The forest loomed before them, darker than Kael had ever seen. The trees stretched high, their gnarled branches reaching like twisted hands toward the sky, while the mist curled around the trunks like an uninvited guest. Every step they took seemed to echo louder in the silence, and Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, as if the forest itself had come alive.
Lyria led the way, her silver hair glistening like moonlight even in the thickening fog. Kael and Eryn followed close behind, both of them tense, but it was Kael who felt the most unsettled. The artifact in his hand seemed to hum with energy, pulling him deeper into the woods, as though it had its own mind. His fingers clenched around it, but the pulse of power within him only grew stronger, like a quiet call urging him forward.
"Do you think we'll be safe here?" Eryn asked, his voice low. He looked around nervously, as though expecting the shadows to shift at any moment.
"I don't know," Lyria replied, glancing back at them. "But we don't have a choice. The Heart of the Forest is the only place that might have answers."
"Answers?" Kael asked, his brow furrowing. "Answers about what? The Shadow King? This relic?"
Lyria nodded. "Yes. It's not just any relic, Kael. It's tied to an ancient power—one that even the Shadow King fears. But finding the Heart of the Forest won't be easy. It's hidden from mortal eyes for a reason."
Kael's stomach tightened. "What do you mean, hidden?"
Lyria's gaze grew distant, as if she were recalling a memory long buried. "The Heart is a place of great power. It's said to be the source of the forest's life... and its dark secrets. It can protect you, but it can also change you. It's not a place for the faint-hearted."
Kael wasn't sure if he should feel reassured or more terrified, but he kept his doubts to himself. The thought of facing the Shadow King's forces again was enough to keep him moving forward.
The air grew heavier as they ventured deeper into the forest. The mist thickened, swirling around their feet and making it hard to see more than a few steps ahead. The trees whispered in the wind, their branches creaking, as if murmuring secrets to one another. And then, just as Kael thought he couldn't stand the silence any longer, he heard it—a low, almost imperceptible sound. A rustling in the underbrush.
He froze. "Did you hear that?"
Eryn stepped closer, eyes scanning the darkness. "Yeah, I heard it too. What was that?"
Lyria held up a hand, signaling for them to stop. "Stay quiet. We're not alone."
The rustling grew louder, then stopped altogether. Kael's pulse quickened. He could feel something watching them from the shadows, its presence oppressive and cold. He wasn't sure if it was the forest itself or something else entirely, but he had the distinct feeling they were being hunted.
Suddenly, from the mist ahead, a shape emerged—dark, looming, and almost human in form. Its eyes gleamed like twin red embers, and it moved with an unnatural grace, its long limbs dragging across the ground. It was no shadow, but something far worse.
"A wraith," Lyria murmured, her voice tight with fear.
"Is that... a soldier of the Shadow King?" Kael asked, his heart pounding.
Lyria didn't answer. Instead, she stepped forward, placing herself between the wraith and the others. "Stay back," she warned, her voice steady. "This one isn't like the others. It's... different."
The wraith paused, its head tilting as it studied them. Kael could feel its gaze on him, and for a moment, everything went still. The wind stopped, the mist froze, and even the trees seemed to hold their breath.
Then, in a voice that was little more than a whisper, the wraith spoke.
"You are the one who awoke it, aren't you?" It's voice was like dry leaves skittering across stone. "The one who disturbed the relic."
Kael stepped back, clutching the artifact tightly. "I didn't mean to. It... it just happened."
The wraith's eyes glowed brighter, its form rippling like smoke. "You cannot undo what has been done. The king's will is upon you. You will not escape."
Eryn moved to stand beside Kael, his expression grim. "We don't want trouble. We're just passing through."
The wraith let out a low, hollow laugh. "You think you can just walk away? No. You must face the consequences of your actions."
Before they could react, the wraith lunged, its long, spindly fingers reaching for them. Kael barely had time to raise his arm in defense when a blast of bright, radiant light exploded from the artifact. The force of the light sent the wraith stumbling back, its screech echoing through the trees as it recoiled from the power.
Lyria's eyes widened in shock. "The artifact... it's reacting to your fear."
Kael looked at the artifact in his hand, now glowing brighter than ever. He could feel its power surge through him, a warmth spreading through his veins. It was as though the artifact had a life of its own, responding to the danger around them.
The wraith hissed, its form flickering, but it didn't retreat. Instead, it seemed to grow stronger, its dark energy coalescing into a larger, more menacing shape. It moved forward again, its claws extended, ready to strike.
Kael raised the artifact higher, the light from it growing blinding. "Stay back!" he shouted, not sure if the words would do anything but echo in the stillness of the forest.
But as the wraith closed in, a booming voice, deep and ancient, suddenly filled the air, stopping both the wraith and the trio in their tracks.
"Enough."
The wraith froze, its form dissipating into smoke, retreating back into the shadows. Kael, Eryn, and Lyria stood in stunned silence as a figure emerged from the mist. This one was not a wraith, but a man—or something close to it. Tall, clad in ancient armor adorned with symbols Kael didn't recognize, his eyes glowing with a fierce, golden light.
"Who are you?" Kael asked, his voice wary but demanding.
The man stepped closer, his armor creaking with every movement. "I am Aric, Guardian of the Heart. You are not meant to be here. But now that you are..." He paused, his gaze settling on the glowing artifact in Kael's hand. "The Heart has chosen you."