His chest was still trembling.
Darius sat against a massive tree, panting in silence, trying to process what had just happened. The Heart of the White Shadow… it had activated on its own, releasing a surge of darkness that caused the two shadows to disappear completely. But now…
He looked down at his trembling hands. He didn't feel the pain he had expected, but something else was different—something he couldn't quite put into words.
Adam, standing a few steps away, watched him cautiously. His face was still pale, still trying to make sense of what had happened. But he didn't ask anything—not yet.
After a moment, Darius took a deep breath and forced himself to his feet. Whatever had happened… they didn't have the time to dwell on it.
"We need to move."
Adam didn't argue. He simply nodded in silence and stepped ahead, leading the way toward the depths of the central region of the forest.
But Darius had no idea that what awaited them… was far worse than what they had left behind.
---
The Stone Altar
After a long walk through the tangled trees, they found themselves in an open clearing in the middle of the forest, where a massive stone structure, covered in moss, stood like an ancient altar.
The sight was strange. The ground here was drier compared to the rest of the forest, as if rain hadn't touched it for decades. The air was still, with no wind, no sounds—just a suffocating silence.
Darius stepped forward cautiously, examining the details of the stone. On its surface, candles were burning, despite the fact that no one had been here for ages.
Adam, standing beside him, couldn't hide his unease.
"This place… isn't natural. We should leave."
But Darius felt something odd.
It wasn't just a feeling—there was a hidden connection between him and this place. The Heart of the White Shadow, which had been beating violently just moments ago, now pulsed softly, as if responding to the altar.
Something inside him urged him to step closer.
Without thinking, he reached out and touched the cold surface of the stone. At that moment, he felt a sharp sting in his finger… A small drop of blood slid from his hand and fell onto the altar.
And then… it happened.
---
Sudden Darkness
In an instant, all the candles went out at once.
There was no wind, no movement, yet the light vanished as if it had never existed.
The forest, which had been faintly illuminated by the pale moonlight, turned pitch black.
Adam took a step back, gripping his sword in alarm.
"Darius… what did you do?"
But Darius couldn't hear him.
At that moment, there was only emptiness.
For a brief moment, he felt as if he was trapped between two worlds… Something was pulling him or maybe… trying to speak to him.
Then, amidst the suffocating darkness, carved letters appeared on the altar's surface, glowing with a faint red light for a few moments before fading away again.
But Darius managed to read a few words before they disappeared:
"When the blood of the heir is spilled, the blind eyes shall awaken."
Then… everything returned to normal.
---
A Strange Effect
The candles did not reignite, but the moon once again cast a dim glow over the forest. Darius took slow, controlled breaths, trying to steady himself.
But something else had changed.
The Heart of the White Shadow in his chest was no longer the same as it had been moments ago.
It was no longer beating violently, but it was also not completely dormant. It felt more like a temporary stillness, as if something had calmed it… or sealed it.
Adam was staring at him, clearly not understanding what had just happened, but his unease was obvious.
"I don't like this, Darius… We should leave this place."
Darius didn't respond immediately. He could still feel it…
A sensation, as if unseen eyes were watching him now.
---
Something Is Coming
Before he could move, a strange sound broke the silence from deep within the trees.
It wasn't an animal. It wasn't the wind.
It was more like… whispers—multiple voices overlapping, as if something was trying to speak but didn't know how.
Adam immediately unsheathed his sword, while Darius planted his feet firmly, bracing for whatever was coming.
The sounds weren't getting closer… but they were surrounding them from all directions.
Then, from the distant shadows, footsteps emerged, moving quietly between the trees.
Something was there.
Something… was watching them.
Adam: "Run! We have to get out of here!"