The road out of the Riftwood led to a stretch of rugged, unfamiliar terrain. Rolling hills dotted with ancient ruins whispered of a past long forgotten, and the air buzzed with a faint energy that Tia couldn't place.
Kian walked a few steps ahead, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his blade, but Tia could sense his unease. He glanced back at her, his sharp eyes scanning her for any signs of exhaustion.
"I'm fine, you know," Tia said, catching his look.
Kian smirked. "You're terrible at lying."
Tia rolled her eyes. "I've been chased, nearly eaten, and sung to by creepy trees, but I'm still here. Give me some credit."
Kian chuckled softly. "Fair enough. But you'll need to rest soon. We're not out of danger yet."
As they crested a hill, the view below took Tia's breath away. A sprawling lake stretched out, its surface shimmering like liquid silver under the soft glow of the afternoon sun. At its center stood a small island, crowned with the ruins of a crumbling tower.
"That's beautiful," Tia murmured, stepping closer to the edge of the hill.
"It's also trouble," Kian replied, his voice low.
"Let me guess," Tia said, sighing. "The lake is cursed, or the tower is haunted, or there's some ancient guardian waiting to test our 'worthiness.'"
Kian shrugged. "Something like that."
Tia shook her head. "Great. Can't wait."
They made their way down the hill, the path growing narrower and more treacherous with every step. The closer they got to the lake, the heavier the air seemed to become, charged with an energy that made the hairs on Tia's arms stand on end.
At the shoreline, Kian stopped, his expression grim.
"This is where you tell me the bad news, isn't it?" Tia said, crossing her arms.
Kian nodded. "The island is protected by a barrier. It'll test anyone who tries to cross it."
Tia frowned. "Test how?"
"By showing you your worst fears," Kian said simply.
Tia swallowed hard. "Lovely. And you've done this before?"
"Once," Kian said, his voice tight. "It's... not pleasant."
Tia took a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "Okay. Let's do this."
Kian hesitated, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Are you sure? You don't have to—"
"I'm not sitting on the sidelines," Tia said firmly. "We're in this together."
Kian's lips curved into a small, reluctant smile. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
"I've been told," Tia replied with a smirk.
They stepped into the water, which was surprisingly warm, like stepping into a bath. The moment they waded in waist-deep, the world around them shifted. The shimmering surface of the lake rippled, and Tia's vision blurred.
When it cleared, she was no longer in the lake. She stood in a room she recognized all too well—the study in her childhood home. The air smelled of old books and ink, and the familiar ticking of a grandfather clock echoed softly.
"No," Tia whispered, her chest tightening.
Seated at the desk was a man with salt-and-pepper hair, his face hidden as he hunched over a stack of papers.
"Father?" Tia's voice wavered.
The man looked up, his sharp features etched with disappointment. "You've always been a disappointment, Tia."
Tia's heart sank. "That's not true. You're not real. This isn't real."
The figure stood, his gaze piercing. "You ran away, left everything behind. You think you're better than this family? You'll never be enough."
Tia clenched her fists, her jaw tightening. "You're not him. And I'm not afraid of you."
The illusion faltered, the edges of the room flickering like static. Tia stepped forward, her voice rising with each word. "I don't need your approval anymore. I don't need anyone's."
The figure dissolved, and the study faded away. The water of the lake lapped at her ankles, and she saw Kian standing a few feet away, his face pale and drawn.
"Kian?" Tia called out, stepping toward him.
He didn't respond, his eyes fixed on something unseen. His lips moved, but no sound came out.
"Kian!" Tia shouted, grabbing his arm.
He blinked, his eyes clearing as he looked at her. "Tia?"
"It's me," she said softly.
Kian let out a shaky breath, his hand gripping hers tightly. "I saw... things I'd rather not talk about."
"Join the club," Tia said, her voice light, though her hands trembled.
They pressed on, the water growing deeper until it reached their chests. The barrier shimmered ahead like a translucent veil, and Tia braced herself as they stepped through it.
The sensation was like walking through ice, the cold biting into her skin and stealing her breath. On the other side, the island loomed, its rocky shore littered with broken stones and tangled vines.
"Made it," Tia said, shivering.
"Barely," Kian replied, his voice low.
They climbed onto the island, the ruins of the tower casting long shadows over the landscape. The air was eerily silent, the kind of silence that pressed down on your ears and made your pulse thunder in your skull.
As they approached the tower, a soft, lilting voice called out.
"Who dares disturb my sanctuary?"
Tia and Kian froze, their eyes darting around. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"We mean no harm," Kian said cautiously.
A figure emerged from the shadows of the tower. It was a woman, her hair cascading like liquid silver, her eyes glowing faintly. She was beautiful, but there was something otherworldly about her, something that set Tia's nerves on edge.
"You carry the watch," the woman said, her gaze locking onto Tia.
Tia stepped forward, holding the watch tightly. "We need help. It's broken, and we're being hunted."
The woman tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "The watch is not merely broken. It is fractured, its power leaking into the world. Do you know what that means?"
Tia shook her head. "No, but we need to fix it."
The woman's gaze softened slightly. "You are brave, child. Foolish, but brave."
"I get that a lot," Tia said, earning a small chuckle from Kian.
The woman stepped closer, her movements graceful and deliberate. "To repair the watch, you must face trials far more difficult than what you've encountered so far. Are you willing to do whatever it takes?"
Tia met her gaze, her voice steady. "Yes."
The woman nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Very well. But be warned—the path you've chosen will demand everything of you. Sacrifices will be made, and not all will survive."
Tia's stomach tightened, but she nodded. "I understand."
"Good," the woman said. She extended a hand, and a small, glowing shard appeared in her palm. "This is the first piece. The rest you must find on your own."
As Tia reached out to take the shard, the woman's gaze flicked to Kian. "And you, guardian. Do you truly believe you can protect her from what lies ahead?"
Kian's jaw tightened, his eyes hard. "I'll do whatever it takes."
The woman's smile widened, but it didn't reach her eyes. "We shall see."
The moment Tia's fingers closed around the shard, the world shifted again. The ruins dissolved, and they found themselves back on the shore of the lake, the island a distant speck behind them.
Tia looked at the shard in her hand, its faint glow pulsing in time with her heartbeat. "One down," she said softly.
Kian placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding. "We'll find the rest."
Tia looked up at him, her heart skipping a beat. For the first time, she saw something in his eyes—a softness, a vulnerability that made her chest ache.
"Thanks, Kian," she said quietly.
His lips curved into a small smile. "For what?"
"For not letting me do this alone," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kian's hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment longer before he stepped back, his usual guarded expression returning.
"Let's move," he said, his tone light. "The world's not going to save itself."
Tia chuckled, tucking the shard into her satchel. "No, it's not."
As they walked away from the lake, Tia couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to change. And for the first time, she wasn't entirely sure if she was ready for it.