Chapter 61: The Burden of Magic

As the woman's figure faded into the moonlit air, Lysandra stood frozen, the weight of her words sinking deep into her bones. The forest seemed to exhale, releasing a sigh that rustled through the leaves as if relieved by the presence's departure. Lysandra felt a strange emptiness where the woman had been moments ago, as though a part of herself had vanished along with the apparition.

She turned back to Zephyrion and Althara, who were waiting near the edge of the glade, their expressions a mix of concern and impatience. "What happened?" Zephyrion asked, stepping closer. "Who was that?"

Lysandra's fingers trembled as she touched the crystal pendant, the warmth fading from it. "She said… she was a memory," she murmured, struggling to find the right words. "And that I carry the same magic that binds her here."

Althara frowned, her brows knitting together. "A memory bound to the forest?" she repeated. "That's no ordinary spirit. Magic like that doesn't just happen on its own. Someone or something must have tied her soul to this place."

Zephyrion's gaze narrowed. "Did she tell you what you're supposed to do?"

Lysandra shook her head slowly. "She only said that I needed to find the truth… whatever that means," she replied, a mixture of frustration and determination building inside her. "I have to understand what this magic is and why I'm connected to it."

The words hung heavily in the air as the trio fell into a tense silence. Lysandra could feel the weight of expectation pressing down on her, an invisible force urging her to move forward and uncover the secrets that lay hidden in the forest's depths. The pendant felt cooler now, as though its energy had receded, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself again.

Zephyrion's jaw tightened, and he glanced toward the darkened path ahead. "Then we keep moving," he said, his tone firm. "Whatever the truth is, it's not going to reveal itself if we stand around guessing. We'll find answers—together."

Lysandra met his gaze and nodded, grateful for the steadiness in his voice. There was comfort in the way he spoke, a promise that he would not let her face this mystery alone. She turned back toward the narrow path, taking a deep breath as she stepped forward, leading them into the darkness once more.

As they walked, the forest seemed to grow quieter, as though the magic was withdrawing into the shadows, leaving them in a strange stillness. Lysandra's thoughts swirled with unanswered questions, the woman's haunting words echoing in her mind. What truth was she supposed to find? And how was she meant to use this magic that she barely understood?

The pendant's faint glow was a small comfort in the darkness, its light casting soft shadows on the ground. It was a reminder of the power she carried, a power she was only beginning to grasp. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation as she thought about the choices she would soon have to make.

The path wound deeper into the forest, and Lysandra could feel a change in the air—a strange tension that prickled against her skin. She wasn't sure if it was the magic, the lingering presence of the memory, or something else entirely. But whatever it was, it felt like a warning.

Althara's voice broke the silence, her tone curious and wary. "Lysandra, do you think the woman was trying to help you?" she asked, glancing over at her.

"I… I don't know," Lysandra admitted, her thoughts drifting back to the sorrow in the woman's eyes. "She didn't seem like a threat, but there was something about her… something that felt connected to me."

Zephyrion's hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he kept a watchful eye on the shadows. "We should assume that there's more to this than what we've seen," he cautioned. "If there are other forces at play here, we need to be prepared for anything."

Lysandra bit her lip, her mind racing as they continued down the path. The woman's final words echoed in her thoughts: Find the truth, and you will find me. It was a riddle, one that seemed to hint at a connection deeper than she could understand. But one thing was clear: if she wanted answers, she would have to confront the magic that bound her to this place and unravel its secrets, no matter what it took.

To be continued…