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T he forest felt alive as we moved through it, each step accom- panied by the rustle of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig beneath our boots.

The memory crystal rested securely in Darius’ pack, its faint glow visible even through the worn leather.

Elara walked beside me, her expression inscrutable, though her fingers occasionally brushed against the crimson tome she carried, as if to remind herself it was still there.

The trading post had been a gamble, but it had paid off. Now, as we pressed on towards the ruins Darius had mentioned, the weight of what we carried settled deeper into my chest. Knowledge and power were dangerous things, and we held both in fragile hands.

“Do you reckon they know?” Elara asked suddenly, her voice slicing through the stillness.

I look over at her. “The Council?”

She nodded, her gaze sweeping across the trees ahead. “Do you reckon they know we’ve discovered this? That we’re attempting to expose them?”

Darius, walking a few paces ahead, replied before I had the chance. “They know something. The Council doesn’t tolerate loose ends, and we’re unravelling their web more quickly than they anticipated. They’ll be moving against us, if they aren’t already.”

Elara’s lips pressed into a thin line, her grip tightening on

the tome. “Then we don’t have long.”

“No,” I concurred, my gaze shifting to Darius. “How far is it

to the nexus?”

“Half a day’s journey, if we maintain this pace,” he said, not

turning. “But we’ll need to exercise caution. The closer we approach, the more probable it is that we’ll encounter patrols, or worse.”

“Worse?” Elara inquired, her tone dry. “What could possibly be worse?”

Darius didn’t respond, yet the tension in his shoulders was sufficient to twist my stomach.

As we walked, the forest started to transform.

The trees became denser, their branches twisting into intricate, un- natural shapes that obscured much of the sunlight.

The air turned cooler and heavier, and an eerie stillness enveloped the landscape.

Even the birds appeared hesitant to disrupt the silence.

“This doesn’t feel right, and how could I have not known about this area of Lunairis?” Elara muttered, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

I nodded, my hand instinctively moving to the hilt of my sword. “Keep your eyes peeled, there seems to be a lot we don’t know about anything.”

Darius slowed his pace, his weapon already drawn. “We’re close,” he remarked. “The nexus should be just ahead.”

The forest suddenly gave way to a clearing, and there, cloaked in shadow, stood the ruins.

They were extensive and ancient, their stone walls weathered yet still imposing.

Vines and moss clung to every surface, while the faint glow of runes carved into the stone suggested the magic that still lingered.

“It’s beautiful,” Elara said softly, although a hint of uneas e

lingered in her voice.

“It’s also a trap,” Darius said grimly, his eyes surveying the

perimeter. “The Council won’t have left this place unprotected. If they’re aware of what’s hidden here, they’ll have safeguards in place.”

I stepped forward, my blade drawn. “Then we shall handle whatever is guarding this place. We cannot turn back now.”

The three of us moved cautiously towards the entrance to the nexus, the weight of the forest pressing in around us. The air was thick with magic, its energy crackling faintly against my skin. Every shadow felt alive, and every sound was amplified in the stillness.

We arrived at the heart of the nexus, a circular courtyard encircled by towering stone pillars. At its centre stood a pedestal, akin to the one at the trading post but considerably more elaborate. Runes spiralled up its surface, glowing faintly in the dim light.

“This is it,” Darius said, his voice soft. “The nexus.”

“What does it do?” Elara inquired, her eyes wide as she observed the intricate carvings.

Darius stepped closer, his brow furrowing as he examined the runes. “It’s a conduit. The old order used these to channel and store immense amounts of magical energy. If the Council hasn’t dismantled it, it could still be operational.”

“Which means it’s either a weapon or a beacon,” I remarked, my grip tightening on my blade.

Darius nodded. “Both.”

Before we could advance any closer, a sound pierced the silence, a low, guttural growl that sent a chill down my spine.

From the shadows of the pillars, shapes began to materialise.

They were humanoid, yet distorted and wrong, their bodies marred by jagged scars and their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

“Sentinels,” Darius hissed, his blade glinting as he assumed a defensive stance. “Constructs bound to protect the nexus. We’ve activated their wards.”

Elara’s hand shot out, verdant mist pooling in her palm. “What shall we do?”

“We fight,” I stated, advancing as the first sentinel charged towards us. “And we survive.”

A battle erupted in a blur of steel and magic.

The sentinels moved with an inhuman speed, their claws slicing through the air as they attacked.

Darius’ blade danced in a deadly arc, cutting down the first two with practised precision.

Elara unleashed a rambling mass of vines, her magic crushing through the constructs’ defences.

I stood my ground, my blade clashing against the unnatural strength of the sentinels. Each strike reverberated through my arms; the force of their attacks was unlike anything I had encountered before. Yet, we held our own, fighting with the desperation of those who had no other choice.

As the last sentinel fell, its body crumbling to ash, the courtyard fell silent once more. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my arms ached from the effort, yet we were alive.

Darius approached the pedestal, his expression serious. “We don’t have long. Whatever power remains in the nexus, we must seize it before the Council discovers we’re here.”

Elara joined him, her hands still faintly glowing with residual magic. “Let’s make it count.”

I lingered, my eyes sweeping the shadows for any indication of movement. The area was silent now, yet the sense of unease persisted. This was merely the beginning.

We were no longer fighting merely for survival. We were fighting for the land.

The stakes have never been higher.