The Call of the Shadows

The first rays of sunlight broke through the cloudy sky, painting the village of Windfell with a golden light. Although the battle was over, the weight of the previous night still hung over everyone. The villagers, exhausted and wounded, laboured to rebuild the barricades and collect the bodies of the creatures that had fallen. The dust of ash they left behind was almost ethereal, as if nature itself was trying to erase their existence.

Tharion stood in the centre of the square, examining one of the few solid remains of one of the creatures: a fragment of a black claw. He held it carefully, observing the uneven surface and the dark energy that still seemed to pulse faintly.

'You shouldn't touch that,' said Ceyla, approaching with a worried look on her face. 'These things... aren't natural.'

Tharion raised his eyes to her, his expression serious. 'That's exactly why we need to understand them. This claw can tell us where they came from.'

A Hidden Mystery

Edran, the elder, approached slowly, leaning on an improvised staff. 'If there's one thing I've learnt in my years, it's that nothing like this happens by chance,' he said, pointing to the fragment in Tharion's hand. 'These creatures didn't appear here for no reason. Something or someone sent them.'

'Do you think they're being controlled?' asked Ceyla, crossing her arms.

'It's a possibility,' replied Edran. 'The woods of Lumaria have always been full of secrets, but never hostile. Something has changed.'

Tharion nodded, stowing the claw in a small pouch attached to his belt. 'Then we need to find out what caused this change. Is there anywhere nearby that's... unusual? Anything that might be connected to these creatures?'

Edran hesitated for a moment before answering. 'There is a place. To the north of the woods, there are ancient ruins. They say they were temples from a time before the kingdoms existed. But nobody dares to go there.'

'Why?' asked Ceyla.

'Because those who went... never came back,' said Edran, his voice deep.

A New Mission

Tharion clenched his fist, determination shining in his eyes. 'So that's where we're going. If these ruins have any connection to the creatures, we need to investigate.'

'Are you crazy?' exclaimed Ceyla. 'We've barely survived one night against these things, and now you want to go straight to where they might be coming from?'

'If we don't, they'll come back. And next time, we might not be able to protect Windfell,' Tharion replied firmly.

Ceyla bit her lip, clearly torn between her reluctance and the logic of his words. Finally, she sighed: 'Very well. But if we're going to do this, we'll need more than courage.'

'I expect nothing less,' said Tharion, with a slight smile.

Preparations for the Journey

The rest of the day was dedicated to preparations. Tharion and Ceyla gathered supplies, including groceries and additional weapons. Some villagers, although fearful, offered what they could - simple blades, medicinal herbs and advice on the dangers of the forest to the north.

As they prepared, a child ran up to Ceyla, holding a small amulet made of carved wood. 'For protection,' said the girl, handing over the object with a shy smile.

Ceyla bent down and accepted the amulet, touched by the gesture. 'Thank you. We'll be back, I promise.'

As the sun began to set, Tharion and Ceyla were ready to leave. Edran met them at the entrance to the village, holding a torch.

'If you get answers, it could save us all,' he said.

'We won't fail,' replied Tharion.

On the Road to the Unknown

As they made their way through the woods, the light from Ceyla's torch cast long, distorted shadows around them. The silence was absolute, broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the fallen leaves. Tharion felt the weight of the black claw in the pouch on his belt, as if the fragment was trying to pull him towards something.

'What do you think we'll find in these ruins?' asked Ceyla, trying to ease the tension.

'I don't know,' he replied. 'But whatever it is, we'll face it.'

She laughed softly. 'Have you always been so optimistic?'

Tharion looked at her seriously. 'No. But I've learnt that hesitating only makes us more vulnerable. If there's something I can do, I'll do it without a second thought.'

Before Ceyla could reply, a strange sound echoed ahead - a deep, guttural wail that seemed to come from the very heart of the forest. They both stopped, their bodies tense.

'That doesn't sound like an animal,' she said, readying her bow.

'Because it isn't,' replied Tharion, drawing his improvised blade.

As they slowly advanced, the air around them began to change. The temperature dropped, and a thick mist began to form. They could barely see a metre ahead, but they continued towards the sound.

The Revelation

Finally, the mist cleared enough to reveal a colossal structure before them. The ruins were imposing, with broken pillars that rose up like the fingers of a giant hand. Ancient inscriptions covered the stones, glowing faintly with a bluish light.

In the centre of the structure, a hooded figure stood, surrounded by a dark aura. Around him, creatures of the shadows moved restlessly, as if awaiting orders.

Tharion felt his breathing quicken. 'It seems we've found our answer.'

Ceyla pulled out an arrow, ready to fire. 'Now what?'

'Now,' said Tharion, his gaze fixed on the figure, 'let's find out who's behind this.'