The forest known as the Shade of Dread was alive in the worst way. Every branch twisted unnaturally, skeletal trees leaning as though watching the travelers below. The air carried a faint metallic tang, stifling and oppressive, as though the forest itself hungered for blood.
Kael Varyn walked at the front, his hand resting on the hilt of his greatsword. Behind him, Sylara's footsteps were near silent, but the faint glow of her magic made her impossible to ignore. He cast her a sidelong glance.
"You've been quiet," he said.
"Thinking," Sylara replied, her voice flat. "About what's waiting for us."
Kael didn't press her further. Truth be told, he didn't need her to say it aloud. He could feel it—the weight in the air, the unnatural stillness. Something was watching them.
The whispers in his mind stirred, faint at first but growing louder with each step.
"Turn back, Kael. You can't save them. You never could."
He clenched his jaw, forcing the voices down.
They traveled for hours, the forest growing darker with every step. The light from Sylara's hands offered some comfort, but Kael could see the toll it took on her. Sweat dotted her brow, and her breathing grew heavier as the corrupted magic of the forest drained her strength.
"We should stop," Kael said finally.
Sylara shook her head. "Nightshade won't wait for us. If we rest, we risk losing him."
"You'll be dead on your feet before we find him." Kael stopped and pointed to a small clearing up ahead. "We make camp here. Just long enough to regain our strength."
Sylara hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
Kael set to work, clearing a space for a fire while Sylara sat cross-legged nearby, her hands glowing faintly as she muttered incantations under her breath.
"What are you doing?" Kael asked, glancing at her.
"Setting wards," she replied. "This forest doesn't like uninvited guests."
Kael didn't argue. He built a small fire, using what little dry wood he could find, and sat down opposite her.
For a while, they said nothing. The crackling of the fire was the only sound, a fragile barrier against the oppressive silence of the forest.
Finally, Sylara broke the quiet. "What did you do?"
Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The voices," she said, gesturing to him. "I've seen men like you before. Cursed, broken… but yours is different. Deeper. What did you do to deserve it?"
Kael stared into the fire, the flames casting shadows across his scarred face. For a long moment, he didn't answer.
"I made a promise," he said finally. "To protect a kingdom that no longer exists. To defend people who are already dead. And I failed."
Sylara's gaze softened. "You think the voices are their punishment?"
Kael's jaw tightened. "I don't think. I know."
The sound of snapping branches cut their conversation short. Kael was on his feet in an instant, his sword drawn, while Sylara's hands flared with arcane energy.
"Something's coming," Kael said, his eyes scanning the shadows.
The forest around them seemed to shift, the twisted trees swaying unnaturally. From the darkness, a figure emerged—a hunched creature, its body cloaked in writhing black tendrils. Its face was a mask of bone, its hollow eyes glowing faintly red.
"A Shadeborne," Sylara whispered, her voice tense.
The creature let out a low, guttural hiss and lunged. Kael met it head-on, his blade flashing as he struck at its chest. The blow landed, but the creature didn't fall. Its tendrils lashed out, wrapping around Kael's arm and pulling him off balance.
Sylara raised her hands, unleashing a burst of energy that struck the creature in the side. It screeched, releasing Kael and turning its attention to her.
Kael didn't waste the opportunity. He drove his sword into the creature's back, twisting the blade until it let out a final, keening wail and collapsed into a heap of ash and bone.
Sylara sagged, breathing heavily. "That… wasn't natural," she said.
"Nothing in this forest is," Kael muttered, wiping his blade clean.
As they resumed their journey, the encounters grew more frequent. Shadeborne, twisted animals, even the trees themselves seemed to lash out, their branches snapping at the travelers like claws.
Kael fought tirelessly, his sword cutting through the corrupted creatures with brutal efficiency. Sylara supported him with bursts of magic, but each spell seemed to take more out of her.
By the time they reached the heart of the forest, both were exhausted.
The air here was different—thicker, heavier, as though it was alive. A faint, pulsating light glowed in the distance, marking their destination.
"Nightshade is there," Sylara said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael nodded. "Stay behind me."
The source of the light was a massive tree, its trunk blackened and twisted, its branches writhing like living things. At its base stood a figure clad in dark robes, his back turned to them.
"Nightshade," Kael called out, his voice echoing in the unnatural silence.
The figure turned slowly. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but the faint glow of crimson eyes was unmistakable.
"Kael Varyn," Nightshade said, his voice smooth and mocking. "The fallen knight. I was wondering when you'd come."
Kael raised his sword. "Your corruption ends here."
Nightshade chuckled. "You truly believe that? You've seen the state of the world. The kingdom you fought for is gone, its people scattered or dead. What purpose does your oath serve now?"
Kael took a step forward. "I didn't come here to talk."
Nightshade raised a hand, and the ground beneath them trembled. From the shadows, more Shadeborne emerged—dozens of them, their glowing eyes fixed on Kael and Sylara.
"You may have survived the past," Nightshade said, "but you won't survive me."
Kael gritted his teeth and charged.
End of Chapter 2