Capítulo 9: Whispers in the dark
The wind had grown colder and harsher, cutting through Alenya's damp cloak as they trudged deeper into the wilderness. The trees loomed tall and foreboding around them, their branches twisting like skeletal arms against the darkening sky. Nightfall was approaching fast, and the shadows seemed to stretch farther with each passing minute.
Kael led the way, his movements quick and efficient, but Alenya could see the tension in his shoulders. He was on edge, and that made her more nervous than anything else.
The memory of the Shadowspawn was still fresh in her mind; the way it had moved, its glowing eyes, the darkness that seemed to cling to it like a shroud. She reminisced the Shadowspawn's hunger for magic, and it terrified her. What was even more unsettling was the realisation that her magic had drawn them in. They were hunting her because of what she was.
Because of the power she carried.
Alenya glanced at Kael, who hadn't spoken much since the fight. His face was set in a grim line, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. He had called the creatures Shadowspawn, Drenyar's creations. But the way they had moved, the way they had vanished into nothingness when defeated, left her with more questions than answers.
"What were those things?" she asked, breaking the heavy silence between them.
Kael didn't turn to look at her, his focus still on the path ahead. "Drenyar's magic. He creates them from shadows, breathes life into them with dark spells. They're relentless, mindless hunters. They're not living creatures, but they're dangerous all the same."
Alenya swallowed hard, her stomach twisting. "They were drawn to my magic."
Kael nodded grimly. "They're always drawn to magic. The stronger the power, the more they hunger for it."
A chill ran down Alenya's spine. Her magic, the very thing she had relied on for protection, was now making her a target. She had spent so long hiding it, keeping it buried deep, but the more danger they faced, the more it felt like her only defence. The thought of her power being a beacon for something as monstrous as the Shadowspawn was deeply unsettling.
"Then the more I use it, the more I put us at risk," she said, more to herself than to Kael.
Kael glanced back at her with a serious expression.
"Yes, but without your magic, we wouldn't have made it out of that last fight alive."
There was truth in his words. She had felt the power surge through her when she fought the Shadowspawn, had felt the earth bend to her will with a flick of her hand. It was exhilarating in the moment, but afterward, it left her hollow, like a part of her had been taken by the magic itself.
Kael stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal for her to halt. Alenya froze, her eyes scanning the forest around them, like his. The wind had died down, and the air felt thick with anticipation, like the calm before a storm.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Kael's eyes narrowed, his hand hovering over his sword. "Something's not right."
Alenya strained her senses, listening for any sound, any movement. The forest was eerily silent, no rustling leaves, no animal calls. Just stillness.
A deep sense of unease settled in her chest. She could feel her magic stirring, reacting to the tension in the air, but she kept it under control, not wanting to draw more attention to them.
Kael crouched down, his eyes inspecting the ground. "There are no tracks. No signs of movement. It's like the forest just…died."
Alenya frowned, stepping closer to him. "What do you mean?"
Kael looked up at her, his expression grim. "No birds. No animals. No life."
A cold knot of fear tightened in Alenya's stomach. She had grown up in the forests, surrounded by the constant hum of nature, by the life that thrived in every corner of the world. But here, now, there was nothing, just as he pointed out. It was as if the forest itself had been silenced, as if the very life had been drained from the earth.
"Drenyar's magic?" Alenya asked, though the answer already felt obvious.
Kael nodded. "We're close to something powerful."
If Drenyar's influence was this widespread, what kind of magic was he using? What was he searching for? Alenya wracked her mind for answers.
"We need to keep moving. We're too exposed here," Kael articulated.
Alenya agreed, her body tense with the overwhelming feeling of being watched. She followed Kael as he led them deeper into the woods, the silence around them was suffocating. It felt wrong and unnatural.
As they pressed on, the sky darkened further, and soon the only source of light was the faint glow of the moon, peeking through the thick clouds overhead. The forest grew denser, the trees taller, their branches twisting into shapes that seemed almost grotesque in the dim light.
Every so often, Alenya caught movement out of the corner of her eye; a flicker of shadow that disappeared as soon as she turned to look, or the scattering of tiny insects. Her magic enkindled in response, restless and eager, but she kept it in check. She couldn't risk using it unless she absolutely had to.
They walked in silence for what felt like hours. Alenya could feel Kael's unease, could see it in the way he moved, and the way his hand never strayed far from his sword.
Then, without warning, Kael stopped again, his body tensing. Alenya followed his gaze and saw it; a faint light flickering in the distance, just beyond the trees ahead.
A fire.
Alenya's heart pounded in her chest. "Who would camp out here?"
Kael's jaw clenched. "No one with good intentions."
Alenya's mind raced. It could be Drenyar's men. It could be another group of hunters. Or it could be something worse. Something drawn by her magic. Either way, they couldn't risk being seen.
Kael turned to her, his low voice laced with a sense of urgency. "We'll circle around. Avoid them if we can."
Alenya nodded, her pulse quickening as they moved silently through the trees, skirting the edges of the light. Her heart raced with every step, the darkness around them feeling heavier and more oppressive. The flickering fire grew closer, and she could hear voices now. Low, murmured conversations, too quiet to make out but close enough to make her blood run cold.
They crept closer, until they had a clear view of the camp. There were three figures huddled around the fire, their faces obscured by the flickering flames. They were dressed in dark, weathered cloaks, their backs turned to Alenya and Kael.
For a moment, Alenya thought they might pass by unnoticed. But then, one of the figures stood. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and as he turned, the light from the fire caught his face, illuminating his sharp features and deep, brown eyes.
Alenya's breath caught in her throat. She knew that face.
It was Drenyar.
Kael's body went rigid beside her, his eyes narrowing as he, too, recognized the man standing by the fire. The air between them crackled with tension, and Alenya's magic surged in response, reacting to the dark presence before her.
"We need to go," Kael whispered, his voice tight with fury. "Now."
But Alenya couldn't move. Her feet were rooted to the ground, her eyes locked on Drenyar's face. She could feel the magic in the air, dark and suffocating, pressing down on her like a weight she couldn't escape.
He hadn't seen them yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time. The magic pulsing through her veins was too strong, too loud. If she stayed here much longer, he would sense her. He would know she was here.
Kael's hand gripped her arm, snapping her out of her trance. "Alenya, we need to go. Now."
She nodded, her heart racing, and turned to follow Kael as he led them away from the camp. But as they moved deeper into the forest, her mind raced with questions, with fear, with the realisation that they were far closer to Drenyar than she had ever imagined.
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