The Journey Begins

The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and pine. Emma adjusted the strap of her backpack, glancing over at Alexander, who was busy securing the last of their supplies. They had spent the night in a secluded clearing, resting as best they could after Selene's warning. But sleep had been elusive, the weight of their mission pressing down on them like an invisible force.

Alexander tightened the leather straps on his pack and looked at her. "Ready?"

Emma exhaled slowly. "As ready as I'll ever be."

They set off toward the northern mountains, where the Order of Eterna supposedly resided. The path ahead was uncertain, but they had no choice but to move forward. Every step took them farther from the life Emma once knew, deeper into the unknown.

As they walked through the dense forest, the canopy above filtered the morning light into soft beams. Birds chirped in the distance, and for a moment, it almost felt like any other day. But the tension in Alexander's shoulders and the nagging sensation in Emma's chest reminded her that nothing was the same anymore.

"Do you trust Selene?" she asked after a while.

Alexander hesitated before answering. "I don't know. But she knew about the Abyss. And she knew about you. That's not something we can ignore."

Emma nodded, chewing on her lip. "And what if she's leading us into a trap?"

"Then we'll be ready," he said firmly.

They walked in silence for another hour, the forest gradually giving way to rougher terrain. The trees thinned, replaced by rocky slopes and scattered shrubs. The mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks hidden behind a veil of mist.

Emma wiped the sweat from her brow. "How far do you think we have to go?"

Alexander scanned the horizon. "If Selene was telling the truth, we'll need to cross the Valley of Echoes first. That could take a couple of days."

Emma groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that."

As they continued, the wind picked up, carrying an eerie whisper through the air. Emma shivered. Something felt… off. The further they walked, the stronger the sensation became, like invisible eyes watching them from the shadows.

Then, without warning, Alexander stopped.

"What is it?" she whispered.

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned his head slightly, listening. Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her behind a large boulder.

"Stay quiet," he murmured.

Emma barely had time to process his words before she heard it—the faint sound of footsteps crunching against gravel. Someone was following them.

Her heart pounded as she pressed herself against the cold rock, barely daring to breathe. She risked a glance around the edge of the boulder. A figure moved through the trees, dressed in a dark cloak. Their face was hidden beneath a hood, but Emma could feel the weight of their gaze scanning the area.

She turned back to Alexander, her pulse racing. "Who is that?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. But we need to move—now."

Without another word, they crept away from their hiding spot, keeping low to the ground. The stranger hadn't spotted them yet, but Emma knew they didn't have much time. They needed to put distance between themselves and their pursuer before it was too late.

As they hurried deeper into the valley, Emma couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of their troubles. Selene's warning echoed in her mind.

The Abyss does not simply let go.

And now, it seemed, neither did the ones who served it.