The beauty of the waterfall had quickly faded into the background, overshadowed by the rising tension between Dahlia and Jane. They crouched behind a large boulder, their breaths shallow and their bodies tense as they listened to the faint sound of voices drifting through the trees.
At first, the voices seemed distant, barely audible over the rush of water, but they grew steadily clearer, closer. Dahlia's heart pounded in her chest as the conversation became more distinct, revealing an unfamiliar tone.
"Do you hear that?" Dahlia whispered urgently, clutching Jane's arm.
Jane's eyes widened. "We need to hide. Now."
Before Dahlia could even respond, Jane yanked her behind the boulder. They flattened themselves against the cold stone, holding their breaths as the voices drew nearer.
"I told you we shouldn't have wandered off too far," a deep voice muttered, tinged with a hint of worry.
Another voice, younger and more confident, replied, "It's fine. We're close now."
Dahlia peeked out from behind the boulder, her eyes narrowing as she saw three figures approaching, their dark robes fluttering in the wind. They were cloaked in mystery, the insignia on their sleeves unmistakable—the Hallowed Order, an enemy faction to the Dark Kingdom.
"We're near," the first voice spoke again, clearly focused. "Can you feel it, the pulse?"
"I can. It's strong here," a woman's voice responded. "The closer we get, the clearer it becomes."
Dahlia's breath caught in her throat. Pulse? What did they mean by that? She glanced at Jane, whose face had grown pale with realization.
"They're not here for us," Jane whispered quickly. "They're just... looking for the source."
"The source of what?" Dahlia murmured, barely able to keep her voice steady.
Jane motioned for her to stay quiet as she observed the group closely. "The energy. From the Dark Kingdom's barrier."
Dahlia's pulse quickened. The barrier. The very thing that had kept her kingdom safe, that mysterious pulse of dark magic. She had felt it too, but had never understood it fully. Now, it seemed that the Hallowed Order could sense it as well.
The figures stopped just a few feet from the boulder, their conversation growing more intense.
"There's definitely something here," the deep voice said. "I can feel it, the energy... like a magnetic pulse coming from the barrier. It's stronger than before."
The woman with the sharp voice narrowed her eyes. "I told you we were getting closer. The barrier's presence is stronger here. Whatever's causing it is nearby."
Dahlia's grip tightened on Jane's arm. They're talking about the barrier. They can feel it. But why?
"They can't know about us, right?" Dahlia whispered, panic rising in her chest. "We can't be found."
Jane shook her head. "They're not looking for us. They're just following the pulse... but if we're not careful, they could discover us anyway."
The third figure, who had been silent until now, turned to the others with a serious expression. "If the barrier is this strong here, we should report back. The Headmaster will want to know about this. We can't let it slip under the radar."
"No," the woman replied quickly. "We stay here. We need to understand what's causing this pulse first. The Headmaster can wait."
The group lingered by the waterfall, their voices now hushed but still filled with urgency. Dahlia's stomach tightened. She felt like an intruder in her own kingdom, trapped in a situation she didn't understand.
"We need to move," Jane whispered, pulling Dahlia back behind the boulder. "Now."
Dahlia didn't need to be told twice. The two girls made their way quietly through the underbrush, staying low and out of sight. They moved carefully, making sure not to make a sound, as the figures of the Hallowed Order continued their quiet search near the waterfall.
The enemy group didn't seem to be looking for anything—or anyone—in particular, but their presence was still dangerous. If they discovered that someone was close to the barrier, it could spark trouble for the Dark Kingdom. For Dahlia, it could mean disaster.
"They'll be gone soon," Jane murmured as they watched from behind a tree, their eyes on the figures just ahead. "But we need to stay out of sight until they leave."
Dahlia nodded, her mind racing. The Hallowed Order had sensed the energy pulse, the same one she had felt herself. But what was it? Why was the pulse stronger now, and what was it tied to? Could it be the barrier? Or was something else at play?
Suddenly, one of the figures turned, his sharp eyes scanning the area around them. The tension grew, but the group soon shifted further downstream, moving away from the waterfall.
"They're leaving," Jane whispered in relief, but her face remained tense. "That was too close."
Dahlia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. As the enemy group disappeared into the trees, she felt the weight of the moment settle in. They had narrowly escaped detection, but the sense of danger had not passed. The barrier, the pulse, the Hallowed Order—all of it was connected, and Dahlia had the uncomfortable feeling that this was just the beginning.
As they slowly began to make their way back toward the path, Dahlia couldn't stop thinking about what had just happened. The group's connection to the barrier was undeniable, but what did it mean for her? Why did they sense something that she herself had only just begun to understand?
They were close—so close to uncovering something that Dahlia had only ever heard whispers about in the kingdom: the power that lay hidden within the Dark Kingdom's barrier. A power that could change everything.
"Do you think they'll come back?" Dahlia asked, her voice barely a whisper as they walked side by side.
Jane's expression was hard to read. "I don't know. But I'm sure we haven't seen the last of them. If they can sense the barrier, they might come looking for answers."
Dahlia shuddered at the thought. She had never considered that someone from the outside might be able to sense the magical pulse of the barrier. She thought it was something only those born within the kingdom could feel.
"I don't like this," Dahlia muttered. "They're too close to understanding something they shouldn't."
Jane nodded. "And if they do figure it out..."
"Then the Dark Kingdom will be at risk." Dahlia finished her sentence, the weight of the realization hanging in the air between them.
As they continued walking, Dahlia's thoughts were consumed by the barrier's power, the strange magnetic pulse that seemed to grow stronger with each passing moment. She didn't know what it was tied to, but she had the nagging feeling that its secrets were bu
ried deep within the Celestial Realm—and perhaps, more dangerously, in herself.