Let’s go

The forest is alive with the sounds of dawn—chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the distant trickle of a stream. But as we step out of the ruins, the weight of what we’ve done and what’s to come presses heavily on me. The others are quiet, their faces pale and drawn. The battle in the chamber may be over, but its echoes remain in every strained breath and haunted glance.

“We should keep moving,” Caleb says, breaking the silence. His voice is steady, but there’s a hard edge to it, a sign of the tension still thrumming through him. “We don’t know if Callen has other followers nearby.”

“He’s right,” Lira agrees, her sharp eyes scanning the forest around us. “The cult could be larger than what we saw. And if they find us here…” She doesn’t finish, but the implication is clear.

I nod, the shard—now dim and cool—clutched tightly in my hand. Its energy has receded, but the memory of its intensity lingers. “We’ll rest once we’re clear of the area,” I say, forcing resolve into my voice. “Let’s go.”

We trek deeper into the forest, the dense foliage offering a measure of protection. The terrain grows more rugged, the ground uneven and littered with roots that threaten to trip us with every step. The exhaustion from the battle weighs on me, but I push forward, drawing strength from Caleb’s steady presence beside me.

“Do you think Callen will try to follow us?” Mira asks, her voice trembling slightly. She lags behind, her steps faltering with fatigue.

“He won’t,” Caleb says firmly. “Not in his condition. But we can’t assume he’s alone. He may have sent word to others before we arrived.”

The thought sends a shiver down my spine. Callen’s words in the chamber still echo in my mind: The fragment’s power can never truly be destroyed.

“If there are others like him,” I say, glancing back at the group, “we need to be ready. The cult isn’t just a threat to us—it’s a threat to everyone. We can’t let them gain control of another fragment.”

Elias snorts, his expression skeptical. “You say that like we’re some kind of heroes,” he mutters. “But we barely made it out alive. If there are more fragments out there, what makes you think we’ll survive the next one?”

“Because we have to,” I reply, my tone sharper than I intend. “If we don’t stop them, who will?”

Elias doesn’t respond, but his silence is heavy with doubt.

By midday, we find a small clearing near a stream and stop to rest. The sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. It’s a peaceful scene, but the tension among us is palpable.

Lira sets up a perimeter, her movements precise and methodical as she scouts the area. Caleb helps Mira and Jonas build a small fire, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to the unease radiating from the others. Elias sits apart from the group, sharpening his blade with slow, deliberate strokes.

I sit by the stream, the shard resting on my lap. Its surface is smooth and cool, but its weight feels heavier than ever. The memory of the fragment’s destruction lingers in my mind, a chaotic swirl of light and energy. For a moment, I close my eyes, letting the sound of the water soothe my frayed nerves.

“You’re carrying too much,” Caleb says, sitting down beside me. His voice is soft, but there’s an undercurrent of concern.

I open my eyes, meeting his steady gaze. “I don’t have a choice,” I say. “This shard… it’s the only way to stop the fragments. Without it, we’re just running blind.”

“I know,” he says. “But you don’t have to carry it alone.”

His words bring a lump to my throat, but I push it down, offering him a small, grateful smile. “Thank you,” I say. “For always being here.”

He nods, his hand brushing briefly against mine before he rises. “Get some rest,” he says. “We’ll need our strength for whatever comes next.”

The quiet doesn’t last long. As the sun begins to dip lower in the sky, Lira returns to the clearing, her expression grim. “We’ve got company,” she says, her voice low but urgent.

“How many?” Caleb asks, already reaching for his blade.

“Five, maybe six,” she replies. “They’re coming from the direction of the ruins. Armed, and moving fast.”

Elias curses under his breath. “Callen sent them,” he mutters. “I knew we should’ve finished him off.”

“There wasn’t time,” I say, standing and pocketing the shard. “We need to focus on the people coming after us now.”

“Agreed,” Caleb says. “Lira, take Mira and Jonas and set up an ambush. Elias, you’re with us. We’ll hold them off at the clearing.”

The group moves quickly, falling into formation with practiced ease. My heart pounds as I take my place beside Caleb, the weight of the shard a steady presence in my pocket. The forest seems to hold its breath, the silence broken only by the faint rustle of approaching footsteps.

When the first figure emerges from the trees, Caleb raises his blade. “Hold your ground,” he says, his voice calm but commanding.

The attackers move with precision, their weapons glinting in the fading light. They’re not just mercenaries; they’re trained, disciplined—and clearly under Callen’s orders. The battle erupts in a blur of movement and sound, steel clashing against steel as the clearing descends into chaos.

I stay close to Caleb, the shard glowing faintly in my hand as I deflect strikes with a makeshift dagger. The energy from the shard pulses in rhythm with my movements, its light cutting through the shadows like a beacon.

“Nerina, behind you!” Caleb’s voice snaps me out of my focus, and I whirl around just in time to block a blade aimed at my side. The force of the strike sends me stumbling, but I recover quickly, driving my dagger into the attacker’s shoulder. He cries out, dropping his weapon and collapsing to the ground.

The battle is over as quickly as it began. The attackers lie scattered across the clearing, some unconscious, others retreating into the forest. Caleb lowers his blade, his chest heaving as he surveys the scene.

“Is everyone okay?” he asks, his gaze shifting to each member of the group.

Lira emerges from the shadows, Mira and Jonas close behind. “We’re fine,” she says. “They won’t be bothering us again.”

Elias kneels beside one of the fallen attackers, his expression dark. “This isn’t over,” he says. “If Callen has more of these people, he’ll keep sending them.”

“Then we keep moving,” I say, my voice firm. “The fragments are still out there, and we can’t let them fall into the wrong hands.”

Caleb nods, his gaze steady. “We’ll face whatever comes,” he says.

As the group regathers their supplies and prepares to move on, I feel the shard’s faint pulse against my palm. The road ahead will be long and perilous, but for now, we’ve survived another day. And that, at least, is a start.