The clearing behind them faded into the mist, and Kael felt the forest's cold seep into his bones. Every step seemed swallowed by the thick shadow of twisted trunks and gnarled roots. Elyra walked beside him, silent, her cloak barely brushing the fallen leaves. The air carried the scent of damp earth and decaying vegetation, mixed with a muted tension, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
Kael tightened his gloves, his violet eyes flashing with suspicion at every suspicious movement. The whispers of the souls within him had not stopped, yet now he felt he could contain them a little better, resisting the panic that had once consumed him in the Valley of Bones. Still, every rustle in the undergrowth made him flinch.
— Elyra… he murmured, his voice hoarse. Do you feel that? There's something… here.
She nodded without slowing her pace.
— Yes. This forest is not natural. It's… manipulated, as if it's testing those who dare enter. Every tree, every root can become a trap.
Kael drew a deep breath, trying to calm the tumult of voices in his mind. He sensed a foreign energy, dense and vibrating, weaving through the air around them—a tangible, invisible threat.
Suddenly, a snap echoed behind them, followed by a low rumble. Kael turned and saw a massive, dark shape moving between the trees. His violet eyes hardened.
— Get ready, Elyra said calmly. This will be your first trial.
The creature surged forward with surprising speed: a mass of shadows and branches, covered in thick vines writhing like serpents. It lunged straight at them, and Kael felt his heart pound in his chest.
Without thinking, he raised his hand, sending out a wave of energy. The souls within him crackled, attempting to overwhelm him, but he focused his will. A violet glow emanated from his palms, striking the creature and pushing it back temporarily.
— Good… Elyra said. But don't rely on brute force alone. The forest is watching; it tests intention and control.
Kael nodded, catching his breath. His legs trembled slightly, yet he pressed forward. The creature was far from defeated; it split into dozens of small shadowy forms, swirling around them and screaming in indistinct voices.
— Kael! Elyra shouted. Don't absorb them all at once! Focus, listen to their essence!
Kael felt the tumult inside him, the incessant whispers attempting to seize control. He closed his eyes briefly, synchronizing his breath with the forest's rhythm. Slowly, he extended his hand, channeling only a few of the small entities toward himself, repelling the rest with determination. The voices screamed, but he resisted.
— Very good! Elyra cried. You're beginning to understand. But the real trial is coming.
At that moment, the ground beneath them partially gave way, revealing a dark ravine hidden beneath the mist. Hanging roots formed a precarious bridge between the banks, trembling under the wind and their own weight. The forest seemed to wait for their reaction, as if conscious.
Kael stepped forward first. Every step on the roots was a test of balance and courage. The whispers within him surged, trying to make him doubt, to make him fall. Elyra stayed close, her eyes scanning the unstable surface.
— Don't look at the void, Kael. Focus on what you touch, on what you control, she murmured. Your hands, your feet… and your intent.
Kael nodded, teeth clenched. Slowly, methodically, he crossed the makeshift bridge, each movement calculated, each breath deliberate. Midway, one root snapped under his weight. He wobbled, a shiver running down his spine, but caught himself on a solid branch.
— Not bad, Elyra whispered. You're still mastering fear. The next stage will be more complex.
On the far bank, a circle of spectral creatures awaited them. They didn't move yet, but their presence was suffocating, and Kael could feel the pull of the voices, urging him to give in to their hunger.
— Kael… Elyra said, calm but firm. Prepare to act with precision. You don't need to absorb them all. This is not a battle of brute strength, but of discernment.
Kael closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and stepped forward. His hand glowed violet, but this time he selected only the hostile souls, channeling them to neutralize the threat without being overwhelmed. The voices screamed in frustration, but Kael held firm.
— Well done… Elyra murmured, a slight smile on her lips. You learn quickly.
Once the creatures were neutralized, the bridge and the circle behind them vanished, as if the forest deemed their performance satisfactory. Kael, panting, looked at Elyra.
— That was… intense, he finally said.
— This was just the beginning, she replied. The forest tests those with the potential to restore the Pact. Each trial will bring you closer to mastery, but also closer to the choices you must make.
Kael nodded. For the first time in a long while, he felt some control over himself. The whispers remained, but they no longer had the final word. He knew that every trial would challenge his strength, his mind, and his humanity, yet he was ready to move forward.
Elyra placed a hand on his shoulder.
— The next trial will be more difficult, Kael. But you are not alone. Together, we will continue.
Kael drew a deep breath, feeling the forest's cold mist wrap around him. The danger was real, the voices ever-present, but now he had a thread of control. He gazed toward the misty horizon and murmured:
— Then let's go.
And together, they ventured deeper into the forest, toward the unknown, ready to face whatever trials awaited them next.