The journey into the mountains was a battle from the start. The air grew thinner with each step, the biting cold cutting through their layers of clothing. Snow fell in thick, relentless sheets, obscuring the path ahead. Brison led the way, his hunter's instincts guiding them through the treacherous terrain, while Kate followed close behind, clutching the Tear of Umbrael beneath her cloak.
The silence of the mountains was oppressive, broken only by the crunch of their boots in the snow. Even the wildlife seemed to have abandoned this part of the world, as though the peaks themselves exuded a darkness that drove all living things away.
"How far to the first waypoint?" Kate asked, her voice muffled by the scarf wrapped around her face.
Brison pulled out the map Elthar had given him, studying it under the weak light of their lantern. "The Ridge of Whispers. It's about a day's hike from here. If we keep moving, we can reach it before nightfall."
Kate shivered. "Do you think the shadows will come for us again?"
"They're always watching," Brison said grimly, scanning the surrounding cliffs. "But they seem to attack in waves. Last night's creature was a scout. They'll send more once they realize where we're headed."
Kate glanced at the Tear, which pulsed faintly in response to her unease. "Then we'd better keep moving."
The sun was beginning to set by the time they reached the Ridge of Whispers, a narrow path carved into the side of a steep cliff. The drop below was dizzying, a sea of jagged rocks and swirling mist that seemed to stretch on forever.
"We'll camp here for the night," Brison said, setting his pack down near a cluster of boulders that offered some shelter from the wind.
Kate nodded, her muscles aching from the climb. As Brison built a small fire, she pulled out the book they'd taken from the archives and began rereading the section on the Tear of Umbrael.
"What's it say?" Brison asked, sitting beside her.
Kate ran her finger over the text. "It talks about the ritual again. The bearer has to face their deepest fears and prove their strength to the Tear. Only then will it grant them full control over its power."
Brison frowned. "And if you fail?"
"The Tear breaks its bond with the bearer," Kate said quietly. "Leaving it unprotected."
Brison stared into the fire. "Then we can't afford to fail."
Kate closed the book and set it aside. "What about you? Why did you stay in Eldermoor when you could've left like so many others?"
Brison hesitated, the firelight casting shadows across his face. "My family was killed by the shadows when I was a boy. My parents, my brother… They were all taken in one of the first attacks. I swore I'd never let the shadows destroy anyone else's family."
Kate's heart ached at his words. She reached out, placing a hand over his. "You've done more for these people than anyone else ever could. You're the reason they still have hope."
Brison met her gaze, his blue eyes softening. "And now you're their hope too. We'll finish this. Together."
As night fell, the oppressive silence of the mountains returned. The fire crackled softly, but its warmth did little to ease the chill in the air. Kate lay wrapped in her cloak, the Tear resting against her chest, its faint glow the only comfort she had.
But sleep didn't come easily. The whispers began as soon as she closed her eyes—a low, insidious murmur that seemed to rise from the very rocks around them.
"Do you hear that?" she whispered, sitting up.
Brison was already awake, his knife in hand. "It's the shadows. They're close."
The whispers grew louder, forming words that echoed in her mind.
"Kate… You don't belong here. You're weak. You'll fail them all."
Kate clutched the Tear, trying to block out the voices. "They're trying to get into my head."
"Don't listen," Brison said, standing and scanning the darkness. "They feed on fear. Stay strong."
The whispers turned into a cacophony, and the mist around them began to swirl, forming dark shapes that slithered and crawled toward the fire.
"Brison!" Kate cried, her voice trembling.
He moved quickly, grabbing a branch from the fire and using it to ward off the shadows. The creatures recoiled from the light, hissing and snarling, but they didn't retreat.
Kate's heart pounded as she stared at the advancing darkness. The Tear pulsed against her chest, its light growing stronger. She could feel its power coursing through her, but it was chaotic, untamed.
"You have to use it, Kate!" Brison shouted, fighting to keep the shadows at bay.
"I don't know how!"
"Trust it!" he yelled, his voice desperate.
Kate closed her eyes, focusing on the Tear's energy. It was wild and overwhelming, like a raging river threatening to sweep her away. But beneath the chaos, she felt a steady rhythm, like the beat of a drum. She latched onto it, letting it guide her.
The Tear flared to life, its light piercing the darkness. The shadows shrieked and writhed, their forms disintegrating under the radiance. Kate stood, her hands glowing with the Tear's power as she directed it outward, driving the creatures back.
When the light finally dimmed, the shadows were gone, and the whispers had fallen silent.
Brison lowered his knife, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "You did it," he said, his voice filled with awe.
Kate swayed on her feet, the Tear's glow fading as exhaustion overtook her. Brison caught her before she collapsed, holding her steady.
"You're getting stronger," he said, his tone both proud and concerned.
Kate leaned against him, her breathing ragged. "But for how long?"
Brison didn't answer. He looked out into the darkness, his grip tightening around her. The shadows had retreated for now, but he knew they would return—stronger, and in greater numbers.
And they were running out of time.