The forest came alive as night fell, the soft chirping of insects and the occasional hoot of an owl breaking the silence. Kael sat by the dying fire, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. Across from him, Lira lay with her back against a tree, her bow within easy reach.
The Celestial Compass sat on a flat stone between them, its needle still glowing faintly as it pointed west. Kael couldn't help but stare at it, the weight of its mystery pressing on his mind.
"You should get some rest," Lira said, her voice low.
"I'm fine," Kael replied, though the exhaustion in his limbs told a different story.
Lira smirked. "Suit yourself. Just don't fall asleep during your watch."
As she closed her eyes, Kael shifted his gaze back to the compass. He had hoped it would provide clarity, a clear destination or purpose. Instead, it only seemed to deepen the questions swirling in his mind. Why him? Why now?
A sudden rustling in the underbrush jolted him from his thoughts. He froze, his grip tightening on the knife.
"Lira," he whispered, but she was already awake, her bow drawn and an arrow nocked.
The rustling grew louder, and Kael's heart pounded in his chest. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged. It was hunched and cloaked, its face hidden beneath a hood.
"Who's there?" Lira demanded, her voice steady.
The figure raised a hand, palms open in a gesture of peace. "I mean no harm," it said, its voice raspy and thin. "I am but a traveler, like you."
Kael exchanged a glance with Lira, who didn't lower her bow. "What are you doing out here?" Kael asked.
The figure stepped closer, and the firelight illuminated its features—a weathered face, sunken eyes, and a long, tangled beard. "I could ask you the same," the man replied. His gaze shifted to the compass, and his expression darkened.
"That… is a dangerous artifact you carry," he said, his voice heavy with warning.
Kael instinctively covered the compass with his hand. "How do you know about it?"
The man chuckled, a hollow sound. "The Celestial Compass is no mere trinket. It has been sought by kings and thieves alike. Many have followed its guidance, but few have returned to tell the tale."
Lira frowned. "Why? What's out there?"
"Legends speak of a power beyond imagination," the man said, his eyes distant. "But the path to it is fraught with peril. The compass doesn't just guide you to what you seek—it tests you, shapes you. Only the worthy can reach its destination."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. "And what happens to those who aren't worthy?"
The man's gaze hardened. "They are claimed by the shadows."
The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Lira lowered her bow slightly, her expression unreadable.
"Why are you telling us this?" Kael asked.
The man smiled faintly. "Because I have seen what lies ahead, and I know the price of failure. If you are determined to follow the compass, you must be prepared to face the darkness within yourself. It is not just the world that will test you—it is your own soul."
Before Kael could respond, the man turned and vanished into the trees, as silently as he had appeared.
For a long moment, neither Kael nor Lira spoke. Finally, Lira broke the silence. "Well, that was unsettling."
Kael nodded, his thoughts racing. The man's words had stirred something deep within him—fear, yes, but also determination. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it.
As the fire dwindled to embers, Kael's gaze returned to the compass. Its glow seemed to pulse, almost as if it were alive, urging him onward.
"Rest," Lira said, her tone softer now. "You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
Kael lay back, his thoughts heavy with the stranger's warning. As sleep claimed him, he dreamed of endless shadows, glowing runes, and a voice calling his name.
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