The morning sun barely warmed the air as Kael left Varrenhold behind, his steps carrying him toward the dense woods marked on the bandits' maps. Watcher's Hollow. The name lingered in his mind like a whisper he couldn't quite place. Whatever it was, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be a simple walk in the woods.
The path was rough and uneven, winding through low hills and patches of scrub before plunging into the shadow of the forest. Kael adjusted the straps of his pack, the weight of his belongings a steady reminder of how far he'd come—and how much farther he still had to go. His thoughts drifted as he walked, the quiet gnawing at him.
"You know," he said aloud, "you could've stayed in the inn, Kael. Nice warm bed, plenty of food, no ominous landmarks to explore. But no, you just had to see what Watcher's Hollow is all about."
He let out a soft laugh at his own sarcasm, shaking his head. "Talking to myself again. That's a good sign, right? Not a 'you're losing your grip on reality' kind of thing?"
The silence that followed was somehow both reassuring and unnerving. Kael sighed and pressed on.
The forest thickened quickly, the sunlight overhead dimming to a muted haze. The trees here were ancient, their trunks gnarled and scarred as if they'd weathered centuries of storms. Moss clung to their roots, and the air grew damp and cool. Kael felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling as he ventured deeper. Something about this place felt… wrong. Not in an obvious way, but in the subtle, creeping sense that he was being watched.
"Watcher's Hollow," he muttered, the name taking on a more literal meaning in his mind. He glanced around, his hand brushing the hilt of his dagger. "Let's hope that's just a name and not an actual description."
The path narrowed, twisting through dense undergrowth that snagged at his clothes. He pushed forward, his curiosity outweighing his unease. The maps had marked this area as significant, and the runes he'd seen at the ruins seemed connected. If there were answers to be found, they might be here.
Kael's thoughts turned to his father. Eldrin Foresight had always spoken of the unknown with a mix of wonder and caution, his voice tinged with a passion that had drawn Kael in as a child. Now, that same curiosity burned within him, though it was tempered by the weight of guilt and loss.
"I'll find you," Kael said quietly. The words hung in the air, a promise to himself as much as to his father.
After what felt like hours of walking, Kael emerged into a small clearing. In the center stood a stone monument, weathered and overgrown but unmistakably ancient. Its surface was carved with intricate runes, some of which glowed faintly in the dim light filtering through the canopy. Kael approached cautiously, his heart pounding.
The runes were similar to those he'd seen at the ruins, but these felt more… purposeful. They weren't scattered haphazardly; they formed a pattern, a story waiting to be deciphered. Kael knelt, tracing his fingers over the carvings. The faint hum of magic pulsed beneath his touch, sending a shiver up his spine.
"What are you?" he murmured, more to himself than to the stone. The runes seemed to shift under his gaze, their meaning just out of reach. Frustration bubbled up, but he forced himself to stay calm. This was why he'd come. If there were answers to his father's disappearance, they were tied to these runes—and to whatever power they held.
As he studied the monument, a sudden noise snapped him out of his thoughts. The crunch of leaves. Kael spun, his dagger already in hand. His eyes scanned the treeline, searching for the source.
"Show yourself," he called, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through him.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a figure stepped into the clearing. It was a woman, her features sharp and her movements graceful. She wore a cloak of dark green, and her eyes locked onto Kael with an intensity that made his skin crawl.
"You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice low and measured.
Kael didn't lower his dagger. "Funny, I could say the same to you."
The woman tilted her head, a faint smile playing at her lips. "You're brave. Or foolish. Perhaps both."
Kael's grip tightened. "Who are you?"
She ignored the question, her gaze shifting to the monument. "Do you have any idea what you've stumbled into?"
"Not yet," Kael admitted. "But I'm working on it."
The woman's smile widened, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Curiosity is dangerous in places like this. The Hollow doesn't take kindly to trespassers."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "And yet here you are. So what does that make you?"
Her expression darkened, and for a moment, Kael thought she might attack. Instead, she sighed, shaking her head. "You're not ready for this. But perhaps…" She reached into her cloak, pulling out a small, intricately carved token. She tossed it to Kael, who caught it instinctively.
"What's this?" he asked, examining the object. It was made of polished stone, etched with symbols similar to the runes on the monument.
"A key," she said cryptically. "Or a warning. That depends on you."
Before Kael could press her further, she turned and disappeared into the forest, her footsteps vanishing as quickly as she had. Kael stared after her, his mind racing. Who was she? And why had she given him this token?
He looked back at the monument, then down at the token in his hand. The runes seemed to pulse faintly, as if responding to his presence. Kael's curiosity flared, stronger than ever.
"Looks like I've got more questions than answers," he said, slipping the token into his pocket. He let out a short laugh, the sound carrying a mix of disbelief and determination. "But that's nothing new."
As Kael made his way back through the forest, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The air grew colder, and a faint mist began to creep through the trees. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed. His hand stayed near his dagger, his eyes scanning the shadows.
A rustling sound to his left made him stop. He turned, his pulse quickening. "Alright," he said, his voice low. "If you're going to jump out and try to kill me, now's your chance."
The rustling grew louder, and a moment later, a creature stepped into view. It was unlike anything Kael had ever seen—half deer, half something else entirely, its eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. The creature regarded him for a moment, then turned and bounded away, disappearing into the mist.
Kael let out a shaky breath. "Great. Mysterious women and glowing deer. Definitely not losing my mind."
He pressed on, the encounter only adding to his sense of unease. By the time he reached the edge of the forest, the sun was dipping low on the horizon. Kael paused, looking back at the dark expanse of trees. Whatever secrets Watcher's Hollow held, he knew he hadn't uncovered them all.
But he would be back. Of that, he was certain.