The Long Road to Power

They moved at a steady pace, the barren Black Plains stretching endlessly before them.

The further they walked, the stronger the pull became.

By midday, Argolaith's skin tingled, a strange sensation crawling beneath his flesh, as if unseen eyes were measuring his every movement.

Kaelred wiped the sweat from his brow. "I don't like this."

Argolaith nodded. "Neither do I."

Malakar merely smirked. "That's because you can feel its influence."

Kaelred scowled. "I thought the trees were supposed to give power, not mess with your head."

Malakar shook his head. "They do not simply grant power. They judge. They choose."

Kaelred's expression darkened.

"And if it doesn't choose him?"

Malakar's grin widened. "Then we'll be in for a very interesting show."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, they made camp once more.

The air was thick now, charged with something unseen but undeniably present.