Chapter 20: Into the Unknown
The forest grew quieter as they followed the golden thread's faint pulse, its light illuminating the path ahead. The mossy ground muffled their footsteps, but the silence wasn't reassuring—it was heavy, oppressive, like the world itself was waiting for something to happen.
The human adjusted the grip on their blade, glancing at Nyx. The shadowy creature moved with fluid grace, its golden eyes scanning their surroundings. Its tendrils of darkness rippled faintly, almost like a warning.
"You feel it too, don't you?" the human said softly, their voice barely louder than a whisper. "We're being watched."
Nyx growled in response, a low rumble that made the air vibrate.
The human's grip tightened. They hadn't seen anything since the last fight, but the oppressive atmosphere of the forest had only grown thicker. It wasn't just the eerie quiet or the twisting shadows—it was the sensation of being pulled toward something, like gravity had shifted to guide them deeper into the unknown.
"Whoever—or whatever—made that path, I don't think they're friendly," the human muttered.
Nyx flicked its tail, its claws flexing as it kept pace.
The path eventually opened into a wide clearing, and the sudden change in scenery sent a chill down the human's spine. The clearing was circular, the ground covered in smooth, dark stone etched with glowing symbols that pulsed faintly.
In the center of the clearing stood a massive monolith, its surface blacker than the void and veined with lines of green light. The whispers that had haunted them earlier were louder now, emanating from the monolith like a thousand voices speaking in unison.
The human stopped just short of the clearing, their instincts screaming at them to turn back. "I'm guessing that's where the voice came from," they said, their tone dry despite the tension in their body.
Nyx stepped into the clearing without hesitation, its movements slow and deliberate.
"Of course you're not afraid," the human muttered, following after it.
The air in the clearing was colder, biting at their skin. As they stepped closer to the monolith, the whispers shifted, no longer incomprehensible.
"Nyx…" the voices said, overlapping and distorted. "Remember who you are."
Nyx froze, its head snapping toward the monolith. Its golden eyes narrowed, and the thread connecting them began to flicker erratically.
"What does it mean, Nyx?" the human asked, their voice tense. "Remember what?"
The monolith pulsed, the green veins spreading like cracks across its surface. The ground beneath them trembled as the whispers grew louder, their words becoming clearer.
"Fragment… lost… bound by chains…"
The human's heart pounded. They could feel the golden thread between them and Nyx pulling tighter, as though the monolith was trying to sever it.
"Stop!" the human shouted, stepping in front of Nyx. "Whatever you're trying to do, leave us alone!"
The whispers ignored them, their focus entirely on Nyx.
"You are incomplete," they said, their tone a mix of accusation and sorrow. "Do you not wish to be whole again?"
Nyx snarled, its shadows bristling as it took a step back. The golden thread flared, its light struggling to hold steady.
The human clenched their blade, stepping between Nyx and the monolith. "It's trying to mess with your head, Nyx. Don't listen to it."
But the whispers didn't stop. "You were once a part of something greater. A protector. A weapon. And now… you are nothing but a broken shadow."
Nyx roared, its form rippling with barely contained fury.
The human turned to it, their voice firm. "You're not nothing. I don't care what it says—you're with me. We're in this together."
The golden thread pulsed faintly, as if responding to their words.
The monolith's light dimmed slightly, the cracks along its surface retreating. "Foolish mortal," the whispers said, now directed at the human. "You do not understand the burden you carry. The bond you have forged is unnatural. It will destroy you."
"Maybe it will," the human snapped, stepping closer to the monolith. "But I'd rather face that than let you tear us apart."
The monolith pulsed again, its green veins flaring brightly. The ground beneath them cracked, and black tendrils shot out, wrapping around the human's legs.
"Your arrogance will cost you everything," the whispers hissed.
The human struggled against the tendrils, slashing at them with their blade. "Nyx!"
Nyx roared, leaping forward. Its claws and shadows tore through the tendrils with ease, freeing the human in seconds.
The monolith trembled, the whispers growing louder. "You cannot defy what is already written. Nyx belongs to us. The thread must be severed."
The golden thread flared brightly, its light cutting through the darkness of the clearing.
Nyx stepped forward, placing itself between the human and the monolith. Its golden eyes burned with a fierce determination, and the shadows around it surged like a living storm.
"Nyx…" the whispers said, almost pleading now. "Do you not wish to be free of this mortal? To return to what you once were?"
Nyx growled, the sound deep and resonant. It glanced back at the human for a brief moment, and the human felt a strange sense of reassurance through the thread.
"Nyx," the human said softly, meeting its gaze. "Whatever you were before, whatever this thing is saying—it doesn't matter. You're not alone anymore. We're a team. You don't need to go back."
Nyx turned back to the monolith and roared, the sound shaking the very ground.
The shadows around it surged forward, crashing into the monolith like a tidal wave. The green veins shattered under the assault, and the whispers turned into screams.
The clearing trembled violently as the monolith began to collapse, its pieces crumbling into dust.
The human shielded their face as a blinding light filled the clearing. When it faded, the monolith was gone, and the forest was still once more.
Nyx stood at the center of the clearing, its golden eyes glowing faintly. The golden thread between them pulsed steadily, stronger than ever.
The human approached it slowly, their blade lowered. "You okay?"
Nyx let out a soft growl, its body relaxing.
The human smiled faintly. "Good. Because whatever that thing was, I don't think it'll be bothering us again anytime soon."
They looked up at the sky, which had begun to lighten, the oppressive darkness finally lifting.
"Come on," the human said, gesturing toward the new path that had formed. "Let's keep moving. We've got a lot of questions to answer."
Nyx followed, the golden thread guiding them forward once more.