly, reaching out a hand. "But courage alone will not save you."
Kael moved to intercept her, but Selene ignored him, her golden eyes fixed solely on Aric. "The veil is awakening," she said. "It will show you things, whisper truths you are not ready to hear. If you listen too closely, it may claim you."
Aric clenched his fists. "Then how do I control it?"
Selene's eyes softened, though the fire within them remained. "You do not control the veil, Aric. You earn its trust. Only then will it lend you its strength."
She lowered her hand, and the fire crackled louder, sending sparks dancing into the night air. "I can guide you," she said, her voice quieter now. "But there is little time. The Shadowborn have felt the veil's awakening, and they are moving faster than you know."
Aric looked to Kael, who regarded Selene with open suspicion. "You trust her?" Aric asked.
Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't trust anyone who speaks in riddles. But if she can help us stay ahead of the Shadowborn, we don't have much choice."
Selene smiled faintly, as if she'd expected that answer. "Wise words, ranger."
She turned back to Aric. "We leave at dawn. The veil must be carried to the Sanctum of Ylthea. It is the last place of power strong enough to seal the Shadowborn's gates."
"Ylthea?" Kael muttered, shaking his head. "That's across the Ashen Wastes. It'll take weeks to get there."
"And you'll be hunted every step of the way," Selene replied. "But if you fail, Eldara will fall."
Aric felt the weight of those words settle heavily on his shoulders. He looked down at the satchel, where the veil seemed to pulse faintly, almost as though it, too, knew the road ahead.
"Then we'll make it," Aric said, his voice firm. "We have to."
Selene gave a slow nod. "Rest now. Tomorrow, the real journey begins."
Kael remained standing, his watchful eyes never leaving Selene, but Aric sat beside the fire. Exhaustion was pulling at him, but even as his body ached for sleep, his mind raced.
He couldn't shake Selene's words. To wield the veil is to walk the edge of madness. What did that mean? And what would happen if he failed?
As the fire's warmth lulled him into uneasy sleep, Aric dreamed.
He was standing alone in an endless void, the veil stretched out before him like a curtain of stars. It whispered to him, soft and enticing, its voice weaving in and out of his mind. He couldn't make out the words, but they filled him with both longing and dread.
When he reached out to touch it, the whispers turned to screams, and the darkness around him shifted. Glowing white eyes stared at him from the void, countless and unblinking.
The Shadowborn.
Aric woke with a start, gasping for breath. The fire had burned low, and Kael was perched nearby, his bow across his lap.
"Dreams?" Kael asked quietly, not looking at him.
Aric nodded. "The veil. It's… showing me things."
Kael's expression darkened. "It's starting already."
"What do you mean?"
Kael turned to him, his face pale in the dying firelight. "The veil doesn't just test your strength, Aric. It tests your mind. Don't let it break you."
Aric swallowed hard, his gaze drifting toward the horizon, where the first hints of dawn were breaking. Somewhere out there, the Shadowborn were waiting.
And the veil, for all its power, was watching him just as closely.