~ Chapter 14 ~

The path ahead was bathed in golden light as the group moved cautiously through the forest, but the warmth of the morning sun did little to ease the chill that clung to Lin Yue's skin. Every step felt heavier, as though the forest itself were reluctant to let them pass.

Her thoughts lingered on the Shadespawn, on the boy's terrified expression, and on the shadow's ominous warning. Each piece of the puzzle felt disconnected, a tangled web that she couldn't yet unravel.

"You're quiet," Wei Han remarked, his tone softer than usual as he fell into step beside her.

Lin Yue glanced at him, her grip tightening on the Jade Blade. "I'm just… trying to make sense of it all. The shadow, the blade, the mirror—it's all too much."

Wei Han nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. "It is overwhelming, but you're stronger than you think. The fact that you wield the blade at all proves that."

"It doesn't feel like enough," Lin Yue admitted.

Before Wei Han could respond, Lady Zhen's voice cut through the air. "Hold."

She raised her hand, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the dense trees around them. The beast growled low, its golden eyes fixed on a patch of shadows that seemed darker than the rest.

Lin Yue's heart skipped a beat as a faint sound reached her ears—a soft, almost melodic humming, barely audible over the rustle of leaves. It wasn't threatening, but it was unnerving, as if it didn't belong in the natural world.

"What is that?" she whispered.

Lady Zhen didn't answer immediately. Her expression was unreadable, but a flicker of something—recognition, perhaps—passed through her eyes. "A warding song," she said finally. "Old magic. It's meant to keep intruders away."

"Should we turn back?" Wei Han asked, his hand on his sword.

"No," Lady Zhen replied firmly. "If this is what I think it is, we may find answers ahead. Stay close, and don't stray from the path."

The group pressed on, the humming growing louder with each step. Lin Yue couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, but every time she looked over her shoulder, there was nothing but trees and shadows.

The path widened suddenly, opening into a clearing bathed in an otherworldly glow. At its center stood a crumbling stone archway, vines creeping up its weathered surface. The humming emanated from the arch, a haunting melody that seemed to vibrate through Lin Yue's very bones.

"This place feels wrong," Wei Han muttered, his hand tightening on his weapon.

"It's a threshold," Lady Zhen said, her voice low. "A passage between realms. We must tread carefully."

Lin Yue approached the arch cautiously, the Jade Blade humming softly in her hand as if resonating with the melody. As she stepped closer, the mirror shard in her satchel grew warm, pulsing in rhythm with the song.

"Lin Yue," Lady Zhen warned, but Lin Yue didn't stop. Something about the archway drew her in, like a moth to a flame.

She reached out, her fingers brushing the cold stone, and the world shifted.

The clearing vanished, replaced by a vast expanse of darkness. Lin Yue stood alone, the Jade Blade glowing faintly in her hand.

"Lin Yue."

The voice was soft, almost familiar, but it echoed as though spoken in an empty chamber. She turned, her breath catching as she saw a figure emerge from the shadows.

It was the woman from the mirror—tall and regal, her golden eyes glowing like embers. Her robes shimmered like liquid starlight, and her presence was both comforting and terrifying.

"Who are you?" Lin Yue asked, her voice trembling.

The woman smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I am a fragment of what you could become, a shadow of your potential. You hold great power, Lin Yue, but power is a double-edged blade."

Lin Yue frowned, her grip tightening on the Jade Blade. "If you're here to help, then tell me what I need to do."

The woman stepped closer, her gaze piercing. "To wield the blade is not enough. You must understand it, master it. And to do that, you must confront the truth of who you are."

"I don't understand," Lin Yue said, frustration creeping into her voice.

"You will," the woman said, her form beginning to fade. "But beware—truth is not always kind, and the path ahead will demand sacrifices you may not be ready to make."

The darkness receded, and Lin Yue found herself back in the clearing. Wei Han and Lady Zhen were at her side, their expressions a mixture of concern and relief.

"What happened?" Wei Han asked, steadying her as she swayed.

"I… I saw her again," Lin Yue murmured, her voice barely audible.

Lady Zhen's eyes narrowed. "The vision from the mirror?"

Lin Yue nodded, her gaze drifting to the archway. "She said I have to confront the truth. That it's the only way to master the blade."

Lady Zhen exchanged a glance with Wei Han, her expression unreadable. "Then we have no time to waste. The truth you seek lies ahead, but it will not reveal itself easily."

As they turned to leave the clearing, a faint shimmer in the air caught Lin Yue's eye. She paused, her heart pounding as she realized the shimmer wasn't natural—it was a pair of golden eyes watching from the shadows.

Before she could speak, the eyes vanished, leaving only the haunting melody of the warding song lingering in the air.

To be continued…