Shadows and sparks

 Chapter 17: Shadows and Sparks

The map's golden light flickered like a heartbeat as we stepped out of the Chamber of Echoes, its glow casting long shadows on the stone walls of the Dragon Kingdom's castle. Sey walked beside me, his presence both comforting and unnerving. His armor gleamed faintly in the dim light, and every so often, I caught him glancing at me, his golden eyes unreadable.

Arl trailed behind us, his hand never straying far from his sword. He didn't trust Sey—and honestly, neither did I. But the map had bound us together, and for now, we had no choice but to follow its path.

"Where does the map lead now?" Arl asked, his voice tight with suspicion.

I studied the glowing lines, which had shifted to form a clear route leading out of the castle and into the dense forests beyond. "It's pointing us toward the Whispering Woods," I said, my stomach twisting at the thought. The Whispering Woods were infamous for their treacherous terrain and the dark creatures that lurked within. "We'll need to move quickly if we want to make it before nightfall."

Sey nodded, his expression grim. "The woods are dangerous, but if the map is leading us there, we don't have a choice. I'll gather supplies and meet you at the gates in an hour."

He turned to leave, but I reached out, my fingers brushing against his arm. He froze, his gaze snapping back to mine. For a moment, the air between us crackled with something unspoken—something that made my heart race and my breath catch.

"Sey," I said, my voice low, "what aren't you telling me? The map… it showed me things. Visions of the past, of the future. And I saw you. I saw us. What does it mean?"

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might pull away. But then he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The map doesn't just show the future, Aurora. It shows possibilities. What you saw… it's one of many paths. But the choices we make will determine which one becomes reality."

His words sent a shiver down my spine. "And what if I don't like the path it's leading us down?"

Sey's gaze softened, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes. "Then we'll find another way. Together."

The intensity of his stare made my chest tighten, and I quickly pulled my hand away, breaking the moment. Sey hesitated, as if he wanted to say more, but then he turned and strode down the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the silence.

Arl stepped up beside me, his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't like this," he said, his voice low. "Sey's hiding something. And that map… it's dangerous, Aurora. You can't trust it."

"I know," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But right now, it's the only lead we have. We have to see this through."

---

An hour later, we stood at the castle gates, the Whispering Woods looming in the distance like a dark, foreboding wall. Sey had brought a small group of Dragon Kingdom soldiers with him, their armor gleaming in the fading light. He handed me a satchel filled with supplies, his fingers brushing against mine for a fraction of a second longer than necessary.

"Stay close," he said, his voice firm. "The woods are unpredictable, and we don't know what we're walking into."

I nodded, slinging the satchel over my shoulder. "Let's move."

The journey into the woods was tense and silent, the only sounds the crunch of leaves beneath our feet and the occasional rustle of branches in the wind. The deeper we went, the darker it became, the trees closing in around us like a living, breathing entity. The map's light was our only guide, its glow cutting through the shadows like a beacon.

As we walked, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every so often, I'd catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my eye, but when I turned, there was nothing there. Still, the unease lingered, settling like a weight in the pit of my stomach.

"Do you feel that?" I whispered to Sey, who walked beside me.

He nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We're not alone."

Before I could respond, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending a chill down my spine. The soldiers behind us tensed, their weapons drawn as they scanned the shadows.

"Stay alert," Sey said, his voice calm but commanding. "Whatever's out there, it's close."

The growl came again, closer this time, and then the forest erupted into chaos. Figures clad in black leaped from the shadows, their movements swift and deadly. They moved like ghosts, their faces obscured by masks, and within seconds, they had surrounded us.

"Ambush!" Arl shouted, drawing his sword and stepping in front of me. "Aurora, stay back!"

But I didn't need his warning. I was already moving, my own blade flashing as I parried an attack from one of the masked figures. Sey was at my side in an instant, his sword a blur of motion as he fought off two attackers at once.

"Who are they?" I shouted over the clash of steel.

"No idea," Sey replied, his voice tight with strain. "But they're not here to talk."

The fight was brutal and unrelenting, the forest floor slick with blood as we battled the mysterious assailants. Sey and I fought back-to-back, our movements perfectly in sync despite the tension between us. It was as if the map had bound us together not just in destiny, but in combat as well.

As the last of the attackers fell, I turned to Sey, my chest heaving. "Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, his gaze sweeping over me. "You?"

"I'm fine," I said, though my arms ached from the effort. "But who were they? And why did they attack us?"

Sey knelt beside one of the fallen assailants, pulling off their mask to reveal a face marked with strange, glowing tattoos. His expression darkened. "Shadow Stalkers. They're mercenaries, hired by the highest bidder. Someone doesn't want us to reach our destination."

"Who would—" I started to ask, but before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through my side. I gasped, stumbling back as a dagger clattered to the ground at my feet.

Sey's eyes widened in alarm. "Aurora!"

He caught me as I fell, his arms strong and steady as he lowered me to the ground. The pain was intense, but it was nothing compared to the look in Sey's eyes—a look of raw, unguarded fear.

"You're going to be okay," he said, his voice trembling slightly as he pressed a hand to my wound. "Just stay with me."

I wanted to tell him I was fine, that it was just a scratch. But the world was already spinning, the edges of my vision blurring as darkness crept in.

The last thing I saw before everything went black was Sey's face, his golden eyes filled with a desperation I hadn't seen before. And then, nothing.