Capítulo 12: The Pull of Shadows
As they moved through the dense forest, the shadows seemed to stretch farther, the trees growing more twisted and gnarled. The air had taken on a heavy, oppressive weight, and every step felt more difficult than the last. The wind carried with it a low, mournful sound, like a whisper from the depths of the earth itself.
Kael's gaze was sharp, constantly scanning their surroundings, but he hadn't said much since they'd left the opening. He could tell that Alenya was still on edge, his hand resting near the hilt of his sword, ready to protect her. But it wasn't the physical threats that worried her anymore. The image of the woman haunted her thoughts, and she wondered if she was beginning to lose control of it.
They had been walking for nearly an hour when Kael finally slowed his pace, coming to a stop beside a large, moss-covered boulder. The trees around them had grown denser, their branches twisted together like an impenetrable wall, casting long, dark shadows over the ground. The air felt colder here, heavier, and Alenya could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.
"We're close," Kael said, his voice low but tense. "The outpost is just beyond this ridge."
Alenya nodded, her heart racing. They had been moving for hours, and exhaustion was beginning to settle into her bones, but the thought of finally reaching the outpost brought with it a sliver of relief. Maybe there, they could find a moment's peace, a chance to regroup and figure out their next move.
But something still nagged at her, something that made the relief feel distant, almost unattainable. The image of the woman kept flashing in her mind, her pale face, her dark eyes, the way she had seemed to watch Alenya with a knowing intensity.
And then there was the way Kael had looked at her when she mentioned seeing the woman. The confusion in his eyes. The concern. It had been enough to make her question what she had seen.
But she had seen her. She was sure of it.
Alenya shook her head, trying to focus. "What should we expect at the outpost?"
Kael glanced at her, his expression still hard. "It's remote, hidden. Few know of its location, and even fewer venture there. It's a safe house, a place to lay low and wait for danger to pass."
Alenya raised an eyebrow. "And how do you know about it?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He looked ahead, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the tree line.
"I've used it before."
That wasn't exactly an answer, but Alenya let it go. Kael had his secrets, just as she did. They had come this far, and despite everything, they were still alive. That was enough for now. Kael met her dissatisfaction with an unexpected chuckle.
"You know, I still don't know your name," he reminded her, to which Alenya's eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
With all the danger, running away, and the paranormal visions clouding her mind since they met, she didn't even realise that she had yet to tell him that. Pondering upon it, she realised that it was best to say nothing. She still didn't know if it was a good idea for her to tell him her real name, but she didn't feel like lying about it either. They had a trusting bond now, one that she wasn't willing to sabotage over a name.
"Good point," she shrugged.
Kael motioned for her to follow, and they began to climb the ridge. The ground was uneven, littered with roots and loose stones, and Alenya's legs ached with every step. But as they neared the top, she could see a break in the trees ahead, a clearing just beyond the ridge.
Finally, they reached the top, and Kael came to a stop, crouching low as he surveyed the area below. Alenya knelt beside him, her heart pounding in her chest as she followed his gaze.
The outpost was nestled in the clearing, half-hidden by the trees and overgrown vegetation. It wasn't much. Just a small, weathered stone building with a crumbling roof and ivy crawling up its walls. But it was a shelter. A place to rest. A place to think.
Kael didn't move right away, his eyes scanning the perimeter of the clearing. Alenya could feel the tension in his body, the way his muscles tensed as if ready for an ambush. She held her breath, waiting.
After a long moment, Kael exhaled slowly and nodded. "It's clear."
They descended the ridge, moving quickly across the open ground toward the outpost. Alenya's pulse quickened as they approached the door, her eyes darting nervously around the clearing, but nothing stirred. The silence was almost too perfect, too complete.
Kael pushed open the heavy wooden door, and they stepped inside.
The interior of the outpost was just as worn as the outside. Dark stone walls, a dirt floor, and a few simple wooden benches scattered around the room. It was cold and musty, the air thick with the scent of petrichor, but it was shelter. And that was enough.
Kael closed the door behind them, and for the first time in hours, Alenya felt a small measure of relief. She sank onto one of the benches, her body aching from the long journey, her mind still racing with everything they had seen.
"We'll rest here for a while," Kael said, his voice calm but edged with the same tension that had followed them since they left Drenyar's camp. "Figure out our next move."
Alenya nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere. The vision of the woman lingered, like a shadow just at the edge of her mind, refusing to fade. She had seen her, she was sure of it. But why hadn't Kael?
She rubbed her temples, trying to make sense of it all. The woman had felt real, more real than a mere illusion or hallucination. And her presence…it felt tied to her magic, as if she were part of it, part of the ancient force that pulsed beneath her skin.
Who was she?
Kael cleared his throat, his green eyes not leaving her amber ones.
"What happened back there?" he asked quietly. "When you said you saw something, what did you see?"
Alenya hesitated. She wasn't sure how to explain it. It had all happened so quickly, and yet the image of the woman was burned into her mind as if it had been happening for hours.
"I…I don't know," she said, her voice shaky. "It was a woman. She was standing behind that tree, watching me. She felt…wrong. And then she just disappeared."
Kael's frown deepened. "Are you sure it wasn't just the forest playing tricks on you? We've been moving for hours. Exhaustion can do strange things."
Alenya shook her head. "No. It wasn't exhaustion. I felt her, Kael. I felt her presence. It was tied to my magic."
Kael's eyes darkened. "You think she was using magic?"
"I don't know," Alenya admitted. "But she wasn't…normal. There was something off about her. And I think it's connected to whatever Drenyar is doing."
Kael didn't say anything for a long moment. He simply watched her, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to piece together something that didn't quite fit.
Finally, he spoke. "You said your magic reacted to Drenyar's altar, that it felt connected to it. Maybe this woman, this vision, is part of that connection."
Alenya's stomach twisted. "You think she's tied to the old magic? To the Verdant bloodline?"
Kael's expression was grim. "I don't know. But whatever's happening, it's not random. Your magic is waking up, responding to something. And I think we're running out of time to figure out what."
Alenya swallowed hard. The fear that had been gnawing at her since they left Drenyar's camp returned, stronger now, more urgent. She had always feared her magic, feared what it could do. But now, it was more than that. Now, it was tied to something ancient, something dark, and she didn't know if she could control it.
Kael stood, his movements sharp and decisive. "We'll rest here for a few hours. But we can't stay long. Drenyar's men will be searching for us, and we need to stay ahead of them."
Alenya nodded, though her mind was still racing with thoughts of the woman, of Drenyar, of the crystal on the altar. Everything was connected, she was sure of it. But how? And why?
She rose to her feet, her legs still trembling from exhaustion, and crossed the room to where Kael stood near the door. "What if she wasn't just a vision?" she asked quietly.
Kael looked at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and determination. "What do you mean?"
"What if she's more than that? What if she's part of whatever Drenyar is trying to unlock?" Alenya's voice was trembling, but she couldn't shake the fear that had taken hold of her. "What if she's tied to me? To my magic?"
Kael's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away. "Then we find her. And we figure out what she wants."
Alenya nodded, though her heart was pounding in her chest. The woman had felt real, more real than anything she had ever experienced. And now, with Drenyar closing in, she couldn't help but wonder if the vision had been a warning. A sign of what was to come.
Whatever it was, Alenya knew one thing for certain, that they were running out of time.
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder