THE CURSED FOREST

Chapter 8

The Cursed Forest

The journey to the cursed forest had been long and arduous, marked by sleepless nights, winding mountain roads, and the constant fear of being followed. By the time Alaric and Seraphine reached the edge of the forest, the tension between them had simmered into a quiet, uneasy truce.

The forest loomed before them like a living entity, its ancient trees twisting unnaturally toward the sky, their gnarled branches clawing at the gray clouds. A thick mist clung to the ground, swirling around their feet as if alive. The air here was colder, heavier, and it carried a faint hum of magic that made Alaric's skin prickle.

"This is it," Seraphine said, her voice hushed. "The cursed forest."

Alaric stared into the dark expanse, a sense of foreboding settling in his chest. "It doesn't look like it wants us here."

"It doesn't," Seraphine replied. She adjusted the straps of her pack and glanced at him. "Are you ready for this?"

"Not really," Alaric admitted, gripping his staff tightly. "But I doubt we'll ever be."

With a nod, Seraphine stepped forward, her shadows rippling around her like a protective cloak. Alaric followed, his magic thrumming faintly in his veins.

The moment they crossed the threshold, the atmosphere changed. The air grew thicker, colder, and the sounds of the outside world faded into an eerie silence. Even their footsteps seemed muffled, swallowed by the dense underbrush.

"Stay close," Seraphine said, her voice low.

Alaric nodded, his eyes scanning their surroundings. The forest felt alive in a way that was deeply unsettling. The trees seemed to shift when he wasn't looking, their shadows twisting into shapes that resembled grasping hands.

After what felt like hours of trudging through the oppressive mist, they came across the first sign of trouble—a series of deep claw marks gouged into the trunk of a tree.

"Something's been here," Alaric said, studying the marks.

"Something big," Seraphine added, her hand hovering over the hilt of her dagger.

A low growl echoed through the trees, and they both froze. The sound was guttural and unnatural, sending a shiver down Alaric's spine.

"Stay behind me," Seraphine whispered, her shadows coiling tighter around her.

Before Alaric could respond, a massive creature emerged from the mist. It was unlike anything he'd ever seen—a monstrous wolf-like beast with glowing red eyes and fur that seemed to ripple like smoke. Its fangs gleamed as it snarled, saliva dripping onto the forest floor.

"Great," Alaric muttered, raising his staff. "A cursed guardian. Of course."

The beast lunged without warning, its claws swiping through the air. Seraphine moved with practiced precision, her shadows intercepting the attack and pushing the creature back.

"Alaric!" she called, her voice sharp. "Now would be a good time to use some of that magic!"

Alaric didn't hesitate. He focused his energy, feeling the familiar warmth of his magic build in his chest. With a shout, he released a blast of energy that struck the beast squarely in the chest. It howled in pain, its form flickering as though it might dissipate.

But instead of retreating, the creature grew more enraged. It charged again, its movements faster and more erratic.

"It's feeding off the magic!" Seraphine yelled, dodging another swipe.

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Alaric asked, his mind racing.

Seraphine didn't answer immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes, her shadows expanding outward in a wave. They wrapped around the beast, constricting it and forcing it to the ground.

"Finish it!" she shouted, her voice strained.

Alaric hesitated for only a moment before channeling his magic into his staff. This time, he focused on control rather than power, weaving the energy into a precise strike. The beam of light hit the creature, and with a final, agonized howl, it dissolved into the mist.

Breathing heavily, Alaric lowered his staff and turned to Seraphine. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, though her face was pale. "Fine. But that was just the beginning."

She was right. The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more challenges they faced. Enchanted traps sprung from the ground without warning, their magical runes flaring to life and forcing Alaric to disarm them with careful precision. Spirits of long-dead seekers appeared, their hollow eyes filled with sorrow and rage as they whispered warnings that made Alaric's heart ache.

"Turn back," one spirit said, its translucent form hovering before them. "The city is not for the living."

Another spirit, a woman with tattered robes and hollow cheeks, reached for Seraphine with ghostly fingers. "You will die here, as we did."

Seraphine swatted the spirit away with her shadows, her jaw tight. "They're trying to scare us."

"It's working," Alaric muttered, though he pressed on.

The forest seemed to grow darker with each step, the trees pressing closer together until it felt as though they were walking through a tunnel. Alaric could feel the weight of the prophecy bearing down on him, every whispered warning from the spirits a reminder of what was at stake.

Finally, they emerged into a small clearing. At its center stood a massive stone archway, covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly with magic.

"This must be it," Seraphine said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alaric approached the archway, his fingers brushing against the runes. They burned under his touch, but he didn't pull away.

"It's a barrier," he said. "A magical seal designed to keep people out."

"Can you break it?" Seraphine asked, her eyes scanning the clearing for any signs of danger.

"I think so," Alaric said, though he didn't sound confident.

He closed his eyes and focused, drawing on his magic. The runes resisted at first, their energy lashing out like a living thing. But Alaric pushed through, his determination outweighing his fear.

The runes flared brightly before shattering, the archway's center filling with a swirling portal of light.

"You did it," Seraphine said, her voice tinged with awe.

Alaric opened his eyes, a faint smile tugging at his lips. But the moment of triumph was short-lived.

The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a deafening roar echoed through the clearing.

"Of course," Seraphine muttered, drawing her dagger. "It's never that easy."

From the shadows of the forest emerged another creature, larger and more menacing than the last. Its form was shrouded in darkness, its eyes glowing with an unnatural blue light.

Alaric and Seraphine exchanged a glance.

"Ready?" Seraphine asked, her shadows already moving.

"Not really," Alaric admitted, raising his staff.

Together, they faced the creature, the portal to Eldarath shimmering behind them. The cursed forest had tested them in every way, but Alaric knew that the true challenge was still to come.

And with every step closer to Eldarath, the weight of the prophecy grew heavier.