At dawn, the group quietly left the capital. Lirae, Eldrin, and three knights walked with Kai, making sure they stayed unnoticed. The queen had made it clear—they couldn't risk drawing attention.
By the time they reached the edge of the Mistveil Forest, the sun was rising, but the forest still looked dark and eerie. Lirae stopped and turned to the group. "This forest is dangerous," she warned. "Stay close and be ready. It's known for... strange things."
Kai looked around nervously. The forest was unlike anything he had ever seen. The air felt heavy and seemed to hum softly, almost as if it was alive. The trees were huge and twisted, their branches forming a thick roof above. Shadows moved at the corners of his vision, but when he turned to look, there was nothing there.
"Why does it feel like the air is alive?" Kai whispered.
Eldrin, walking ahead, overheard him. "This forest used to be a peaceful place," he explained. "But the curse on Eldarion has changed it. Now, it's full of dangers. Keep your guard up. Not everything here can be seen."
At first, their walk through the forest was quiet. The group moved carefully along a path overgrown with roots and plants. Suddenly, a low growl broke the silence. Everyone stopped, pulling out their weapons.
The growl grew louder, joined by others, until glowing eyes appeared in the bushes. Shadow wolves stepped out, their bodies covered in dark mist.
Kai's heart pounded. Fear froze him for a moment, but he managed to raise his hand, light flickering weakly in his palm. Beside him, Lirae drew her twin blades and glanced at him. "Breathe," she said calmly. "Focus on one at a time. You can do this."
The wolves attacked fast. The knights quickly formed a line, using their swords to block the snapping jaws of the wolves. Eldrin chanted a spell, sending flames from his staff to keep the creatures at bay.
Kai picked one wolf and forced himself to concentrate. He ignored the chaos around him, letting his energy grow stronger. Finally, he sent a blast of light toward the wolf, knocking it back.
He hit another wolf, his fear slowly turning into confidence. The fight was tough, but it didn't last long. One by one, the wolves were defeated, their bodies dissolving into shadows that sank into the ground.
When the last wolf disappeared, everyone lowered their weapons. They were breathing hard, tired but alive. Lirae wiped her blades clean and looked at Kai. "Not bad for your first fight," she said with a small smile. "But don't get cocky. That was nothing compared to what's coming."
Kai nodded, though his hands still shook a little. He glanced at the others and saw the same mix of exhaustion and determination he felt. The road ahead would only get harder, but for the first time, he thought maybe—just maybe—he could handle it.