The forest grew darker as they approached the place the vision had shown them. Not night‑dark. Not shadow‑dark. Something else.
A kind of darkness that felt intentional.
Soren clutched the fox tighter. "This is wrong. This is very wrong."
Kael nodded. "Stay alert."
Lira's frost‑wolf pressed close to her leg, fur bristling.
Aldric rolled his shoulders. "If something's waiting, let it wait. We'll deal with it."
Soren stared at him. "Why are you like this."
No one answered.
The fox's two tails glowed brighter, casting a soft halo of light around them.
They stepped into a clearing.
And stopped.
The third checkpoint stood exactly where the vision had shown it: a tall stone archway covered in swirling runes, mist curling around its base like living smoke.
But the archway wasn't the problem.
The problem was the ground.
It was cracked.
Burned.
Scorched in long, claw‑shaped gouges.
Soren whispered, "What made those."
Kael didn't answer.
Lira's voice was quiet. "Something big."
Aldric smirked. "Good."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
They approached the archway slowly.
The mist thickened, swirling around their ankles like cold fingers. The runes pulsed faintly, as if reacting to their presence.
The fox hopped down from Soren's arms and padded toward the archway, tails glowing brighter with each step.
Soren panicked. "Buddy—wait—don't go into the ominous glowing portal—"
The fox didn't enter.
It stopped.
Stared.
And growled.
A low, rumbling sound Soren had never heard from it before.
Kael stiffened. "Something's coming."
Lira raised her hand. "Prepare yourselves."
Aldric grinned. "Finally."
Soren whimpered. "No. Not finally. Never finally."
The mist shifted.
Thickened.
Darkened.
And then—
It moved.
A shape emerged from the mist.
Massive.
Silent.
Wrong.
Not a guardian.
Not a beast.
Not anything Soren had ever seen.
Its body was long and sinuous, like a serpent made of shadow and smoke. Its eyes glowed with a cold, pale blue light. Its claws—too many claws—scraped against the stone, leaving deep gouges.
Soren's voice cracked. "What… what is that."
Lira's face was pale. "A Mistwraith."
Kael's grip tightened on his spear. "Those aren't supposed to exist outside the Deepwood."
Aldric snarled. "Then this one's lost."
Soren shook his head violently. "No. No no no. If it's not supposed to be here, that means it's here on purpose. That means the forest put it here. That means—"
The Mistwraith opened its mouth.
No sound came out.
But the air vibrated.
Soren clapped his hands over his ears. "I hate this place!"
The fox stepped forward.
Its two tails lifted.
And the Mistwraith's eyes snapped toward it.
The fox chirped once.
Soft.
Calm.
Certain.
Then it flickered.
Not a dash.
Not a shift.
A disappearance.
Soren screamed. "NO—COME BACK—"
The fox reappeared directly in front of the Mistwraith.
Its tails glowed brighter than Soren had ever seen.
The Mistwraith lunged.
The fox didn't move.
Light exploded.
A shockwave rippled through the clearing, sending leaves flying and knocking Soren backward.
Kael grabbed him before he hit the ground. "Stay behind us!"
"I AM TRYING!"
The Mistwraith recoiled, smoke peeling off its body where the light had struck.
Aldric charged. "Leo! Burn it!"
The lion cub roared, flames erupting from its mane as it leapt at the Mistwraith.
The flames passed through the creature like it was made of fog.
Aldric cursed. "What—?!"
Lira shouted, "It's incorporeal! You can't hit it directly!"
Kael lunged anyway, spear crackling with lightning.
The Mistwraith dissolved into smoke.
Reformed behind him.
Soren screamed. "KAEL—!"
Kael spun just in time, spear intercepting a swipe of shadow‑claws.
The fox flickered again, appearing beside Kael, tails glowing fiercely.
The Mistwraith hissed—an awful, scraping sound that made Soren's teeth ache.
The fox's glow intensified.
And the Mistwraith flinched.
Lira's eyes widened. "It's weak to light."
Aldric snarled. "Then hit it with more light!"
Soren pointed frantically. "Buddy—do the glowy thing again!"
The fox chirped.
Then vanished.
The Mistwraith lunged at Lira.
The fox reappeared above its head.
Light burst downward.
The Mistwraith shrieked silently, its form flickering.
Kael struck its side, lightning crackling through the smoke.
Aldric's lion cub roared, flames swirling around its paws.
Lira's frost‑wolf howled, freezing the mist around the creature, slowing its movements.
The fox flickered again.
And again.
And again.
Each time, a burst of light struck the Mistwraith from a different angle.
Soren watched, breathless. "He's… he's dancing."
Kael nodded. "He's controlling the battlefield."
Lira's voice was soft. "He's extraordinary."
Aldric scowled. "He's still tiny."
The Mistwraith gathered itself, smoke swirling violently.
It lunged at Soren.
Soren froze.
He couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
The fox appeared in front of him.
Its tails crossed.
Light erupted.
The Mistwraith hit the ground, dissolving into smoke that evaporated into the air.
Silence.
Soren stared at the fox.
The fox stared back.
Soren scooped him up and hugged him so tightly he squeaked. "You're grounded. You're so grounded. You're never doing that again."
The fox chirped smugly.
Aldric exhaled. "Finally."
Kael lowered his spear. "Checkpoint Three."
Lira nodded. "We made it."
Soren groaned. "I hate this place."
The fox nuzzled his cheek.
Soren sighed. "Okay. I hate it slightly less."
They stepped toward the archway.
The runes flared.
The mist parted.
And the final stage of the Trials opened before them.