Chapter 5 5

The silence that followed the battle was eerie. The only sound was the faint rustling of the trees as the wind moved through the thick foliage, but the oppressive weight of the forest seemed to hang over them, as if waiting for something. Evelina wiped the blood from her cheek, her mind still reeling from the brutal encounter.

She turned to Sir Alden, her thoughts tangled. He was standing tall, his sword now sheathed at his side, but his eyes were scanning the surroundings with suspicion. He seemed unshaken, though Evelina could tell the fight had taken a toll on him. His breath was steady, but his face was taut with concentration. There was more to this forest than just the creatures they had encountered.

"We need to keep moving," Sir Alden said, breaking the silence. "The relic is close, but it's not safe here. Not with the forest protecting it."

Evelina nodded, though her stomach churned with unease. The forest wasn't just an obstacle; it was alive, it seemed, watching them, testing them. And she had the distinct feeling that their battle had only been the beginning. As they moved forward, the shadows seemed to deepen, and the path grew narrower, the trees pressing in closer together.

The stone structure Sir Alden had mentioned loomed ahead-ancient, weathered, and nearly consumed by the forest. Vines coiled around the stones like serpents, and moss clung to the walls, making the entire place appear as if it had risen from the earth itself. It was a temple, Evelina realized, though it was unlike any she had seen before. Its design was not of human hands, its architecture strange and unfamiliar. The carvings on the stone walls were intricate, depicting scenes of forest creatures, wolves, and ancient symbols that seemed to pulse with a strange energy.

As they approached, Evelina's heart raced. She felt the weight of something ancient and powerful in the air, as if the very stones held the secrets of a time long past.

"We're here," Sir Alden murmured, his voice barely a whisper. He turned to Evelina, his gaze softening for a moment. "Stay close. Whatever happens, don't wander."

Evelina met his gaze, her pulse quickening. There was something in his eyes, a silent understanding, that made her feel both reassured and anxious at the same time. She nodded, stepping closer to him. The path before them was dark, but they continued forward, the glow from Sir Alden's sword the only light in the growing gloom.

As they entered the temple, the air grew colder. The walls seemed to pulse with an energy that made Evelina's skin prickle, and she could hear faint whispers, like a distant song, drifting through the space. Her heart beat faster, and a strange sense of foreboding settled in her chest.

At the center of the temple stood an altar- ancient, carved from stone, and covered in runes that shimmered faintly. Atop the altar lay a small, intricately designed box. It was no larger than a man's palm, but it was beautiful beyond measure, crafted from silver and inlaid with gems that sparkled even in the dim light.

Evelina felt a pull toward it, an irresistible force that seemed to call to her very soul. It was the relic, she realized- the key to everything. But as her gaze lingered on it, a dark shadow passed over the stone floor.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

Sir Alden's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back just as the shadows seemed to come alive. The temperature in the room plummeted, and the whispers grew louder, a cacophony of voices that echoed off the walls, rising in pitch.

From the far corner of the temple, a figure stepped forward-a tall, imposing man clad in dark robes, his face obscured by a hood. His presence filled the room, and even the shadows seemed to bow to him, shrinking back in fear.

"So, the mortals come for the relic," the figure said, his voice low and cold, like the chill that had enveloped the temple. "But you are too late."

Evelina's breath caught in her throat. The man's voice was commanding, filled with an authority that seemed to make the very ground tremble beneath her feet.

"Who are you?" Sir Alden demanded, stepping in front of Evelina, his sword raised, his body tense with readiness. "What do you want with the relic?"

The figure laughed, a sound that sent a shiver down Evelina's spine. "What I want is irrelevant. What matters is that you will not take it." He raised his hands, and the shadows in the room seemed to converge around him, twisting and writhing like living things. "You see, the Heartwood does not part with its treasures so easily."

Evelina felt a surge of anger and fear. She had come so far. She couldn't let this man-or whatever he was-stand in her way. But something deep inside her made her hesitate. There was an ancient power about him, a darkness that seemed to seep from his very being.

The figure took a step closer, his eyes glowing faintly beneath the hood. "The relic is mine to guard. And you, human, are trespassing on sacred ground."

Sir Alden's grip on his sword tightened, but Evelina placed a hand on his arm, her voice steady despite the fear tightening in her chest. "We have no choice. We must take it. The kingdom-"

"The kingdom is irrelevant," the figure interrupted, his voice seething with contempt. "What you seek is not meant for your kind. The forest has chosen its guardians long before your ancestors set foot on this land."

Before Evelina could respond, a cold gust of wind swept through the temple, extinguishing the faint light from Sir Alden's sword. Darkness engulfed them, and Evelina's heart hammered in her chest. She could no longer see the figure clearly, only the faintest outline of his form as the shadows pressed in tighter.

"Leave this place," the figure's voice echoed from the darkness. "Or face the consequences."

For a moment, Evelina was unsure if they would survive this encounter. She could feel the weight of the forest pressing in, the ground beneath her feet trembling with the power of the ancient magic that filled the temple. But as the darkness closed around them, a single thought burned brightly in her mind. She would not leave without the relic.

With one final glance at Sir Alden, she took a step forward, her heart resolute.

"We are not leaving," she said, her voice steady.

The figure's laughter rang through the temple, but Evelina stood tall, her gaze fixed on the relic that lay before them. The battle for the relic had just begun.