Eira’s Games
As the group ventured deeper into the corrupted forest, Eira’s magic grew more insidious. The air itself seemed to shift, carrying faint whispers that clawed at their resolve.
“Do you hear that?” Isla asked, her silver eyes narrowing as she glanced around. The voices seemed to call her name, soft and mocking.
“It’s her magic,” Alaric said, his voice steady but grim. “Ignore it. She’s trying to weaken your mind.”
The traps became more sophisticated, designed not to harm but to disorient. They encountered dead ends that hadn’t existed moments before, illusions of paths leading them in circles, and shadows that moved independently of any light source.
At one point, Isla found herself alone in a dense thicket. The whispers grew louder, warping into the cries of her twins. A vision flickered before her—her children reaching out for her, their tiny hands swallowed by writhing shadows.
“No!” Isla cried, stumbling forward, her heart pounding with panic.
Draven appeared out of the fog, his hand grabbing her wrist and grounding her. “It’s not real,” he said firmly, his amber eyes locking onto hers. “Stay with me, Isla.”
Her breathing steadied as she focused on his voice. She met his gaze, her silver eyes glistening with unshed tears. “She’s toying with us,” Isla said, her fear hardening into anger.
Draven’s claws flexed at his sides, his voice a low growl. “She won’t for long. We’ll end this.”
The group pressed on, their determination renewed despite the oppressive magic surrounding them.
In a clearing, they stumbled upon an abandoned campsite. The remnants of magical runes were carved into the ground, faintly glowing in the moonlight. Isla knelt beside them, her fingers tracing the symbols.
“They were here,” she said, her voice trembling with certainty.
Alaric studied the runes, his expression dark. “These marks… they’re recent. We’re close.”
Draven’s claws dug into the ground, his amber eyes blazing. “Then we move now. No more delays.”
As the mist thickened around them, the group braced themselves for what lay ahead. The battle for Isla’s children—and their future—was nearing its climax.
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