Morning light broke through the trees, painting the forest floor in shades of gold. The group moved quietly, still shaken from the battle the night before. The air carried a faint chill, and the smell of damp leaves filled their path.Maya walked behind the others, her hand pressed against her side where the serpent’s fangs had pierced her skin. The wound burned with a strange heat, but she forced herself to stay silent. She didn’t want to worry the others, not after everything they had just survived.Lina glanced back a few times, sensing something was off, but Maya only smiled weakly and nodded as if everything was fine. Duke led the way with cautious eyes, while Sola carried most of their supplies. Arden followed close, lost in thought about Lina’s sudden display of power and the darkness that seemed to follow them everywhere.The day stretched long, their footsteps blending with the rhythm of the forest. Birds sang faintly overhead, unaware of the quiet storm brewing among the

Arden stepped closer, his heart overwhelmed with emotion as the figure before him smiled with the face of his mother. Her familiar warmth seemed real, her eyes soft and full of love. Every part of him wanted to believe it was truly her.When he finally reached her, he wrapped his arms around her trembling form. For a moment, peace washed over him. He felt safe again, like a child in his mother’s embrace. But then, everything changed.The gentle arms that held him grew cold and sharp. A sinister laugh echoed in his ear, low and mocking. Before he could react, the illusion melted away, and the watcher’s true shape returned—its tall, disfigured body stretching above him, its eyes burning with cruel delight.The watcher’s clawed hand wrapped tightly around Arden’s neck, lifting him off the ground. Its grip was unrelenting, and Arden gasped for air, his feet kicking helplessly.“You foolish vessel,” the watcher hissed, its voice distorted and echoing. “Did you really think I would give

The morning sun rose gently through the trees, painting the forest in soft shades of gold. The air was cool, filled with the sound of distant birds and the quiet rustle of leaves. Arden climbed down from the tree, his expression calm but weary. The conversation from the night still echoed in his mind, each word from the demon weighing heavily on him.Maya was awake, tending to the fire, her movements slow but steady. Sola and Duke were packing their belongings while Lina collected water from the nearby stream. Everything felt normal, yet Arden could sense the quiet tension lingering among them.When he approached, Maya looked up with a faint smile. “You barely slept again,” she said softly.“I wasn’t tired,” he replied, though the fatigue in his eyes betrayed him.They ate together in silence. The warmth of the fire did little to chase away the unease that settled between them. Arden’s gaze wandered toward the trees ahead. “We need to keep moving,” he said finally. “The watcher

As the sun began to sink below the horizon, Arden and the others returned to the village inn, but Lina was nowhere to be found. At first, they thought she might have gone for a walk or stopped by one of the market stalls, yet as minutes turned into hours, unease began to creep into their hearts.Arden’s expression grew tense, his voice low but edged with worry. “She wouldn’t wander off without saying a word.”Duke checked outside the inn while Sola questioned nearby villagers, but no one had seen Lina since earlier that afternoon. The calm air of the village now felt heavy and strange, shadows stretching longer as the light faded.Arden’s worry deepened, pacing restlessly by the door. “Something’s not right. She could be in trouble.”But Maya sat quietly, her arms folded, her gaze fixed on the window. Unlike the others, she didn’t share their panic. Deep down, a part of her felt relief rather than fear. With Lina gone, she believed things would return to how they once were just her

Days passed in Virelia, and peace had finally returned, or so it seemed. Lina had recovered from her injuries, her strength returning with each sunrise. Arden was relieved to see her on her feet again, smiling faintly as they prepared to continue their journey.The group gathered outside the inn. Duke checked their supplies, Sola adjusted his weapon belt, and Maya stood silently beside Arden, her expression unreadable. The air was calm, the faint breeze carrying the scent of the nearby market. Everything felt normal until the ground trembled beneath their feet.A distant scream shattered the morning peace. Then came another. In seconds, chaos erupted across the village.Creatures surged from every direction, their fangs glinting and claws tearing through the streets. The same captors who once held Lina were leading the charge, their twisted forms moving with unnatural speed. Houses burned, the laughter and harmony of the village replaced by cries of terror.Everyone get ready, Duke