The Towers shadow

The air inside the tower was unnaturally cold, a biting contrast to the desert heat outside. The narrow corridor stretched before Elias and Alina, illuminated only by the faint glow of the runes that lined the walls. Each step they took echoed ominously, as if the tower itself were alive, its dark heart pulsing with unseen power.

Elias tightened his grip on his walking stick, his muscles coiled with tension. He glanced at Alina, her lantern casting flickering shadows on her face. Her green eyes darted nervously, but her expression was resolute.

"This place feels wrong," she murmured, her voice barely louder than a breath.

Elias nodded. He didn't need to speak; the oppressive weight of the tower was enough to silence both of them. Enough to keep them on high alert.

As they moved deeper into the corridor, the faint sound of the harp's melody grew louder, weaving itself into the air like an unseen thread. Elias felt it in his chest, a familiar ache that stirred memories he couldn't fully grasp. Not yet.

"Do you hear it?" he asked, his voice low.

Alina hesitated, then shook her head. "Hear what?"

"The song," Elias said, his brow furrowing. "It's… it's calling to me."

Alina studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You've been marked by it," she said finally. "The harp's magic has touched you. That's why you can hear it. That's why you're here, isn't it?"

Elias didn't answer. He didn't fully understand the connection himself, but he knew the harp was tied to everything—the woman in black, his wife's tragic death, and his own awakening in the lonely dark cave.

Before he could dwell on it further, a low growl echoed through the corridor.

Alina froze, her hand darting to the dagger at her belt. "We're not alone," she whispered.

The growl came again, louder this time, and the shadows at the edge of the lantern's light seemed to shift and ripple. Elias held his walking stick like a spear, his body tense.

From the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes appeared, followed by another, and another. Slowly, the creatures stepped into the light.

They were unlike anything Elias had ever seen—hulking beasts with elongated limbs, their bodies covered in black, chitinous armor. Their mouths were filled with jagged teeth, and a faint, bluish mist seeped from between their jaws.

"Guardians," Alina hissed, backing away.

The creatures advanced, their movements slow and deliberate, as if savoring the hunt. Elias's mind raced. There were three of them, and their sheer size made them formidable.

"What do we do?" he asked, his voice tight.

"We fight," Alina said, drawing her dagger. "Or we die."

The first creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Elias ducked, swinging his walking stick with all his strength. The blow connected with a sickening crack, but the creature barely flinched.

Alina darted forward, her blade flashing in the lantern light as she drove it into the creature's side. It let out a guttural roar and swiped at her, narrowly missing as she rolled out of reach.

Elias scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding. The other two creatures were circling now, their movements coordinated and predatory.

"Keep moving!" Alina shouted. "Don't let them corner you!"

Elias dodged another swipe, swinging his stick again and aiming for the creature's glowing eyes. This time, the impact elicited a pained screech, and the beast staggered back.

Alina took advantage of the opening, leaping onto its back and driving her dagger into the base of its skull. The creature convulsed, then collapsed to the ground, its body dissolving into a pool of dark, viscous liquid.

"Two more!" Alina called, already turning to face the others.

Elias barely had time to react before one of the remaining creatures lunged at him. He thrust his stick forward, catching it in the throat and forcing it back. Alina was on the second one, her movements quick and precise as she dodged its claws and struck at its legs.

The fight was brutal and chaotic, but eventually, the final creature fell, its body melting away like the others. Elias stood panting, his stick slick with the creatures' strange ichor.

"You're not bad with that thing," Alina said, wiping her dagger clean.

Elias gave a faint, humorless laugh. "I'm not sure I want to make a habit of it."

Alina smirked, but her expression quickly turned serious. "We need to keep moving. The tower won't give us another chance."

They continued down the corridor, their movements cautious. The fight had left Elias drained, but the harp's melody was stronger now, pulling him forward.

The corridor opened Into a massive chamber, its ceiling stretching high above them. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it rested a large, ornate harp. Its strings glowed faintly, their light casting shifting patterns on the walls.

Elias's breath caught. This was it—the harp from his dreams, the source of the melody that had haunted him.

Alina stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "This isn't right," she said, her voice low.

Before Elias could respond, the air in the chamber grew cold, and the shadows seemed to deepen. A figure stepped from the darkness, her black cloak flowing like liquid as she moved.

The woman In black.

Her face was as beautiful and cold as Elias remembered, her dark eyes locking onto his with a chilling intensity. A cruel smile played at her lips as she spoke.

"You've come far, Elias," she said, her voice smooth and taunting. "But you should have stayed in the grave where I left you."

Elias's grip tightened on his walking stick, his rage boiling over. "You killed her," he said, his voice shaking. "You killed my wife."

The woman's smile widened. "And I'll kill you again if you stand in my way."

Elias stepped forward, his body trembling with equal parts fury and resolve. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

"Not this time," he said.