Chapter 51
The heavy atmosphere of the tavern felt even more suffocating with the informant's revelation. Eveline felt the weight of responsibility growing on her shoulders as the words "Eye of Shadows" echoed in her mind. An artifact capable of granting absolute control over darkness was something she could never allow to fall into the hands of the cult.
"How do we know this isn't just a legend?" Varian asked, breaking the silence, his expression skeptical. "Artifacts like this are mentioned in many old stories, but no one has ever seen one."
The informant, a man with a face marked by time, leaned in a little closer to the table, the dim candlelight illuminating his shadowy eyes. "I understand your skepticism. But the Eye of Shadows is no myth. The spy guild found evidence of its existence a few years ago. Fragments of ancient writings, maps, and rituals. And we weren't the only ones."
Eveline absorbed the words, her fingers clenching into fists under the table. If this were true, the cult was already far ahead. They knew what they were looking for. "And where is this artifact?" she asked, her voice calm but filled with urgency.
"The Eye of Shadows is sealed in an ancient temple located in the Nebulous Mountains to the north," the informant continued. "It's said it was locked there by the founding mages of this continent after a great war against the forces of darkness, millennia ago. However, the key to unlocking the seal is fragmented into three parts, and the cult already has one of them."
Eveline shivered. If the cult had already obtained part of the key, it meant they were closer to achieving their goal than she had imagined. "And the other parts?" she asked quickly.
"One part is kept in the Sanctuary of Lysoria, a sacred place hidden deep within a magical forest. The last... well, it's said to be lost in a land beyond the great desert of Dremar, but even the spy guild has little information about that."
Varian looked directly at Eveline. "If the cult already has one of the parts, they're surely moving to get the other two. We need to act fast."
"Faster than ever," Aria responded, her gaze serious and determined. "We cannot let them complete that key."
Eveline felt the intensity of the moment. The shadows were closing in, and now the mission was clear: stop the cult from gathering the key parts and prevent the Eye of Shadows from being released. The survival of the continent depended on it.
"Thank you for the information," Eveline said to the informant, rising from the table. "We'll handle the rest."
He nodded silently, but before leaving, he whispered something that made Eveline pause: "Be careful, Guardian. The cult of shadows has eyes everywhere... and some of your enemies may be closer than you think."
---
As the group left the tavern and began walking back to the inn where they were staying, Eveline was deep in thought. **Enemies closer than I think...** The informant's words lingered in her mind. She already knew the cult of shadows was infiltrated in various parts of the continent, but this warning seemed to carry a different weight.
"We need to leave for Lysoria immediately," Aria said, interrupting Eveline's thoughts. "If the cult already has one part of the key, we can't waste any time."
Eveline agreed, but there was another concern troubling her. "Yes, but we also need to find out who's on their side here at the academy. If there are spies within our own ranks, we may be at a constant disadvantage."
"Do you think someone close to us could be betraying the academy?" Varian asked, raising an eyebrow, surprised.
Eveline hesitated before answering. "I don't know. But we can't rule out that possibility. The cult has always been silent, and they are masters of manipulation. If they're as close as the informant suggested, we need to be cautious."
Varian nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Right. But for now, the most urgent thing is to make sure the cult doesn't get the other parts of the key."
---
The next morning, the group set out for the forest of Lysoria. The journey would be long and dangerous, but time was now their greatest enemy. Eveline felt the weight of her new responsibility growing with each step they took. They must be stopped, at any cost.
The forest of Lysoria was known to be protected by powerful ancient magic, and Eveline wasn't sure how they would get into the Sanctuary, but there was no time for hesitation. She knew the path would be difficult, but it was their only hope of stopping the cult before it was too late.
As they rode along the winding road leading to the forest, Eveline couldn't shake the feeling of shadows closing in around them, as if the very darkness was preparing for what was to come. We're heading straight into the wolf's den, she thought, but that didn't stop her.
The fate of the entire continent was at stake, and Eveline knew that whatever happened next, she would need to be stronger than ever.
---
The entrance to the forest of Lysoria appeared before them like a natural gate of enormous, ancient trees, their thick trunks seemingly holding up the sky itself. A thin mist enveloped the place, giving the surroundings an air of mystery and magic.
"So this is it," Aria murmured, looking at the forest. "They say only those with a noble purpose can pass through."
Eveline felt a strange calm spread through her as she gazed at the entrance. "Then let's find out if we're worthy."
With renewed determination, Eveline, Varian, and Aria entered the forest, knowing that the Sanctuary of Lysoria was just the next step in an even more dangerous journey. Every shadow around them seemed to be watching, and time was running out.
The race against the cult of shadows had begun, and there would be no room for mistakes.