CHAPTER 4 : THE SECRETS OF THE FORGOTTEN

The light led Nadia deeper into the forest, the glow intensifying with every step she took. Trees stood like ancient sentinels around her, their gnarled branches forming a canopy so dense that even the stars were obscured. The whispers that had once felt soft and guiding now grew louder, almost frantic, as though urging her onward. 

 Finally, she emerged into a clearing, her breath hitching at the sight before her. A massive stone structure loomed in the darkness, its edges softened by centuries of creeping vines and moss. It was a temple, old and forgotten, its very presence heavy with an unspoken history. Symbols identical to those in the journal adorned its weathered walls, glowing faintly as though alive. 

 Nadia hesitated, her heart pounding. The air here felt differently charged, like the calm before a storm. Despite her apprehension, she found herself drawn forward, the whispers now a steady hum in her mind. Her hand brushed against the cold stone, and suddenly, the world around her shifted. 

 A flood of memories consumed her, vivid and overwhelming. She saw herself as a child, no older than seven, running barefoot through these very woods. Laughter echoed around her, but it wasn't carefree. It was edged with urgency, even fear. Behind her, a man and woman. her parents, perhaps? chased after her, their faces blurred like a dream she couldn't quite grasp. 

 Their voices reached her, fragmented but desperate. "Nadia, stop! Don't go near it!" The memory ended as abruptly as it had begun, leaving her gasping and trembling. She leaned against the temple wall for support, her mind racing. What had they been trying to stop her from doing? 

 Steeling herself, Nadia pushed open the heavy stone doors, which groaned loudly in protest. The interior of the temple was just as ancient as its exterior pillars carved with intricate designs, their surfaces cracked and worn with age. The air was thick and cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and something faintly metallic. 

 At the center of the temple stood a pedestal, illuminated by an otherworldly light. Upon it rested a small orb, its surface smooth and glowing with a pulsing blue hue. The whispers surged now, deafening and insistent. "Take it. The key to ending the curse." 

 Nadia approached cautiously, her gaze fixed on the orb. She felt its pull, an almost magnetic force that seemed to reach for her as much as she reached for it. Her fingers hovered over its surface, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and determination. 

 As soon as her fingers closed around the orb, the ground beneath her feet trembled violently. A deep, resonating hum filled the air, the temple coming alive with movement. Symbols on the walls flared brightly, their glow casting eerie shadows. 

 Then, they appeared. 

 From the darkness, figures began to emerge! neither human nor animal but something in between. They were tall, their forms composed of shadow and bark, their limbs jagged and twisted like the very trees outside. Their eyes glowed an intense green, piercing through the dim light. These were the Keepers. 

 Nadia's breath hitched, her grip tightening on the orb. The Keepers didn't move like living creatures. They glided, their forms shifting unnaturally as they advanced toward her. 

 The whispers in her mind turned frantic now, a cacophony of warnings and commands. "Run! "they screamed, but Nadia was frozen in place, paralyzed by the sight of the beings that surrounded her. 

 When the first Keeper extended a claw-like limb toward her, she snapped out of her trance. Her survival instincts kicked in, and she bolted, clutching the orb tightly to her chest. 

 The forest outside was unrecognizable. The trees seemed alive, their branches stretching and twisting as if to trap her. The path she had taken to the temple was gone, replaced by an endless maze of shifting shadows. 

 The Keepers pursued her relentlessly, their movements silent but swift. Every time she glanced over her shoulder, their glowing eyes were closer, their forms blending seamlessly with the forest around them. 

 Her lungs burned, and her legs ached as she pushed herself forward. She had no idea where she was going, only that she couldn't stop. The orb in her hands pulsed with light, as though guiding her, but she wasn't sure if it was leading her to safety or deeper into danger. 

 Ahead, she saw a faint light breaking through the darkness. Desperation propelled her forward, the whispers in her mind urging her to keep going. She burst into a clearing and nearly collapsed in relief when she recognized it, the cottage. 

 Maren was waiting at the door, her expression grim. "You've done it," she said as Nadia stumbled inside, gasping for breath. 

 Before Nadia could speak, the ground outside quaked again. The Keepers had stopped at the edge of the clearing, their forms writhing in frustration as though bound by an invisible barrier. 

 "What is this?" Nadia demanded, holding out the orb. "Why are they after me?" 

 Maren's gaze softened, but her voice remained firm. "Because you've awakened the forest's power," she said. "And now, you must decide what to do with it." 

 The orb glowed brighter, its light illuminating the fear and determination in Nadia's eyes. She realized then that her journey was far from over. The forest had chosen her, and there was no turning back.