The forest was cloaked in shadows, the canopy overhead so thick that even the moon’s light barely pierced through. The soft rustle of leaves was the only sound, save for the labored breaths of the group as they huddled around a small clearing, still recovering from their narrow escape. The remnants of Malakhor’s stronghold loomed in the distance, but none of them dared look back.
Alaric sat with his head in his hands, the weight of failure pressing down on his shoulders like a leaden cloak. Maelis was pacing nearby, her sharp eyes darting toward every sound that came from the darkened woods, while Finn stood apart from the group, staring at nothing, his expression a mix of anger and torment.
“We shouldn’t have left her,” Finn muttered under his breath, his fists clenched at his sides. “We should’ve fought.”
Alaric’s head snapped up, and for a moment, there was fire in his eyes. “We had no choice, Finn. We were outnumbered, trapped. Staying would’ve meant certain death—for all of us. Including Lysandra.”
“Maybe,” Finn shot back, his voice rising. “But how do we know she’s still alive? How do we know she’s not—” His voice faltered, unable to finish the thought, as if saying it out loud would make it true.
Maelis stopped pacing, her gaze sharp as she intervened. “Lysandra’s strong. She’s survived worse. And you know it, Finn. We’ll get her back, but not if we rush in blind.”
“Rush in blind?” Finn scoffed. “It’s been hours! For all we know, Malakhor could’ve already—”
“Enough!” Alaric’s voice cut through the night like a blade. “We’ll get her back. But we need a plan. A real one.”
The tension between the two was palpable, the air thick with unresolved frustration. Maelis, sensing things could spiral, moved closer to Alaric and spoke in a quieter tone. “He’s scared, Alaric. We all are. But fear can’t drive us.”
Alaric took a deep breath, nodding slightly, though the guilt still gnawed at him. He couldn’t shake the image of Lysandra being dragged into the shadows, her voice echoing in his ears. He had failed her as a leader, as a friend.
“It’s not just about rescuing Lysandra anymore,” he said, his voice steadying. “It’s about stopping him before the darkness consumes everything. Malakhor’s power is growing. If we don’t act now, there won’t be anything left to save.”
Finn looked away, but his resolve hadn’t weakened. He spoke softer this time. “Then what do we do? We’ve seen what he’s capable of.”
“That’s the question,” Maelis said, arms crossed. “Charging in again like we did tonight won’t work. We need more than just brute strength.”
“An inside source,” Alaric muttered, as if thinking out loud. “Someone who knows the stronghold from within.”
“That would be convenient,” Finn said bitterly. “Too bad we don’t know anyone crazy enough to—”
A rustle from the trees interrupted him, and in an instant, Maelis had drawn her sword, stepping forward to shield the others. “Who’s there?” she demanded, her eyes narrowed into the shadows.
For a moment, there was silence, then a figure emerged from the trees—gaunt, cloaked in a tattered robe, their face partially hidden by the hood. They limped slightly, as if injured, but there was something familiar about them.
Alaric’s eyes widened. “No… it can’t be.”
The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a weathered face they all recognized—though they had long believed this person to be dead. It was Verr, an old ally from their early days of fighting Malakhor’s forces. He had disappeared in one of the earliest battles, and none of them had ever expected to see him again.
“Verr?” Maelis whispered, disbelief evident in her tone. “How—”
“I don’t have much time,” Verr interrupted, his voice hoarse but urgent. “I’ve been… undercover. Malakhor’s forces captured me years ago. I’ve been biding my time, waiting for the right moment to escape. Tonight was that moment.”
Finn blinked in surprise. “You’ve been inside his stronghold all this time?”
Verr nodded grimly. “I know every corner of that cursed place. I know its secrets. And more importantly, I know how to destroy Malakhor.”
The group fell silent, hanging on Verr’s every word. This was their chance, the opportunity they hadn’t even dared to hope for.
“There’s an artifact,” Verr continued, his gaze shifting between them. “It’s ancient, forged in darkness. It’s the source of Malakhor’s power, the thing that binds him to the shadows. As long as it exists, he’s nearly invincible.”
“And where is it?” Alaric asked, his voice tight with anticipation.
“Deep within the stronghold,” Verr replied. “Guarded by layers of traps and magic. But it can be destroyed. If you manage to reach it, Malakhor’s power will weaken. It’s the only way to stop him.”
Finn’s eyes flickered with hope, but it was quickly dampened by reality. “If it’s that simple, why hasn’t anyone done it before?”
“Because no one has ever made it that far,” Verr said, his voice solemn. “Malakhor has built his entire fortress around that artifact. It’s protected by everything he has. And destroying it won’t just be a matter of getting to it—you’ll need to understand its nature. It’s not just a weapon. It’s alive, in a sense. Destroying it may cost more than you’re willing to give.”
Silence fell over the group as they absorbed the weight of Verr’s words. The path before them had never been easy, but now it felt impossibly dangerous.
Alaric’s mind raced. This wasn’t just about rescuing Lysandra anymore—it was about ending this war once and for all. But at what cost?
Maelis broke the silence, her voice filled with determination. “If this is our only chance to defeat him, then we take it. No matter the cost.”
Finn shook his head, still reeling from the intensity of the situation. “But Lysandra—”
“We’ll rescue her,” Alaric said, his voice firm. “But the only way to free her—and everyone—from Malakhor’s grasp is to destroy that artifact.”
Verr nodded in agreement. “There’s no other way.”
The weight of the decision pressed down on them all, but Finn’s gaze was distant, his thoughts still with Lysandra. He couldn’t imagine leaving her in that place a moment longer than necessary.
Alaric noticed the turmoil in Finn’s expression and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get her back, Finn. I swear it.”
Finn’s jaw tightened, but he nodded, though the uncertainty still lingered in his eyes. “Alright,” he said quietly. “But if we lose her…”
“We won’t,” Maelis said with a rare softness in her voice. “Not if we stick together.”
The group fell into a determined silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. They had the information they needed, but the path ahead was fraught with danger. Their resolve was strong, but so were the odds against them.
Verr stepped forward, looking at each of them with a sense of urgency. “You need to act fast. The longer Malakhor holds that artifact, the more powerful he becomes. And every second we waste is a second closer to darkness overtaking everything.”
Alaric nodded, his jaw set in determination. “We leave at first light.”
As the group settled into a tense stillness, preparing for the battle ahead, the wind whispered through the trees, carrying with it the faintest hint of something darker—something far more dangerous than any of them had imagined.