The Last Door

The air felt different as they stepped out of the misty clearing, leaving behind the remnants of the altar. The forest had grown unnervingly quiet, as though even the trees were holding their breath. Each step felt heavier, the weight of the unknown pressing on them all.

Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone. The shadows had been a warning, but the true danger was still lurking out there, beyond the veil of this strange world.

"We need to keep moving," Lyria said, her eyes scanning the trees. "The shadows were just the beginning. There's something more waiting for us."

"I agree," Kael said, glancing over his shoulder. The road behind them seemed like a distant memory, swallowed by the mist. They had no idea where they were headed or what was following them, but there was no turning back now.

Hours passed in tense silence, the atmosphere growing more oppressive as the fog thickened. The once vibrant forest had turned cold and dark, the trees twisted into unnatural shapes. It felt as though the forest itself was alive, watching, waiting.

"Did anyone else hear that?" Finn asked, breaking the silence. His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the weight of genuine fear.

"I didn't hear anything," Eryn muttered, pulling his cloak tighter. "You're just hearing things."

But Finn was staring ahead, his eyes wide. "No. There's something there… a door. Just beyond those trees."

Kael narrowed his eyes. Sure enough, as they neared the edge of the forest, a massive stone door stood looming in the distance. It was carved with ancient symbols, and faint light emanated from the cracks in the stone, casting eerie shadows across the ground.

"Well, that's… ominous," Eryn remarked, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do we knock?"

"Not exactly," Lyria said, her tone serious. "This door… it doesn't belong here. It's not part of the forest."

Kael felt a strange pull toward the door, an irresistible force tugging at him from within. The artifact in his pocket vibrated, its light flickering like a heartbeat.

"I think it's meant for me," Kael said, his voice uncertain.

"You're sure about that?" Eryn raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm pretty sure we've seen this before: one of us touches something, and boom—everything goes wrong."

Kael shot him a look. "We don't have much of a choice. Either we open it, or we stand here all day getting eaten by whatever's out there."

Lyria stepped forward, eyeing the door warily. "There's no telling what's behind it. We should be careful."

Without waiting any longer, Kael approached the door. His hand hovered over the ancient symbols, the artifact pulsing more intensely now. The door seemed to respond, the symbols shifting and glowing as if alive.

A deep, resonant voice echoed from within the door. "Who dares to disturb the chamber of the Forgotten?"

Kael didn't flinch, though his heart raced. "We're here to stop the Shadow King. To end the darkness."

The voice chuckled softly, the sound unnerving in its depth. "You believe you can defeat the king? You are but a child, playing with forces far beyond your comprehension."

"Maybe," Kael muttered, "but I'll still try."

Suddenly, the door creaked open, revealing an enormous chamber beyond. The walls were lined with hundreds of books, scrolls, and artifacts—each glowing faintly in the dim light. At the far end of the chamber, a throne sat empty, bathed in the same eerie light.

"Well, this is… dramatic," Finn said, stepping inside cautiously.

"I've seen this before," Lyria said, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. "This place. It's familiar."

"Does that mean we're supposed to sit on the throne?" Eryn joked, stepping toward it with a smirk. "I'll take my crown in gold, please."

"I don't think it works that way," Kael said, his attention focused on the far wall. Something caught his eye—a large, ancient map etched into the stone, marked with symbols that looked eerily similar to the ones on the door.

Lyria moved closer to the map, studying it carefully. "This… this is a map of the world. But there's something off about it."

The map seemed to pulse, its symbols shifting as if alive. The closer they got, the more distorted it became, the landmasses twisting and warping under their gaze.

"I don't like this," Kael said, his grip tightening around the artifact. The vibrations were growing stronger, the light blinding.

Before anyone could react, the ground trembled violently, throwing them off balance. The walls seemed to close in, the bookshelves creaking and shifting.

"The door! Close it!" Eryn shouted, running toward the entrance, but the door slammed shut behind them with an ominous bang.

The chamber grew colder, and the shadows began to twist and swirl around them, as if alive. The map began to glow with an intensity that made Kael's eyes burn.

"What's happening?" Finn asked, his voice cracking with panic.

Lyria's face went pale. "This place… it's a prison. A trap. And now we're part of it."

The shadows closed in around them, the walls pressing tighter with every second. The symbols on the map began to glow brighter, revealing a single name at the center: Kael.

"I'm not ready for this!" Kael shouted, stepping back. "We need to get out!"

But the shadows didn't respond to his cries. Instead, the map's symbols flared to life, casting a sickly green light that engulfed the room. A voice, deep and ancient, echoed through the chamber.

"You have been chosen."

Kael's heart raced. He turned to his friends, but they were all frozen, their faces pale with fear. His hands shook as he reached for the artifact, the glow intensifying until the light consumed the room entirely.