The air in the grove grew colder as Amara and Kael stepped off the glowing platform. The pendant's light dimmed slightly, as though resting after the trial. Amara could feel the weight of its power settling within her, a strange but comforting warmth in her chest.
"Alright," Kael said, breaking the silence, "you passed your spooky moon test. Now what?"
Before Amara could answer, a sharp whistle cut through the air. Kael's instincts took over, and he pushed Amara aside just as a blade embedded itself in the ground where she had been standing.
"Ambush!" Kael shouted, drawing his sword.
Amara scrambled to her feet, her heart racing. From the shadows of the grove, a figure emerged. Dressed in sleek, dark armor that seemed to absorb the light, the figure moved with the grace of a predator. A mask covered their face, but their piercing silver eyes locked onto Amara.
"Hand over the pendant," the figure demanded, their voice cold and emotionless.
Amara instinctively clutched the artifact. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, they drew another blade—a sleek, curved weapon that gleamed ominously. Kael stepped in front of Amara, his stance protective.
"You'll have to go through me first," he said, his voice steady.
The figure tilted their head slightly, as if amused. "As you wish."
---
The fight was a blur of speed and precision. The masked assailant moved like a shadow, their blade striking with calculated precision. Kael parried the blows, but each clash of steel pushed him back.
Amara watched in horror, unsure of what to do. The pendant pulsed faintly in her hand, but she didn't know how to use its power in a fight.
"Amara!" Kael shouted, ducking under a swing. "A little help here!"
She hesitated, then raised the pendant, willing it to activate. A faint glow surrounded her, and she felt the warmth of the artifact spread through her limbs.
"Focus," she whispered to herself. "Balance the light and shadow."
Closing her eyes, she reached out with her senses, feeling the ebb and flow of energy around her. When she opened them, the world seemed sharper, every movement of the masked figure clear as day.
---
The next time the figure lunged, Amara stepped forward, raising the pendant. A beam of light shot out, forcing the assailant to leap back.
The figure landed gracefully, their silver eyes narrowing. "Impressive. But you're not ready."
Before Amara could respond, the assailant threw a small orb to the ground. Smoke erupted, enveloping the grove in a thick haze. When it cleared, the figure was gone.
Kael lowered his blade, breathing heavily. "Well, that was fun. Who was that?"
Amara shook her head, her grip on the pendant tightening. "I don't know, but they were after this."
Kael glanced at the pendant, then at her. "Looks like you've got more enemies than just the Ember Shadows."
Amara nodded, determination hardening her expression. "Whoever they are, they won't stop me. The pendant chose me for a reason, and I'm going to see this through."
Kael smirked, sheathing his blade. "That's the spirit, moonbeam. Let's just hope the next assassin isn't so good at sneaking up on us."
---
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