The journey ahead is clouded in uncertainty, a maze of riddles and dangers that no one could have prepared for. Li Wei's mind races with the old man's words, and though she tries to stay focused, the weight of his warning haunts her every step.
"The child... the one who can end this," she murmurs under her breath, almost as if speaking to herself. She is torn between dread and hope, both emotions at war within her. The old man had said that this child, born of both the king's blood and the queen's, held the power to undo the curse. But the price of that truth—sacrifice, life, the very fabric of their world—was a burden no one should have to bear.
"We need to move fast," Jian says, his voice cutting through her thoughts. He is already several paces ahead, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest. His usually calm demeanor has hardened into something more intense, more urgent. The curse they are chasing has already begun to spread, and they must find the child before the dark forces do.
Li Wei catches up to him, her heart heavy with the knowledge that every step they take is a step closer to the inevitable. "Do you think the child is still alive?" she asks, her voice barely more than a whisper.
Jian doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he pauses, looking at her with a knowing expression, as if he can feel the weight of her question more than he can put into words. "The curse never forgets," he finally says. "It hunts relentlessly. But if the child is alive, we'll find them. We must."
A moment passes between them, an unspoken understanding that the path they walk is no longer just about survival—it's about something much larger than both of them. The world they know is at risk, and the fate of everyone lies in the hands of this unknown child, whose existence is both a blessing and a curse.
The path to the child is uncertain. They have no name, no identity, no clue as to where the child might be hiding. But the old man had told them that time was running out, that the curse would stop at nothing to protect itself.
As they venture further into the wilds, the air grows heavier, thick with an unnatural stillness. The trees seem to close in around them, their twisted branches reaching out like skeletal hands. Li Wei feels a chill crawl up her spine, and her hand instinctively tightens around the hilt of her sword.
Jian, ever watchful, stops in his tracks, his sharp eyes scanning the dense woods. "We're not alone."
Li Wei's heart skips a beat. She senses it too now—the eyes on them, hidden in the shadows, watching, waiting.
Without a word, they move deeper into the forest, their steps quiet but purposeful. They've learned that silence can be both a weapon and a shield in this place. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig could be the harbinger of something far more dangerous than they can imagine.
A rustling noise breaks the silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps. Li Wei's breath catches in her throat. It's not an animal. The footsteps are too calculated, too human.
"Stay close," Jian mutters, his voice low and tense.
They continue moving, their footsteps light against the dirt path. But the footsteps in the distance grow louder, closer. The air feels charged now, as if the very earth beneath their feet is aware of the danger lurking in the woods.
Suddenly, a figure emerges from the shadows. It's a woman, tall and draped in a cloak that seems to blend into the darkness around her. Her face is obscured by a hood, but her presence is palpable. The moment she steps into the clearing, everything seems to freeze. The wind dies down, the trees stand still. It's as if the world is holding its breath.
"I've been waiting for you," the woman says, her voice soft but unmistakably commanding.
Li Wei instinctively takes a step back, her hand resting on her sword. Jian stands still, analyzing the woman, his eyes sharp.
"Who are you?" Jian demands. His voice is calm, but the tension in the air is undeniable.
The woman smiles, but it's not a friendly smile. It's the smile of someone who knows far too much. "You know what I am," she replies cryptically. "You've come for the child. You won't find them. Not until you're ready to pay the price."
Li Wei's stomach clenches. She doesn't like the sound of that. "We will find them," she declares, her voice steady, though her heart is pounding. "And we'll stop the curse."
The woman's eyes gleam in the dim light, and she takes a step forward, as if closing the distance between them, though she doesn't physically move. "The curse can't be stopped so easily. It's already too late for that. But you can try," she says, her voice dripping with both amusement and warning. "But be careful, Li Wei. The truth is a dangerous thing to seek. And once you know it, you can never go back."
Jian steps forward, his eyes narrowing. "What do you want from us?"
The woman tilts her head, a look of curiosity crossing her face. "Want? I don't want anything. I'm just a messenger. But the price... the price will come. And it will be steep. The curse will demand its due, whether you are ready or not."
She turns then, as if she's already given them all the information she's willing to share. "Find the child. But don't be surprised when you find out what you must sacrifice to end this."
With that, she steps back into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as she appeared, leaving behind only a lingering chill and the weight of her words.
Li Wei's heart is heavy as she watches the empty space where the woman once stood. "What do we do now?" she whispers, as if the question can somehow make the situation clearer.
Jian looks at her, his expression unreadable, but his eyes are hard with resolve. "We continue. We find the child. And we pay the price."