章節 6: Chapter Six: The Whispering Woods
The path ahead grew narrower as Elyra and Thorne ventured deeper into the forest. The ancient trees around them loomed tall and imposing, their thick branches intertwining to form a canopy that blocked out much of the sunlight. The air was cooler here, tinged with the scent of moss and damp earth. It was a different world from the open fields and wide skies Elyra had known in Aeloria—a world that seemed to pulse with hidden life and secrets waiting to be uncovered.
As they walked, Elyra couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves replaced by an almost oppressive silence. Every so often, she caught glimpses of movement out of the corner of her eye—a shadow flitting between the trees, a flash of light that disappeared as quickly as it appeared. It was as if the forest itself was alive, observing their every step.
"Stay close," Thorne warned, his voice low. He had noticed the same thing. His eyes, sharp and alert, scanned the surrounding woods, his hand resting on the hilt of a dagger concealed beneath his robes. "These woods are known as the Whispering Woods for a reason. They're filled with spirits and creatures that do not take kindly to intruders."
Elyra tightened her grip on the staff, its warmth a reassuring presence in her hand. "What kind of creatures?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Fae, mostly," Thorne replied, his tone wary. "They're ancient beings, tied to the land and the magic within it. They can be capricious, mischievous, even dangerous. But they're not all hostile. Some are simply curious. Others… well, let's just say they don't appreciate being disturbed."
Elyra swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. The stories she had heard as a child about the Fae came rushing back—tales of beautiful, ethereal beings who could befriend or destroy you on a whim, who could bend reality to their will and vanish without a trace. She had never imagined she would one day walk through a forest where such beings might dwell.
"Why are we here?" Elyra asked, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "Is this where we'll find the others?"
Thorne shook his head. "No. But the Whispering Woods are the fastest route to the mountains, where we'll find the first of the chosen. The longer we take, the more time our enemies have to find them before we do. We can't afford delays."
Elyra nodded, understanding the urgency. Still, she couldn't help but feel a shiver of unease as they continued deeper into the woods. The trees seemed to close in around them, the path ahead growing darker with each step. The staff's light provided some comfort, but it did little to dispel the sense of foreboding that hung in the air.
As they walked, the whispering began.
At first, it was barely audible, a faint murmur carried on the wind. Elyra thought it was just the rustling of leaves, but as they pressed on, the whispers grew louder, more distinct. It was as if dozens of voices were speaking at once, their words overlapping in a language Elyra couldn't understand.
Thorne paused, his expression tense. "The Fae are aware of us," he said quietly. "They're watching."
"Should we be worried?" Elyra asked, glancing around nervously. The whispers seemed to be coming from all directions, echoing through the trees like the voices of ghosts.
"Not yet," Thorne replied, though his hand remained on his dagger. "But we need to tread carefully. The Fae are unpredictable. As long as we don't give them a reason to see us as a threat, we should be able to pass through without incident."
Elyra nodded, though her heart was racing. She had faced a monstrous beast in Aeloria, but this felt different. The Fae were intelligent, ancient beings with their own motives and desires. If they decided to interfere, there was no telling what might happen.
They continued on, the whispers growing louder, more insistent. Elyra could almost make out words now, though they slipped away from her grasp the moment she tried to focus on them. It was disorienting, like trying to catch smoke with her bare hands. The voices seemed to be speaking directly to her, urging her to listen, to understand.
"Elyra." Thorne's voice cut through the whispers, bringing her back to the present. She realized she had slowed her pace, her attention drawn to the strange voices around her. Thorne's expression was serious, his eyes locked on hers. "Don't listen to them. The Fae can be persuasive, but their words are not to be trusted."
Elyra nodded, though it was easier said than done. The whispers tugged at her mind, tempting her with their elusive promises. She forced herself to focus on the path ahead, on the steady presence of Thorne beside her, and the staff in her hand. They were her anchors, keeping her grounded as the forest seemed to close in around them.
As they rounded a bend in the path, the forest suddenly opened up into a small clearing. The change was so abrupt that Elyra nearly stumbled. The trees here were different, their trunks thicker, their branches gnarled and twisted as if shaped by some ancient force. The ground was covered in a soft, green moss that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light.
In the center of the clearing stood a stone circle, ancient and worn with age. The stones were arranged in a perfect circle, their surfaces covered in intricate carvings that pulsed with a faint, ethereal light. Elyra felt a strange pull toward the circle, as if the very air around it was charged with magic.
Thorne stopped at the edge of the clearing, his expression cautious. "This is a Fae circle," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's a place of power, a gateway between worlds. We need to be careful."
Elyra nodded, though she couldn't tear her eyes away from the circle. The whispers were louder here, more insistent, as if the stones themselves were speaking to her. She felt a strange compulsion to step forward, to enter the circle and see what lay beyond.
But Thorne's warning echoed in her mind. The Fae were unpredictable, their motives unclear. She couldn't afford to make a mistake, not now, not when they were so close to their goal.
"We should go around," Elyra said, tearing her gaze away from the circle with great effort. "We can't risk disturbing it."
Thorne nodded in agreement, but as they turned to leave, the air around them shimmered. The whispers grew louder, the voices overlapping until they became a cacophony of sound. Elyra felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end, a chill running down her spine.
Before they could react, the figures began to appear.
They materialized out of the air, their forms shifting and translucent at first, but gradually solidifying into ethereal shapes. There were five of them, each one standing at the edge of the circle, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. They were tall and slender, their features impossibly beautiful and yet unsettlingly alien. Their skin shimmered like moonlight on water, and their hair flowed around them as if caught in an unseen breeze.
Elyra felt a jolt of fear, her instincts screaming at her to run, but she stood her ground. She could feel the staff pulsing in her hand, its power responding to the presence of the Fae. Thorne moved closer to her, his posture tense, but he made no move to draw his weapon.
The Fae nearest to them, a figure with silver hair and eyes like liquid gold, stepped forward. When it spoke, its voice was like the rustling of leaves in the wind, soft yet filled with power. "Why do you enter our domain, mortals?"
Thorne inclined his head in a gesture of respect. "We mean no harm. We seek passage through your woods, nothing more."
The Fae's golden eyes flicked to Elyra, and she felt a strange sensation, as if it were peering into her very soul. "And what of you, child of the Ancients? What do you seek in our lands?"
Elyra's heart pounded in her chest. She had never spoken to a Fae before, and the sheer presence of the creature before her was overwhelming. But she forced herself to speak, her voice steady. "I seek to fulfill my destiny. To find others like me, and to protect our world from the darkness."
The Fae studied her for a long moment, its expression unreadable. Then, to her surprise, it smiled—a slow, knowing smile that sent a shiver down her spine. "The path you walk is fraught with danger, young one. But the Ancients have chosen well. You possess great power, though you have yet to fully understand it."
Elyra felt a flicker of hope at the Fae's words. "Will you let us pass?"
The Fae's smile widened, though there was something unsettling in the way its eyes gleamed. "We will allow you to pass, but be warned: the path ahead is not what it seems. The forest is alive with magic, and not all of it is friendly. Tread carefully, and trust not only in your power, but in your instincts."
Elyra nodded, her heart still racing. "Thank you."
The Fae inclined its head slightly, then gestured to the others. The figures began to dissolve back into the air
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票