The fog gradually thinned as Vero and Levin pressed on, but the air grew colder with every step. The shard in Vero's hand pulsed faintly, its light now a steady glow that provided a small comfort in the surrounding darkness. Every sound seemed amplified—each step, each breath—echoing in the eerie silence of the labyrinth.
"Where do you think this is taking us?" Levin asked, his voice a whisper, as though speaking too loudly might awaken something hidden in the shadows.
Vero shook his head. "I don't know. But it feels like the shard is leading us somewhere—"
He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing. Ahead, the path split into three separate tunnels. Each one looked identical, their walls marked by the same faint runes and moss-covered stones. The shard in Vero's hand vibrated, but it didn't pull him toward any particular direction.
Levin frowned. "Great. A classic fork in the road. Any ideas, genius?"
Vero hesitated. He had learned to trust the shard's guidance, but now it seemed indifferent. He held it up, hoping for some kind of reaction, but the light remained steady.
"Nothing," Vero muttered.
Levin crouched to examine the ground near the tunnels, his fingers brushing the dirt. "No tracks or markings either. It's like no one's been here for centuries."
"Or whatever came through here doesn't leave tracks," Vero said grimly.
Levin glanced up, his expression serious. "That's comforting."
The two stood in silence, each weighing their options. Finally, Vero spoke. "We'll have to trust our instincts. But let's be smart about it."
Levin raised an eyebrow. "How's that?"
"We take one tunnel, but mark the entrance to the other two. If we end up in trouble, we'll know where to backtrack."
Levin nodded, pulling out a small piece of chalk from his satchel. He quickly scrawled a symbol—a simple arrow—on the stone walls of the left and right tunnels, leaving the center path unmarked.
"All right," Levin said, stepping back. "Let's hope this middle one doesn't lead to certain death."
Vero didn't reply, instead stepping into the tunnel with the shard raised. The air inside was even colder, and the walls seemed to close in, the runes glowing faintly as if reacting to their presence.
---
As they walked, an uneasy sensation crept over Vero. It wasn't fear or even the oppressive silence—it was a feeling of being watched. His steps slowed, and his hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword.
"Do you feel that?" Vero asked, his voice low.
Levin's eyes darted around, his hand gripping his dagger. "Yeah. Like we're not alone."
The shard pulsed faintly, and Vero froze. From the corner of his eye, he caught a flicker of movement—a shadow darting across the wall. He turned sharply, but the tunnel was empty.
"Something's following us," Vero said, his tone tense.
Levin nodded, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Figures. These places are never as empty as they look."
They moved cautiously, their senses heightened. The tunnel seemed to stretch on endlessly, the shadows on the walls growing darker and more distorted.
Then, without warning, the shard's light dimmed, plunging the tunnel into near darkness.
"Vero!" Levin called out, his voice sharp with alarm.
"I'm here!" Vero replied, his heart racing. He raised the shard higher, willing it to brighten, but its light remained faint.
The sound of footsteps echoed around them—not their own, but something heavier, deliberate. It was followed by a low, guttural growl that reverberated through the tunnel.
Levin cursed under his breath. "Tell me that was your stomach."
Vero didn't respond. Instead, he drew his sword, its blade glinting faintly in the shard's glow. "Stay close."
The growl came again, closer this time. Vero turned toward the sound, his sword at the ready. The shadows ahead seemed to ripple, and a massive shape emerged from the darkness.
It was unlike anything Vero had ever seen—a creature made of shifting black mist, its form constantly changing. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of jagged teeth.
Levin stepped back, his dagger raised. "What in the name of the pillars is that?"
"I don't know," Vero said, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him. "But it doesn't look friendly."
The creature lunged, moving with unnatural speed. Vero barely had time to react, raising his sword to block its attack. The impact sent him staggering back, and he realized with a sinking feeling that the creature wasn't solid—his blade had passed through it as though it were smoke.
"Great," Levin muttered, throwing a dagger at the creature. It struck its target but dissolved into the mist, doing no damage. "How do you fight something that isn't even solid?"
The shard pulsed again, its light flickering. Vero glanced at it, an idea forming in his mind. "It's made of shadow. The shard's light might be the only thing that can hurt it."
"Then light it up!" Levin shouted, dodging another lunge from the creature.
Vero focused on the shard, drawing on the connection he had felt during the previous trial. The light began to intensify, casting the tunnel in a warm, golden glow. The creature recoiled, its form flickering as though the light was burning it.
Vero stepped forward, holding the shard out. The light grew brighter, forcing the creature to retreat. It snarled, its red eyes narrowing as it melted back into the shadows.
"Did we just scare it off?" Levin asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"For now," Vero said, lowering the shard. He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, but he couldn't afford to rest. The creature might return, and they still didn't know where the tunnel led.
Levin clapped him on the shoulder. "Not bad, hero. But let's not stick around to see if it comes back with friends."
Vero nodded, and they resumed their journey, the shard's light guiding their way. The encounter had shaken him, but it had also reinforced his determination. Whatever lay at the end of this path, he would face it head-on.
As they walked, Vero couldn't shake the feeling that the creature had been more than just a random guardian. It had been watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike. And its eyes… they had held a strange intelligence, as though it had recognized him.
The shard pulsed faintly, its light flickering in and out. The path ahead remained shrouded in mystery, but Vero's resolve remained unshaken. He would uncover the truth, no matter what dangers awaited him