Chapter 55: The Silent Woods and a Familiar Face

Drake rode south, away from the ominous presence of the ruined Voidwatch fortress. The journey was somber, his usual witty banter replaced by quiet contemplation. He replayed Eldrin's journal entry in his mind, the image of the dark figure from the rift fueling his determination to grow stronger.

He decided to avoid established roads and settlements for a while. He needed time to process what he had seen and experienced, and he didn't want to attract any unwanted attention, especially from those divinely inclined.

He ventured into the Silverwood Forest, a vast expanse of ancient trees that stretched for hundreds of miles. The forest was known for its quiet beauty and its secluded nature, a place where travelers could find peace and solitude.

The Silverwood Forest was indeed quiet. The dense canopy of leaves muffled all sound, creating an almost eerie silence. The air was cool and crisp, and the sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Drake found a small clearing near a crystal-clear stream and decided to make camp. He tethered Clunky and set about building a small fire. As the flames crackled to life, he took out Eldrin's journal and began to reread it.

He studied the entries carefully, paying close attention to the descriptions of the Voidlands, the chaotic rift, and the dark figure. He tried to decipher the strange symbols and diagrams that Eldrin had drawn, but they were mostly beyond his current understanding.

He also reread the last entry, the one about Eldrin's dream. The description of the dark figure was vague, but it mentioned a few key details: immense power, malevolent aura, and eyes that glowed with a cold, blue light.

"Eyes that glowed with a cold, blue light…" Drake muttered to himself. "That sounds… familiar."

He thought back to his encounter with the Deep One Guardian. Its eyes had also glowed with a cold light, though they were green, not blue. He wondered if there was a connection.

He closed the journal and leaned back against a tree, his mind filled with questions. He needed to find someone who could help him understand these things, someone with more knowledge of magic and the Void.

As he pondered this, he heard a rustling sound in the nearby bushes. He immediately drew his short sword, his senses on high alert.

A figure emerged from the bushes, and Drake's eyes widened in surprise. It was Corvus, the mysterious mage who had first told him about the Codex and the system.

"Well, well, look what the cat dragged in," Drake said, lowering his sword slightly. "Fancy meeting you here. Last time I saw you, I was being chased by goblins. Now I'm being chased by… well, let's just say things have escalated."

Corvus smiled, his eyes twinkling. "I see you've been busy," he said. "I've been keeping an eye on your progress. You've come a long way since Oakhaven."

"You could say that," Drake replied. "I've been to another dimension, fought some nasty creatures, and even managed to attract the attention of some rather unpleasant deities. You wouldn't happen to have any advice on dealing with angry gods, would you?"

Corvus chuckled. "That's a complicated matter," he said. "But I can see you have other concerns. You've been to the Voidwatch fortress, haven't you?"

Drake nodded. "It's… gone," he said. "Destroyed. And I found this." He showed Corvus Eldrin's journal.

Corvus took the journal and examined it carefully. His expression grew serious as he read the last entry.

"This is… troubling," he said. "It seems the threat is greater than we anticipated."

"You know what this is about?" Drake asked.

Corvus nodded. "I do," he said. "And I think it's time I told you the full story."