POV: Kael 🧍‍♂️🌫️🗡️
The mist thickened by midday, veiling the path in a pale grey haze. The mountain air turned thin and cold, biting at their cheeks and making each step feel like a climb through breathless silence.
Kael hated it.
Not just the cold — the quiet. It left too much space for his thoughts.
Ariya hadn't spoken much since the map fused to her skin. Her face was unreadable again — not blank, but guarded. Like she was retreating behind her walls.
He stayed near her anyway.
In case she needed him.
Even if she never said it.
"I spot movement ahead!" Lyra called, voice sharp.
Kael tensed, reaching for his sword as everyone halted.
The mist parted slightly — and from it emerged a lone figure, stumbling toward them.
A man, cloaked and hooded, limping with one arm cradled tight against his chest.
"Please," the man rasped. "Help… I was attacked. Wolves… shadows… I don't know what they were…"
Ariya stepped forward, hand raised cautiously.
"Who are you?"
"Just a traveler," he wheezed. "My name is Tam. I was with a caravan that vanished near the cliffs. I've been alone for days…"
"Or maybe minutes," Jax muttered. "That fog does weird things."
Kael's instincts screamed.
Something felt off.
"Lift your hood," he ordered.
The man hesitated. Then obeyed.
A pale, angular face. Dirt and blood smeared along one side. His eyes were dark… too dark.
"We can't just leave him," Ariya said quietly.
Kael glanced at her. "We don't know him. He could be watching us for someone else."
"If he's a spy, he's doing a terrible job limping in full view," Jax said. "Give the man a snack, at least."
"He walks with purpose," Kael muttered. "Even when pretending not to."
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "His boots aren't torn."
That got everyone's attention.
Ariya looked down. Sure enough, the man's boots were polished. Untouched.
"You've been wandering for days in these cliffs," she said slowly, "and your boots are cleaner than mine?"
"I—" Tam stumbled back. "I—I only meant—"
But Kael was already moving.
He lunged forward, blade drawn — and Tam dropped the act.
With a hiss, the man shifted.
His form twisted, elongating. His skin rippled like melted wax, revealing a smooth, featureless face — two glowing slits for eyes and limbs made of fog and smoke.
"Shapeshifter!" Lyra shouted.
The creature shrieked and leapt — but Ariya flared to life.
Fire exploded from her hand, illuminating the fog like a second sun.
Kael and Lyra struck together, forcing the thing back.
But it didn't fight to win — it dodged, slithered, whispered.
"She burns too brightly," it hissed, eyes locked on Ariya. "She will fall. They all fall."
"Not today," Kael growled, plunging his sword through the thing's chest.
It screamed — and burst into flame, vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Silence returned.
Ariya stood still, chest rising and falling, eyes wide.
"That… thing," she said softly. "It was watching us."
"And it'll report back," Kael said. "It was never trying to kill us. Just to study us."
Lyra bent down to examine the patch of scorched earth. "Shapeshifters are rare. Ancient. Someone powerful sent that thing."
"Ruvan," Ariya whispered.
No one argued.
That night, by the fire, no one slept easily.
And somewhere in the shadows beyond the pass…
Ruvan stood alone.
A mirror hovered before him — not showing Ariya, but Kael.
"Interesting," Ruvan murmured, lips curling. "You care for her. You'll fall the hardest."