Chapter 5:
The chill of dawn had barely broken when the three of them set out. The streets of Solis were quiet, save for the faint rustling of the wind through the crumbling stone alleys. Caelum led the way, his dark robes blending with the dim morning light, while Lira and Ashen followed closely behind.
The city was oppressive, its people living under the iron grip of Malthor's rule. Even this early, Ashen could feel the fear in the air—eyes watching from behind shuttered windows, whispers dying on the wind as they passed. It was a city held hostage, its spirit broken by the tyrant who loomed over it.
"Stay close," Caelum said, his voice low and steady. "The Templars patrol at odd hours, and they won't hesitate to arrest anyone who looks suspicious."
Ashen said nothing, his eyes scanning their surroundings. He still wasn't used to the vulnerability of this mortal form. Every shadow felt like a threat, every sound a possible ambush. His body was strong, yes, but it was not invincible. And that realization gnawed at the back of his mind.
Lira glanced at him, her expression a mixture of concern and resolve. "You'll get used to it," she said quietly. "The feeling of being hunted. It never truly goes away, but you learn to live with it."
Ashen met her gaze, seeing the weight of her words reflected in her eyes. She had lived this life for far longer than him, and it showed in the way she carried herself—alert, calculating, yet never letting the fear consume her.
They reached the edge of the city just as the sun began to rise, its golden light spilling over the rooftops like molten gold. Ahead of them lay the forest—a sprawling expanse of gnarled trees and thick underbrush that stretched for miles. It was the only path to the mountain passes, and beyond that, the hidden temple.
Caelum stopped, turning to face them. "Once we enter the forest, we'll be harder to track, but it won't be any less dangerous. There are creatures in there—remnants of the old world—that don't take kindly to trespassers. Stay together, and don't stray from the path."
Ashen nodded, gripping the hilt of the blade Caelum had given him the night before. It was a simple weapon, nothing compared to the celestial light he once wielded, but it would have to do.
The forest swallowed them whole, its dense canopy blocking out most of the sunlight. The air was thick with the scent of moss and damp earth, and the sounds of the city faded into an eerie silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or distant birdcall.
Ashen could feel the weight of the place pressing down on him. It wasn't just the physical darkness—it was something deeper, a lingering sense of unease that clung to the air like a shroud.
"This place is unnatural," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crunch of leaves beneath their boots.
"It's old," Caelum replied. "Older than Solis, older than the kingdom. When the gods fell, the forest was one of the first places to change. Some say it was cursed, others believe it became a sanctuary for those left behind. Whatever the truth is, it's not a place to take lightly."
As they pressed deeper into the forest, the path grew narrower, the trees closing in around them like skeletal sentinels. The air grew colder, and Ashen could feel the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Then came the sound—a low, guttural growl that seemed to echo from all around them.
Caelum froze, his hand moving to the hilt of his own weapon. "Something's here."
Lira's eyes darted to the shadows, her stance shifting into a defensive position. "It's been following us since we entered the forest. Waiting."
Ashen gripped his blade, his heart pounding in his chest. The growl came again, closer this time, and then the shadows moved.
A creature stepped into the dim light—a hulking, twisted beast with matted fur and glowing red eyes. Its body was hunched, its limbs unnaturally long, and its claws gleamed like daggers in the faint light.
"What is that?" Ashen whispered, his voice tight.
"A remnant," Caelum said, his voice calm despite the danger. "A creature left behind when the gods fell. They're not natural—they're born of chaos."
The beast snarled, baring rows of jagged teeth, and then it charged.
Ashen barely had time to react, raising his blade just as the creature lunged at him. The force of the impact sent him staggering backward, but he managed to hold his ground, the blade slicing into the beast's shoulder.
It howled in pain, but the wound only seemed to enrage it further.
"Keep moving!" Caelum shouted, his own weapon flashing as he struck at the creature. "We can't stay here!"
Lira darted forward, her twin daggers glinting as she moved with precision and speed. She slashed at the beast's flank, drawing its attention away from Ashen.
The fight was chaotic, the creature relentless in its attacks. Ashen could feel the strain in his muscles, the sharp edge of mortality cutting deeper than he had expected. He wasn't a god anymore—not yet—and every swing of his blade reminded him of that truth.
But there was something else—a flicker of power, buried deep within him, like a spark waiting to ignite. As the beast lunged at him again, he felt it surge through him, his movements growing faster, his strikes more precise.
The creature hesitated, sensing the change, and that was all the opening Ashen needed. With a final, powerful strike, he drove his blade into the beast's chest, piercing its heart.
The beast let out a final, haunting cry before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into ash and shadow.
The forest fell silent once more, save for the heavy breaths of the three companions.
Caelum stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Ashen. "You felt it, didn't you? The power within you."
Ashen nodded, his hand trembling as he sheathed his blade. "It's there, but it's faint. Like a memory I can't quite grasp."
Lira placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression a mixture of relief and determination. "It's a start. And we're going to need every bit of it if we're going to survive what's ahead."
As they resumed their journey, Ashen couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had been more than just a test of his strength. It was a reminder—a glimpse of the power he once held, and the path he would need to walk to reclaim it.
The shadows of the forest were thick, but they pressed onward, their resolve unbroken. The temple awaited, and with it, the answers Ashen so desperately sought.
But deep in the forest, unseen eyes watched their every move. And far away, in the heart of Solis, Malthor's lips curved into a knowing smile.