The ruins of Avalar loomed behind them as Lucas and Eira made their way out of the valley. The Nexus Scroll was safely tucked into Eira's satchel, but its contents weighed heavily on both of them.
The silence between them stretched, broken only by the crunch of their footsteps on the rocky terrain. Lucas couldn't shake the image of the warden's disintegration or the ominous spell described in the scroll.
"So," he said finally, his voice tentative. "What's the plan?"
Eira didn't look back. "We head to the Whispering Spire. It's one of the few places where the spell can be performed. The magic there is strong enough to sustain the binding."
Lucas frowned. "The Whispering Spire? Isn't that… contested territory?"
"It is," Eira admitted, her tone matter-of-fact. "The Shadowbinders control much of the area, and their leader, Malrik, isn't exactly known for diplomacy."
"Wonderful," Lucas muttered. "So not only do I have to deal with this curse trying to kill me, but now we're marching into enemy territory?"
Eira stopped abruptly and turned to face him, her eyes flashing. "You knew this wouldn't be easy, Lucas. The curse isn't just your problem—it's tearing apart the entire realm. If we don't stop it, there won't be a realm left to save."
Lucas opened his mouth to argue but stopped when he saw the exhaustion etched into her features. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know. I just… I didn't sign up for this, you know?"
Eira's expression softened, though her voice remained firm. "None of us did. But we're here now, and we have a chance to make a difference. That has to be enough."
The tension between them lingered as they continued their journey. By nightfall, they found a small clearing to set up camp. Eira quickly built a fire, while Lucas rummaged through his pack for food.
As they ate, the conversation turned to the scroll and its implications.
"I've been thinking," Lucas said, poking at the fire with a stick. "This 'living anchor' thing… what happens to the person who becomes the conduit?"
Eira hesitated, her gaze fixed on the flames. "The scroll doesn't say. But if I had to guess… it wouldn't be pleasant."
Lucas swallowed hard, his appetite vanishing. "What if the anchor dies? Does the curse come back?"
"Probably," Eira said. "That's why the anchor has to be strong—someone with enough willpower to endure the curse's influence without succumbing to it."
Lucas stared at the mark on his wrist, its glow faint in the firelight. "And you think that someone is me?"
Eira met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "I think you're stronger than you give yourself credit for."
The night passed uneventfully, but Lucas's dreams were anything but peaceful. He saw the warden again, its burning eyes accusing him. The shadows from the Hall of Echoes surged around him, whispering his name.
"Lucas…"
He woke with a start, his heart pounding. The fire had burned low, casting faint shadows on the trees. Eira was sitting nearby, sharpening her dagger.
"Bad dreams?" she asked without looking up.
Lucas nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "The warden. The shadows. It's like they're… calling to me."
Eira's hands paused for a moment before resuming their work. "That's the curse. It knows we're getting closer to stopping it. It'll do whatever it can to break you."
"Great," Lucas muttered, lying back down. "No pressure."
By morning, they reached the edge of a dense forest. Eira stopped, her body tense as she scanned the treeline.
"What is it?" Lucas asked, gripping his staff.
"We're being followed," Eira said quietly.
Lucas's blood ran cold. "By who?"
"Not who," a familiar voice called out. "What."
Lucas turned to see Kade stepping out from the shadows, his bow slung across his back and a sly grin on his face.
"Kade?" Lucas exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Kade said, his grin fading. "But judging by the lovely curses seeping through the air, I'd say you've got a knack for finding trouble."
Eira scowled. "We don't have time for this. Why are you following us?"
Kade shrugged. "You're heading into Shadowbinder territory. Thought you could use some backup."
Eira's eyes narrowed. "And what's in it for you?"
Kade smirked. "Let's just say I have my reasons. Besides, I've got a score to settle with Malrik."
Lucas glanced between them, his unease growing. "Is this really a good idea? We don't exactly have the luxury of trusting random help."
Eira sighed, rubbing her temples. "We don't have the luxury of turning it down, either. Fine, Kade. But if you betray us, I'll kill you myself."
"Fair enough," Kade said, his grin returning.
As they entered the forest, the shadows seemed to thicken, and the air grew colder. Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into a trap, but with the curse looming over them, they had no choice but to press on