They ran until the forest blurred into a dark maze.
Trees whipped past — branches clawing at their faces, roots snagging their feet.
Miko's lungs burned — hot, raw.
Kael didn't slow.
He led them deeper — off any path, into the thickest part of the woods where the canopy blocked the stars.
Finally — when Miko's legs gave out — he stopped.
A small hollow — sheltered by a fallen giant tree, roots forming a natural wall.
Kael checked the perimeter — shadows spreading out like scouts.
Nothing.
He returned.
"We rest here. Two hours. Then move again."
Miko sank to the ground — back against the tree trunk, breathing ragged.
Kael sat across from her — shadows dimmed to a faint aura.
Silence — broken only by her gasps.
Then Miko spoke.
"She said there's a way to balance it."
Kael looked at her — eyes reflecting the faint glow of moss.
"She's lying."
Miko stared at the ground.
"You don't know that."
Kael leaned forward.
"I know her family. I know mine. They don't balance. They control. Or destroy."
Miko pressed her hand over the seal.
"It's quiet now."
Kael's voice was low.
"It's waiting."
Miko looked at him.
"For what?"
"For you to decide."
She laughed — tired, bitter.
"I'm tired of deciding."
Kael stood — walked to the edge of the hollow, looked out into the darkness.
"Then stop deciding. Start acting."
Miko met his back.
"And if acting means letting it take me?"
Kael didn't turn.
"Then I stop you."
Miko swallowed.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true."
She looked away.
The forest was quiet — too quiet.
No birds. No wind.
Just the faint blue glow of moss on the trees.
Miko closed her eyes.
The seal whispered — soft.
Soon.
She opened her eyes.
Kael was watching her.
"You heard it."
She nodded.
He stepped closer.
"What did it say?"
"Soon."
Kael's expression darkened.
"We move. Now."
Miko stood — legs protesting.
They walked deeper.
The trees grew closer — branches interlocking overhead, blocking the sky.
The ground softened — moss thick, silent underfoot.
Miko felt the seal stir — interested.
She ignored it.
Then — a sound.
A low hum — like distant thunder.
Kael stopped.
Shadows snapped out — searching.
They found something.
A clearing ahead — lit by faint silver light.
Kael motioned — silent.
They crept closer.
In the clearing — a circle of silver threads, forming a dome.
Inside — three figures.
Masked. Cloaked.
One held a small orb — glowing crimson.
The same color as Miko's seal.
Kael whispered.
"They're trying to track it."
Miko felt the seal flare — angry.
The orb pulsed.
The figures turned — as one.
Toward them.
Kael cursed — soft.
"Run."
They ran.
Behind them — silver threads snapped through the trees — slicing bark, sparking against stone.
Miko felt the seal surge — eager.
She pushed it down.
They burst into a new clearing — smaller, darker.
Kael stopped.
Turned.
Shadows rose — wall after wall.
The threads hit — bounced off.
The pursuers stopped at the edge.
One spoke — voice muffled, male.
"Give us the girl. The seal belongs to us."
Kael's voice was cold.
"It belongs to no one."
The figure raised a hand.
Silver threads thickened — forming a spear.
It shot forward.
Kael met it — shadows clashing, sparks flying.
Miko stepped beside him.
Raised her hands.
Crimson shadows joined his — weaving together.
The spear shattered.
The figures backed off — then vanished into the trees.
Silence.
Kael lowered his hands.
Miko exhaled.
"They'll be back."
Kael nodded.
"We keep moving."
They walked.
The seal pulsed — once, satisfied.
To be continued…