Talon stumbled forward, exhaustion creeping into his bones. The air felt thicker here, heavier, as though the forest was pushing back against him. His body ached from the fight, but he couldn't afford to stop now. The Third Trial had been passed, but the Rift had more in store for him.
He moved through the mist, every step seeming to carry him deeper into the unknown. The world around him was shrouded in an eerie stillness, with only the occasional rustle of leaves to break the silence. His breath came in shallow gasps, his mind focused on the next step, the next challenge.
Suddenly, the ground beneath him shifted. Talon froze, his senses on high alert. He stepped back carefully, eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger. The air seemed to hum with an energy he couldn't quite place.
Then, the whisper came.
It was soft at first, almost a breeze, but then it grew louder, like words carried by the wind. A voice. Not the woman's, but something else—something ancient and full of intent. The voice seemed to come from all directions, echoing through the trees and winding its way into his mind.
"You seek the truth, but are you ready to face it?"
Talon's heart skipped a beat. The Rift was testing him again. This was no longer just about surviving—it was about understanding, facing something deeper than himself.
He swallowed hard, his hand resting on the hilt of his dagger. "I'm ready," he muttered, though his words felt hollow, uncertain.
The whisper returned, sharper this time, like a command. "Find the path that is hidden. It lies where the shadows fall and the light does not reach."
Talon's pulse quickened. He had no idea what this meant or how to follow the voice's cryptic instructions, but the urgency was undeniable. The Rift wasn't going to let him take the easy road. He had to face whatever lay ahead.
With no other choice, Talon pressed on. The fog seemed to grow denser, the trees more imposing. Every step felt heavier, as though something was drawing him into a deeper maze. His instincts screamed at him to turn back, to run, but the voice, the presence, wouldn't let him.
He followed the shadows, his eyes darting around, searching for any sign of the hidden path. The forest seemed to shift around him, its maze-like structure confounding him at every turn. The path was elusive, slipping just out of reach. But he kept moving, knowing that the voice would lead him if he were patient enough.
And then, just when he thought he might lose hope, he saw it.
A faint shimmer in the air. Barely noticeable, but enough to draw his attention. He took a step forward, his heart pounding. It was a doorway, or rather, the faintest outline of one, carved into the very fabric of the mist. The shadows clung to it, obscuring what lay beyond, but Talon didn't hesitate. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold surface, and the world shifted.
The fog parted, revealing a narrow path stretching out before him, lined with strange, luminous flowers that glowed faintly in the dark. The path seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance, but the silence was gone. Instead, there was a faint humming sound, like the pulse of a heart, emanating from deep within the Rift.
Talon took a deep breath, his senses on high alert as he stepped onto the path. The whispers faded, but the pressure in the air remained. Whatever lay ahead, he was about to find out. There was no turning back now.