The forest felt quieter than before as Caius, Elara, and the stranger left the temple behind. The faint hum of the shard's energy pulsed in Caius's chest, steady and unrelenting. Though the cool breeze carried the scent of damp earth and moss, it did little to lift the tension hanging between them.
The fight in the temple, the masked figure's ominous words, and the test of the shard weighed heavily on all of them. Caius walked at the front of the group, his expression grim as he clutched the shard tightly in his hand.
Elara fell into step beside him, her emerald eyes darting to his face. She wanted to say something—to ask him what had happened when he touched the shard—but the guarded look in his eyes made her hesitate.
Behind them, the stranger hummed softly to themselves, his silver eyes scanning the trees as if expecting another ambush.
"This forest is too quiet," Elara said finally, breaking the silence.
The stranger chuckled, their tone light but edged with tension. "You'd think that would be a good thing. But when it comes to places like this? Quiet usually means something's watching."
Caius didn't respond, his gaze fixed ahead.
They stopped near a shallow creek to rest. The water trickled over smooth stones, its gentle sound a sharp contrast to the oppressive silence of the forest.
Elara crouched by the water, splashing her face before filling a flask. She glanced over at Caius, who sat on a fallen log with the shard resting in his lap. The faint glow of its surface reflected in his blue eyes, and for a moment, he looked lost in thought.
"You've barely said a word since we left the temple," Elara said, capping her flask. "Are you going to tell me what happened back there?"
Caius looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "The shard… it showed me something. A warning."
Elara frowned, stepping closer. "A warning about what?"
"About me," Caius admitted quietly.
Elara crossed her arms, her gaze steady. "What do you mean?"
Caius hesitated, his fingers brushing over the shard's surface. "The power in these shards—it's not just a tool. It's alive, in a way. And it doesn't just give power. It… changes you."
Elara's jaw tightened, her hand drifting to the hilt of her sword. "And what kind of changes are we talking about?"
"I don't know yet," Caius said, his voice low. "But the Keeper said it would test me. And if I fail…"
"You won't fail," Elara said firmly, cutting him off.
Caius looked at her, his blue eyes searching hers. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because you're not doing this alone," Elara said, her tone unwavering. "Whatever these shards throw at you, we'll face it together."
The stranger leaned against a tree nearby, their silver eyes glinting with amusement. "She's right, you know. You might brood like a lone wolf, but you've got a pack now, whether you like it or not."
Caius shot them a glare. "You make it sound like this is a game."
The stranger smirked. "Oh, it's no game, boy. But you'd be surprised how far a little teamwork can take you. Even with all the doom and gloom hanging over your head."
Elara sighed, shaking her head. "For once, he is not entirely wrong."
Caius rubbed his temples, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I don't need a lecture."
"No," Elara said, her voice softer now. "You need to trust us. I know that's hard for you, but we're not going anywhere."
The faintest flicker of a smile tugged at Caius's lips, though it was gone just as quickly. "Thanks."
The group's moment of calm was shattered by the faint sound of rustling leaves. It was subtle at first, but quickly grew louder, accompanied by the crack of branches and the faint hum of something unnatural.
Caius was on his feet in an instant, the shard slipping back into his satchel as flames flickered to life around his hands.
Elara drew her sword, her posture tense as her emerald eyes scanned the trees. "What now?"
The stranger's silver runes began to glow faintly as they stepped forward, their gaze fixed on the shadows. "Looks like we've got company."
From the underbrush, figures began to emerge. They were humanoid, but their movements were stiff and unnatural, their eyes glowing faintly with the same blue light that had filled the temple.
"More Shadowborn?" Elara asked, her voice low.
"Not exactly," the stranger said, their tone grim. "These aren't wild. They're controlled."
As if on cue, a familiar voice echoed through the forest.
"You didn't think I'd let you leave so easily, did you?"
The masked figure stepped into view, their staff glowing faintly as they surveyed the group.
"You again," Caius said, his flames flaring brighter.
The figure tilted their head slightly, their tone almost amused. "Did you really think claiming the shard would go unnoticed? You're a fool if you think you can wield its power without consequences."
Elara stepped forward, her sword at the ready. "And you're a fool if you think we'll hand it over."
The figure chuckled, their masked face tilting toward Caius. "You don't even understand what you're carrying, do you? The shards aren't just fragments of power. They're pieces of something far greater. Something that will consume you if you're not careful."
Caius's jaw tightened. "I've heard that before. And I'm still standing."
"For now," the figure said darkly. They raised their staff, and the glowing-eyed figures moved forward, their movements unnervingly swift.
The clearing erupted into chaos as the attackers charged. Caius stepped forward, his flames surging to life as he struck at the first figure. The fire engulfed it, but instead of collapsing, the figure twisted and reformed, its glowing eyes burning brighter.
"They're not going down easily!" Caius shouted, dodging a strike.
"That's because they're not alive," the stranger called, their runes flaring as they unleashed a burst of energy that struck two attackers. "They're constructs—puppets controlled by our masked friend."
Elara ducked under a swipe from one of the figures, her sword slashing through its midsection. It staggered but didn't fall, its movements jerky but relentless.
"Then we take out the puppeteer," Elara said, her gaze snapping to the masked figure.
Caius nodded, his flames coiling around him as he charged toward the figure. They raised their staff, a wave of dark energy surging toward him. He countered with a burst of fire, the two forces colliding in a brilliant explosion that shook the clearing.
"You're out of your depth," the figure said, their tone cold. "You can't control the shards. They'll destroy you before you even begin to understand their power."
"Maybe," Caius said, his blue eyes burning. "But I won't stop trying."
With a coordinated effort, the group managed to push back the constructs, their glowing forms dissolving into smoke as the masked figure retreated further into the shadows.
"This isn't over," the figure said, their voice echoing as they vanished into the forest. "You can't run from what you are, Caius. The shards will show you that soon enough."
As the clearing grew quiet once more, Caius lowered his flames, his breath coming in sharp gasps.
Elara stepped beside him, her expression hard. "We need to figure out who they are—and what they want with the shards."
Caius nodded, his gaze distant. "We will. But first, we need to keep moving."