Chapter 24: The Path of Shadows

The platform slowed as it descended further into the Chasm, its faint grinding echo swallowed by the oppressive mist that coiled around the group like a living thing. The glowing blue runes on the platform's edges pulsed faintly, casting eerie light across their faces. It wasn't enough to pierce the swirling darkness below, but it gave just enough illumination to remind them they weren't blind—just hopelessly out of their depth.

"Okay," Ethan said, gripping his pipe as he surveyed the murky surroundings. "I've got a great idea. Let's just turn around, pretend we never saw this place, and go have pancakes instead."

"You want to walk back up the chasm?" Naomi asked dryly, her bow in hand as she scanned the shifting mist.

Ethan shrugged. "I'm just saying pancakes sound a lot less deadly."

"Less deadly," Karis said, stepping to the edge of the platform as it halted, "but less useful. You think the Forge would let us leave without consequences?"

"Honestly? No," Ethan admitted. "But I was hoping to pretend for, like, five seconds."

The platform stopped with a metallic groan, grinding into place against a jagged outcropping of rock. Before them stretched a narrow, uneven path that disappeared into the mist. The faint light of the runes illuminated stone markers that jutted out of the path at irregular intervals, their surfaces covered in sharp, angular symbols. Each marker emitted a faint hum, the sound barely audible but impossibly heavy, like it was pressing on their bones.

"Well, that's inviting," Lucas muttered, hoisting his shield. "So what's the plan? Walk straight into the death fog and hope for the best?"

"Not quite," Karis said. She crouched by one of the markers, her knife tracing the glowing symbols without touching them. "These aren't here for decoration. They're some kind of mechanism."

"What kind of mechanism?" Naomi asked, her voice calm but edged with tension.

"The kind that kills you if you're not paying attention," Karis replied. She glanced over her shoulder at Ethan. "Step lightly. And try not to trip over your own feet."

Ethan smirked. "I'll do my best, Mom."

---

The First Trap

They moved in a tight formation, Karis leading with Lucas at the rear, his shield raised to protect against whatever might come from behind. Naomi flanked the group, her sharp eyes scanning the path for movement, while Ethan stayed in the middle, his glowing pipe ready in case something decided to jump out of the mist.

The first trap revealed itself when Lucas accidentally brushed against one of the glowing markers. The symbol flared bright red, and the ground beneath them rumbled ominously. Ethan barely had time to yell a warning before jagged spikes shot up from the path ahead, blocking their way.

"Well," Ethan said, staring at the spikes, "that's one way to say 'Keep Out.'"

"Don't touch the markers," Karis snapped, her voice low but fierce. She stepped carefully to the side, her movements deliberate as she examined the newly risen spikes. "They're pressure-activated. Trigger one, and the path reacts."

"What happens if we can't avoid them?" Lucas asked, shifting his weight to keep his shield balanced.

"Then you make sure you're not standing where the spikes come up," Karis said flatly.

"That's comforting," Ethan muttered.

"Quiet," Karis said, motioning for them to follow. She stepped around the markers with practiced precision, testing the ground with her foot before each step. "Follow my lead. One at a time."

Naomi went next, her movements fluid and silent, like she was born to navigate treacherous terrain. Lucas followed after her, his shield held high to deflect any surprises. When it was Ethan's turn, he hesitated, staring at the narrow path and the glowing markers that lined it.

"Just don't trip," Naomi said, her voice teasing but not unkind.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Ethan said, stepping forward. He moved slowly, carefully placing each foot exactly where Karis had, but the uneven terrain made his heart pound with every step. When he finally reached the other side, he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Well," he said, glancing back at the spikes, "that wasn't stressful at all."

---

The Bridge of Illusions

The path eventually led them to a narrow stone bridge that stretched across a yawning chasm. The mist below churned violently, as if something massive was moving within it. The bridge itself seemed almost translucent, shimmering faintly in the dim light.

"This doesn't look real," Ethan said, staring at the bridge with suspicion.

"That's because it's not," Karis said, crouching at the edge of the bridge. She reached out and tossed a small stone onto the surface. It landed with a faint ripple, as if the bridge were made of water instead of stone.

Lucas frowned. "How are we supposed to cross that?"

"Carefully," Karis replied. She turned to Naomi. "You're the lightest. Test the first few steps."

Naomi nodded, slinging her bow over her shoulder as she stepped onto the bridge. The surface rippled beneath her feet, but it held. She moved forward slowly, her arms outstretched for balance, until she was halfway across. Then she stopped, her head tilting slightly.

"There's something wrong," she called back. "The surface is shifting."

"What do you mean, shifting?" Ethan asked, already dreading the answer.

Before Naomi could reply, the mist surged upward, and ghostly shapes began to materialize on the bridge. They looked like shadowy figures, vaguely humanoid but distorted, their movements jerky and unnatural. One of them lunged toward Naomi, its claw-like hand swiping through the air.

"Get back!" Karis shouted, drawing her knife.

Naomi ducked, the shadow's claw passing inches above her head. She rolled to the side, drawing an arrow and firing in one fluid motion. The arrow struck the figure, and it dissolved into mist with an unearthly shriek.

"There's more of them!" Lucas yelled, stepping onto the bridge with his shield raised. Another shadow lunged at him, its claw meeting the surface of the shield with a sound like nails on glass.

Ethan charged forward, his pipe glowing brightly as he activated Ravager's Pounce. He leaped toward one of the figures, bringing the pipe down with a burst of energy. The shadow exploded into mist, but the impact left him off-balance, his feet sliding on the rippling surface.

"Careful!" Karis shouted, her blade flashing as she took down another figure. "The bridge is unstable. Don't let them knock you off!"

Ethan gritted his teeth, regaining his footing as more shadows emerged from the mist. "You know," he said, swinging his pipe at another figure, "for a death trap, this place is really well-designed."

"Less talking, more fighting!" Karis snapped, cutting through another shadow.

The battle was chaotic, the shadows attacking relentlessly as the group struggled to keep their footing on the unstable bridge. Lucas held the line, his shield deflecting blow after blow, while Naomi picked off enemies from a distance with deadly precision. Karis moved like a whirlwind, her blade a blur as she struck with ruthless efficiency.

Ethan, for his part, swung wildly, his glowing pipe smashing through shadows with satisfying bursts of light. But for every shadow they destroyed, another seemed to take its place.

"This isn't working!" Naomi shouted, loosing another arrow. "They just keep coming!"

"We need to move!" Karis said, her voice cutting through the chaos. "The bridge is the trap. The longer we stay, the worse it'll get."

Ethan glanced down at the mist below, the shadows surging up like a tide. "Right," he said, gripping his pipe. "Let's get off this thing before it decides to eat us."

The group began to retreat, fighting their way toward the far side of the bridge. The shadows grew more aggressive, their movements frantic and erratic, but the group pressed on. When they finally reached solid ground, the shadows stopped abruptly, dissolving into mist as if they had never been there.

Ethan collapsed to his knees, panting. "Okay," he said, his voice hoarse. "New rule. No more bridges."

Karis ignored him, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "We're not done yet," she said, her voice grim. "This was just the beginning."