Chapter 3 3

The wind shifted again, carrying with it an eerie chill that seemed to bite deeper into Evelina's skin. Her hand instinctively tightened around the reins of her horse, her breath catching in her throat as the darkness of the forest deepened. The trees, towering and ancient, now appeared to close in around them like silent sentinels, their gnarled branches reaching out as if trying to ensnare them.

Sir Alden had dismounted and was now scanning the dense undergrowth, his posture tense, every muscle in his body coiled in anticipation. Evelina followed his gaze, trying to see through the thick foliage, but the shadows seemed to hide everything.

"What is it?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath, afraid to disturb the uneasy silence.

"The relic," Sir Alden said, his voice low and urgent. "It's not just hidden- it's guarded. By those who would see it destroyed before it can fall into the wrong hands."

Evelina's heart hammered in her chest. She had heard of the ancient creatures said to protect the old magic, the dark guardians that lurked in the shadows, but she had never truly believed them. Until now.

The soft rustle of leaves broke the stillness, and Evelina's eyes snapped toward the sound. For a moment, all she saw was the shifting shadows among the trees, but then- just at the edge of her vision- a figure moved.

A pale, spectral form drifted between the trees, its eyes glowing a faint silver in the gloom. Evelina gasped, her blood running cold. The figure seemed to shimmer like a wraith, half-seen and half-forgotten, its form constantly shifting as though it didn't quite belong in the world of the living.

"Stay close," Sir Alden said urgently, moving to stand between her and the approaching figure, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The tension in his body was palpable, his eyes locked onto the figure as it glided closer.

"What is that?" Evelina asked, her voice trembling.

"A wraith," Sir Alden replied. "One of the many guardians who protect the relic. They are ancient spirits, bound to the forest and to the magic hidden within it. Do not make the mistake of thinking them weak. They will tear through you as easily as the wind tears through a leaf."

The wraith seemed to pause, hovering in the air just a few feet from them. Its silver eyes glimmered with an intelligence that sent a shiver of dread down Evelina's spine. It tilted its head, studying them for a long, tense moment, before a cold, harsh voice echoed through the forest, though the creature's lips did not move.

"Turn back, mortals," the voice rasped, like the rustling of dry leaves. "The relic is not yours to claim. It is not meant for your kind."

Evelina's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped forward, unable to stop herself. There was something in the wraith's words-something that stirred a deep, inexplicable understanding in her.

"We have to," she said, her voice steady, though her nerves were fraying. "We are not just any mortals. We are here to save Eldoria. The kingdom is in peril."

The wraith's gaze flickered to her, and for a moment, its form seemed to waver. Then, slowly, it let out a long, mournful sigh, like the wind through hollow trees.

"You do not understand," it whispered. "The relic was sealed for a reason. The magic is a double-edged sword. Even now, it calls to you-seducing you with promises of power. But power is not what you seek. It is destruction."

Evelina stepped back, her mind spinning with confusion. She glanced at Sir Alden, who was staring at the wraith with a mixture of caution and something else- something darker.

"Do not listen to it, my lady," Sir Alden said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. "The wraiths are bound to the magic, and they will do whatever they can to stop us. But we have no choice. The kingdom is depending on us."

The wraith's eyes narrowed as it regarded Sir Alden, and for a moment, it seemed as though the very air around them thickened with an unseen force. Then, with a flicker of its ethereal form, it vanished into the shadows, its voice echoing one last time.

"Beware the relic's curse. The price is steeper than you know."

Evelina exhaled sharply, her breath ragged from the encounter. She could feel the weight of the wraith's warning pressing down on her chest, but there was no turning back now. The path they had chosen was fraught with danger, and the relic was their only hope.

"We must continue," Sir Alden said, his voice resolute as he mounted his horse again. He offered her a hand, and she took it, swinging herself into the saddle. The forest around them remained silent, as though waiting for their next move.

They rode on in silence, the weight of the wraith's words lingering in the air. Evelina's mind raced. What had it meant by 'the price is steeper than you know'? And why did it seem as though the relic was calling to her?

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees grew denser, their branches twisting together in a canopy that shut out the sunlight entirely. The path ahead was barely visible, shrouded in shadows that seemed to pulse with an almost malevolent energy.

Suddenly, the sound of rushing water reached their ears-a torrent somewhere ahead. Sir Alden's face tightened with concentration, and he motioned for Evelina to follow as he urged his horse forward. They crossed a narrow stone bridge, the water beneath roaring violently. The air here was thick with magic, and Evelina could almost taste it, like the tang of ozone before a storm.

"We are close now," Sir Alden said, his voice grim.

Just ahead, nestled in a small clearing, was a massive stone structure- ancient and overgrown with vines, half-hidden by the forest's dense underbrush. The stones were covered in strange runes, half-faded but still glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

Evelina's breath caught in her throat. This was it- the relic was hidden here, within the very heart of the Heartwood Forest.

But as they approached the structure, a low growl echoed from the darkness beyond the clearing. Evelina stiffened, and Sir Alden's eyes narrowed as he instinctively drew his sword.

"I told you," he whispered, "We are not alone."

From the shadows emerged figures-shapeless forms, cloaked in the deep black of the forest's embrace. The air around them grew heavier, thick with an ominous presence. They were here to protect the relic... And Evelina and Sir Alden were not the only ones who wanted it.