The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The once-vivid greens turned to shades of gray, and the air grew cooler. Ravenna tightened her cloak around her shoulders as they pressed onward, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the soft, damp earth.
As they moved deeper into the forest, Ravenna's pendant began to glow faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. She tried to ignore it at first, but the sensation became impossible to dismiss. It was as though the pendant was alive, tugging at her like an unseen force.
"Damien," she said, her voice breaking the silence. "Something's happening with the pendant."
Damien stopped and turned to her, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the faint glow emanating from the pendant. "It's reacting to something nearby," he said, his voice low. "We need to be careful."
They continued forward cautiously, their senses heightened. The forest around them seemed to shift, the trees looming closer together as if trying to keep them out. The air grew heavier, thick with an unspoken tension.
Ravenna felt her heart race as the glow of the pendant grew brighter, illuminating the path ahead. Finally, they emerged into a small clearing. At the center stood an ancient stone altar, overgrown with moss and vines. Symbols were etched into the surface, their meaning lost to time, but the air around it thrummed with energy.
"This…" Damien whispered, his voice filled with awe. "This is no ordinary place."
Ravenna stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the altar. The pendant around her neck pulsed faster, its glow almost blinding. As she approached, a sudden gust of wind swept through the clearing, carrying with it a faint whisper.
"Ravenna…"
She froze, her breath catching in her throat. The voice was soft and melodic, but it sent a chill down her spine.
"Did you hear that?" she asked, glancing back at Damien.
He nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "We're not alone."
The whispers grew louder, swirling around them like a chorus of voices. Ravenna clutched the pendant tightly, her fingers trembling.
"What do they want?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"They want you," Damien said grimly. "This place—this altar—it's tied to the pendant. And to you."
Ravenna's mind raced as she stared at the altar. The symbols on its surface seemed to shift and dance, forming patterns that felt familiar yet foreign. She reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing against the cold stone.
As soon as she made contact, the whispers ceased, and a blinding light erupted from the pendant. Ravenna stumbled back, shielding her eyes as the light engulfed the clearing.
When the light faded, the forest was silent once more. But the altar had changed. The symbols on its surface now glowed faintly, and at its center lay an object—a small, intricately carved key.
Damien stepped forward cautiously, his eyes scanning the clearing for any signs of danger. "What is it?" he asked, his voice tense.
Ravenna reached for the key, her fingers closing around its smooth, cool surface. As soon as she held it, a wave of energy surged through her, and images flooded her mind—visions of a towering castle, a darkened throne room, and a figure shrouded in shadow.
"It's a key," she said, her voice shaking. "But to what?"
Damien's expression darkened. "We'll find out soon enough. But whatever it opens, I have a feeling it's going to change everything."
Ravenna nodded, slipping the key into her pouch. As they turned to leave the clearing, the forest seemed to exhale, the tension lifting slightly.
But Ravenna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.