Chapter 8: The Heart of Darkness

The Forest of Shadows was merciless in blackness, a canopy of leaves overhead as thick as could be to gobble down the rayless sun without so much as a single peek. It was twisting and writhing, making an always-moving labyrinth of nightfall that gave an answer of finality to the story of Saga and Lysandra from every ahead step farther into the suffocating air trying to confuse and discourage them at every step.

Saga had a firm grip on his weapon; two very powerful emotions made the senses in his mind sharpen up: fear and the will to survive. There was a pungent smell of damp earth and the overpowering odor of dead leaves. An unearthly stillness filled the air, but for the rustling, every now and then, from unknown creatures. Lysandra moved beside him with practiced grace, her eyes scanning their surroundings with a sharp, calculating gaze.

"Be on guard, Saga," the system's voice barked into his head. "The Shadow Forest is treacherous, full of illusions and full of dangers; you need to learn how to trust in your instincts and the power given to you."

Saga recognized the words, but they did little to quell the sense of growing unease that was settling in the pit of his gut. The deeper into the forest they traveled, the more the sense of foreboding seemed to leak from the trees and into their bones—like the very woodland itself, alive, watching with cold, calculating eyes for a perfect moment to strike.

The path grew downright treacherous the further they went. The ground became uneven and treacherous, full of hidden roots and sudden drops. Saga had to tread carefully, each step measured and deliberate. Ever watchful, Lysandra guided him along with her practiced hand, pointing him where to go and waving him off from the pitfalls.

Their pace was slow, for the undergrowth was so thick they could see no more than a few feet in front. Now and again Saga saw the flickering hint of queer luminous eyes in the depths of the shadows; but when he looked straight towards them they disappeared as though they had never been.

"We are close, now," Lysandra said, finally, her voice low as if frightened. "The artifact will be straight ahead. But be warned—this is where the forest's true dangers begin."

The idea made Saga's heart quicken. So far, they had come across a myriad of traps and creatures, yet none could be remotely as bad as what he had heard lay inside the Heart of the Forest of Shadows. These stories talked of powerful beings and ancient curses, about darkness that could devour even the bravest of souls.

Before long, the trees started to part, and a small, ominous clearing opened before the two. Within the center of it lay an ancient stone altar, twisted vines entwining it completely from view, the supernatural glowing of its runes pulsating like a heartbeat. Saga could almost feel the force emanating from the altar, like a living, almost tangible force that crawled under his skin.

"That's it," said the voice of the system, a bit ecstatic. "The artifact should be either inside or close to the altar. But beware. The forest is not going to let go of its treasures easily."

Saga proceeded to the altar carefully, checking the ground ahead of him for any sign of traps or hidden pitfalls. The runes were in a language not his, glowing off the stone and sending flickering shadows against the surrounding trees. Lysandra was standing back, her eyes watchful, ready to move on the first sight of a threat.

Just as he reached the altar, an arctic gale swept the clearing, and the runes burst into light. It was as though the forest was alive, with shadowy bunches coming together to form ever more intense vortices. From out of the darkness came twisted, ghostly figures—phantoms of creatures long dead—with hollow, glowing eyes full of evil intent.

Saga gasped, and his heartbeat quickened. Those were not the illusions of normal illusions, but ancient spirits bound by some dark power to the forest—the phantoms glided closer—their forms spectral, shifting, and writhing; their mouths open in silent screams.

"Defend against them!" the system called. "The guardians of the artifact. You have to defeat them to regain what you are looking for."

Saga gripped his weapon tightly, his mind racing. He had faced monsters and goblins, but these spirits were something else. Their being, unsettling; their movements, unpredictable and ghostly.

The first of the phantasms lunged at him, screaming, its essence moving under its own power through the air with unnatural celerity. Saga swung his weapon, but the phantasm passed right through it as though he were swinging at a cloud. The touch of the spirit was icy cold, and Saga shivered.

Above the din, he heard Lysandra's voice again. "Use your energy attacks! Physical strikes won't affect them!

Saga nodded, recognizing the urgency in her voice, and focused within himself on the power. Now he started to surge the system's energy into a concentrated blast. As the phantom closed in on them he unleashed the attack. The energy cracked and surged toward the spirit. Finally, the blast met the phantom, which recoiled screeching, form flickering and wavering.

The other phantoms surged in, their activity now more fevered. Saga fought them off with a cross of energy blasts and quick punches, his motions more assured as he became attuned to their patterns. Lysandra backed him up from the sidelines, her own assaults sharp and lethal as she beat back the spirits with an ease born of long experience.

After an endless-seeming, protracted struggle, the very last of the phantoms finally faded into the shadows, their otherworldly wails silenced for good. Saga and Lysandra stood in the quiet room, their chests heaving with exhaustion, their bodies covered with sweat and frayed with nerves.

"Is it over?" she heard Saga's voice, which vibrated with something like a tremble.

"For now," Lysandra said, her eyes pinned on the altar. "But be on your guard. The artifact probably isn't guarded by only these spirits. The real challenge might still be waiting for us."

Saga approached the altar with his literally pounding heart, the runes calling out for contact. With a light brush of his fingers, the symbols of the glowing dimly flared and opened a secret compartment inside the altar. There he found a small, beautiful box covered in glowing runes.

The box seemed to pulse and beat, almost like a live thing, and Saga felt a surge of apprehension and expectation as he raised it out of the compartment very slowly. While the artifact was now in his possession, he was acutely aware that it was only the beginning of the real test: getting the thing out of the forest.

Lysandra's eyes never left his as she said, "Let's get out of here before more spirits appear. The forest won't be kind to us for so long.

With the artifact now in hand, Saga and Lysandra journeyed through the forest back the way they came. The glow of the artifact lit their way slightly. It was as if the shadows were going to overwhelm them, but somehow the artifact brought a defense against such shadows.

As they finally emerged into a forest opened up by sunlight filtering through the trees, Saga felt mixed emotions of relief and apprehension. He had retrieved the artifact, but the Forest of Shadows was harrowing in its own right, almost making one curious about further trials.

He looked at Lysandra, and there was a twinkle of approval in her eyes. "You did well, Saga. But remember, this is only the beginning. The challenges presented in the system will only be tougher as you proceed."

Saga nodded, running already with thoughts of what lay ahead, powerful as the artifact was as a tool but also as a reminder. The Forest of Shadows had been a test, and he had come through it. But the road toward becoming the Immortal Martial Emperor was yet a long one and loaded with danger.

As they continued back to the village, Saga felt he had found his purpose in life once again. It was his destiny, so the system set out for him, to be tried at the very fiber of his strength and will, but he resolved to see it through. There were dark and dangerous corners in the world, that was for sure, dark and dangerous corners he must confront, but at least he was driven by the desire to protect what was dear, to fulfill the destiny thrust upon him.

And as the sun set behind them, casting long shadows over the landscape, Saga knew that the true journey was only just beginning.