The lake had finally returned to a seemingly calm state, but the peace was deceptive. Every breath seemed to vibrate in tune with the tension still lingering in the air. Luna remained by my side, her subtle touch transmitting strength and urgency. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the water's reflection, which seemed to pulse with a life of its own, revealing contours that shifted continuously, as if trying to show me something hidden.
As we walked along the shore, I noticed the air carried a metallic scent, mingled with a damp, earthy essence. Something was rising beneath the surface, something not confined to the lake or the nearby vegetation. My body reacted instinctively: every fiber seemed attuned to an unfamiliar frequency, revealing that my connection to the energy points of the region was intensifying.
"Ana," Luna said softly, "focus on what you feel, not just what you see."
I followed her instructions, trying to sense the current of forces spreading across the land, the lakes, and the sky. Each sensation grew more intense, revealing details I could never have noticed before: vibration patterns, distortions in the surrounding space, and a constant, threatening presence hovering beyond ordinary perception.
Then, a fissure appeared along the lake's edge. A column of shadow slowly began to emerge, and a chill ran through my bones and muscles, even though the water never touched my skin. The ground trembled beneath our feet, and for a moment, everything around dissolved into absolute silence. The reflection in the lake warped again, revealing monstrous forms intertwined, as if molded from ancient nightmares.
"It's not real," I murmured to myself, trying to push back the terror. But when I looked at Luna, I saw she perceived it just as intensely as I did. Her eyes shone with intensity, conveying both understanding and alertness simultaneously.
The shadow began taking more defined shapes until I realized it was forming a kind of portal, an opening between the world I knew and something entirely unknown. The pressure of the environment increased, making every step heavy and every breath difficult. I could feel the energy of that place trying to envelop me, testing my limits, challenging my strength.
"Do not hesitate," Luna said firmly. "Trust what is inside you."
Her words merged with my concentration, and without realizing it, I focused on the flow of energy spreading through the lake and surrounding area. Waves of light began to rise from the water, enveloping the shadow column and attempting to contain the force that manifested. The sensation was simultaneously overwhelming and exhilarating: I could feel the power flowing through me, shaping the reality around me, yet there were still limits I could not surpass alone.
As I struggled to maintain control, I noticed something disturbing: Jace was nearby, observing closely, absorbing every movement. His eyes reflected an almost sickening curiosity, and his presence intensified the pressure I felt in the air. It was not only a physical threat but a psychological one, as if he could influence the world around us simply with his attention.
Suddenly, the shadow column began emitting sounds, a mix of human voices and distorted echoes, penetrating my mind and bones. A sense of vertigo overtook me, and I had to lean on Luna to avoid falling. She responded with a calm gesture, guiding me, helping me organize the energy that had begun expanding chaotically.
Then, I felt something new awaken within me. A force that did not belong to the lake, nor to the water, but to something deep, ancient, almost primordial. I focused on it, letting it flow through my arms, my legs, until it manifested on the surface of the lake. The waves became firmer, shaping the shadow into patterns I did not yet fully comprehend, but clearly held it at bay.
"This is it," Luna said.
Alertness surged when I noticed sudden movement behind us: figures emerging from the opposite shore, not fully human, yet bearing recognizable traits, echoes of real people corrupted by some malevolent force. A piercing chill coursed through my veins, reminding me that each creature carried the potential for destruction.
"Ana…" Luna murmured, "we need to retreat, regroup, before they spread."
As I tried to obey, I once again felt Jace's presence—not physical, but as if it were embedded in the environment, manipulating small distortions in the ground and trees around us. The sensation was suffocating, and reality seemed to bend in certain places. I had to concentrate all my strength to prevent the energy I controlled from being absorbed or corrupted.
The world seemed to expand and contract simultaneously, and every wave in the lake mirrored what was happening in the Underworld. I realized this was not just an external battle; something inside me was being tested, challenged to control the energy that could seal—or destroy—this rift.
While Luna remained at my side, I felt a surge of longing: thoughts of my mother, the conversations we had not had, the hugs that made the world feel safe. That memory brought unexpected strength, a silent motivation that helped me sustain the energy manifesting. The lake seemed to respond to this emotion, becoming firmer, more stable.
Suddenly, the shadow formed long, thin arms, reaching for the shore where we stood. Every movement seemed to gauge my resistance, and I felt the weight of responsibility crush my thoughts. My vision expanded, allowing me to perceive energy patterns that had previously remained vague. Awareness of my ability to manipulate these currents grew rapidly, yet each action demanded total concentration.
Luna held my hand firmly, and a sense of unity enveloped us. Instinctively, we combined our intentions, and the shadow recoiled, emitting a sound resembling stifled screams—a warning, perhaps, that we were only beginning a confrontation that would extend far beyond the lake and its shore.
Night had fully fallen, bringing with it even denser shadows, and I realized that danger was present everywhere, even in the most ordinary places. Every tree, every stone, every water point could become a portal or a trap. And even amidst all the chaos, I felt a solid determination grow inside me: I could not fail, I could not yield. The world depended on it, and I needed to awaken fully to the force coursing through my veins, preparing to face not only the shadows emerging from the Underworld, but also the vast scope of Zade and Jace's ambition, now revealed in its full magnitude.