The forest grew denser with every step, the undergrowth clutching at Elyra's boots like it had a mind of its own. Over their heads branches thatched together forming a canopy so thick that only sparse slivers of light managed to filter through. The air felt damp with a sharp tang of decaying leaves and moss and an eerie silence blanketed everything to the point that rustle of leaves seemed muted, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.
Mira walked close to Elyra, her gaze darting nervously between the gnarled trees. "This place feels wrong," she said with her voice barely above a whisper. "Like it's alive and doesn't want us here."
Elyra adjusted the Lantern of Lost Wishes strapped to her side, its usual golden glow now subdued and faint. She glanced at Mira, her jaw tight. "We can't dare to stop, if this forest is trying to scare us off, it's because we're getting close to something it doesn't want us to find."
The uneven trail suddenly opened onto a rocky ridge. Below them stretched a valley cloaked in thick mist, its heart dominated by the ruins of an ancient temple whose spires jutted toward the sky like jagged teeth which partially obscured by the rolling fog.
"That's it," Mira murmured, her voice trembling with both fear and awe. "The place from your vision."
Elyra's gaze hardened as she nodded. "It's the place. Whatever answers the Lantern holds, they're down there."
Their descent into the valley was treacherous, each step sending loose stones tumbling into the mist below and even the chill of the air deepened carrying with it a faint sour smell that grew stronger the closer they came to the temple. Mira shivered while wrapping her arms around herself. She glanced at Elyra and tightened her lips. "I feel like something's watching us."
"Don't think about it," Elyra said curtly, though her own unease was growing. Her hand brushed the hilt of her dagger as a reflex. "Just keep moving."
The temple loomed above them now, its crumbling stone walls covered in strange, intricate carvings. The symbols seemed to shift and writhe when caught in the corner of the eye. Elyra paused, running her fingers close to one of the carvings without touching it.
"These aren't just decorative," she murmured. "They're warnings. Or instructions."
"Instructions for what?" Mira asked sharply, pulling her back. "Elyra, don't mess with this. We don't know what it does."
Elyra frowned but stepped back. "I know. But something tells me we'll need to understand them before this is over."
The entrance to the temple yawned before them, it had a black maw that seemed to swallow all light. It's inside had a frigid air and a scent of overwhelming damp stone and earth. As they descended down the way their footsteps echoed in the vast chamber yet their sound was quickly swallowed by the oppressive silence.
In the center of the room stood a pedestal whose surface was carved with runes that pulsed faintly and glowed in perfect rhythm with the Lantern's light. Elyra approached cautiously, unstrapping the artifact from her side.
"It's reacting," Mira said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elyra placed the Lantern on the pedestal, and the entire chamber seemed to exhale. The runes flared to life and illuminated the walls with a dancing patterns of light and shadow. The air vibrated with a low hum, growing louder until it coalesced into a deep resonant voice.
"Who Is this who dares to disturb the sanctity of the Forgotten Stones?"
Mira grabbed Elyra's arm and her nails dug into her skin. "What... what is that thing?"
Elyra swallowed hard but kept her voice steady. "We're here for answers."
From the light, a figure emerged—neither fully solid nor entirely ethereal. Its form shimmered, shifting between shadow and radiance, and its eyes burned with an intense, cold light.
"You carry the Lantern," it said, its voice echoing as if spoken from the depths of the earth. "Do you understand the weight of the burden you bear?"
Elyra met the figure's gaze, her shoulders squaring. "I'm trying to. That's why I'm here."
The figure's expression shifted, its gaze narrowing. "The Lantern binds more than wishes. It tangles destinies, unearths truths, and awakens those who should remain forgotten. Do you seek to wield it fully?"
"I seek to survive it," Elyra replied, her voice firm. "And to understand its purpose."
The figure seemed to study her, its form flickering. "Survival demands a price. The Lantern's light reveals truth, but its shadows are deep. Beware the darkness they conceal—it will devour the unwary."
Before Elyra could ask more, the figure began to dissipate, unraveling into threads of light that faded into the ether. The chamber fell silent again, the runes dimming to their original faint glow.
"What now?" Mira asked, her voice trembling.
Elyra retrieved the Lantern, its golden glow steady once more. "We keep going. If this thing is hiding something, we'll find it."
As they exited the temple, a low growl rumbled through the valley stopping them in their tracks. Elyra's hand went for her dagger as she scanned the shadows. "Tell me that was just the wind," Mira whispered.
From the mist a hulking creature emerged with its body a grotesque amalgamation of sinew and shadow and it's eyes glowed with an unnatural malevolent light as it let out a guttural snarl.
"Run," Elyra commanded, her voice sharp. "Now!"
Mira hesitated for a heartbeat before scrambling up the ridge. Elyra stayed behind, the Lantern's glow intensifying in her grasp. The creature lunged, its claws slicing through the air as Elyra rolled aside. She rose to her feet, her mind racing.
"If you have any power left," she murmured to the Lantern, "now would be a good time."
The artifact flared, its light cutting through the darkness like a blade. The creature recoiled with an ear-splitting shriek, its form unraveling into wisps of shadow before vanishing completely. Elyra stood still, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Mira appeared at the top of the ridge, her face pale. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Elyra nodded, though her hands trembled as she secured the Lantern. "Let's keep moving. We can't stay here."
They climbed higher, the oppressive energy of the valley finally lifting as they emerged into the open forest. But the weight of the figure's warning lingered in Elyra's mind. She glanced at the Lantern, its glow steady and unyielding.
"Whatever happens," she said quietly, "we don't turn back."