I stumble forward into the endless hallway once again, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The cold, sterile walls stretch out in front of me, their gleaming metallic surfaces a stark contrast to the nightmare we''ve just left behind. Nikko clutches my arm, her small hands trembling, and I hold her close, trying to calm my own racing heart.


    Llamiryl stands ahead of us, her posture steady, though her face is drawn with the weight of what we''ve just seen. She says nothing, but the tension in the air is palpable. The dark presence... it''s still out there.


    The cold, sterile silence of the hallway presses down on us, and the weight of everything we''ve just witnessed crashes over me like a tidal wave. My legs feel like they could give out at any moment, but I stand, holding Nikko close to my side. Her small body trembles against me, and I can feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps.


    Then, without warning, she breaks down completely.


    Nikko''s small hands clutch at my tunic, her fingers digging into the fabric as if holding on for dear life. She buries her face in my chest, and I can feel the hot, wet tears soaking through the material as she sobs uncontrollably. Her body shakes violently with each sob, and I can feel her anguish, her fear, pouring out of her in waves.


    I kneel down slowly, bringing her closer to me, my own heart aching at the sight of her in so much pain. Her small, fragile frame is wracked with sobs, and she grips me so tightly, as if she''s afraid I might disappear if she lets go.


    "It''s okay, Nikko," I whisper, though the words feel empty. My voice wavers, betraying my own shaken state. "It''s okay... it was just a memory." But the words don''t seem to comfort her.


    Her sobs come in short, ragged breaths, and she pulls away just enough to look up at me, her eyes red and swollen, her face streaked with tears. "That... that could have been me," she chokes out between sobs. "If it... if it weren''t for Papa..."


    The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I can''t breathe. She''s right. The horror we just witnessed—it''s not so far from what she endured, what Ryu saved her from. And now, seeing this part of Ryu''s past, seeing the agony he went through... it''s almost too much to bear.


    I swallow hard, fighting back the tears that threaten to spill over. I can''t break down now. Nikko needs me.


    I lower myself to her level, kneeling in front of her, and cup her small, tear-streaked face in my hands. "Nikko," I whisper, my voice gentle but firm, "you''re safe now. You''re here, with me, with Ryu... because he made sure of that. He saved you."


    She sniffles, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, but the tears don''t stop. Her shoulders are still shaking, and I pull her into a tight embrace, smoothing her hair down as she sobs into my shoulder.


    I can feel my own body trembling. The images of Ryu, chained and broken, play over and over in my mind, and it''s hard to push them away. But I have to stay strong—for her.


    After a few long moments, I pull back just enough to look her in the eyes again, my hands still resting on her small shoulders. "Your Papa needs us now, Nikko," I say softly, my voice filled with as much strength as I can muster. "He''s fighting something terrible, something dark, and he needs us to help him. We have to be strong for him, just like he''s always been strong for us."


    Nikko looks up at me, her wide eyes glistening with tears, but there''s a spark of determination there too. Her lip quivers, but she nods, though the weight of everything is still heavy in her small frame.


    "I got you," I whisper, my voice steady. "We''re going to help him. I promise."


    She nods again, more firmly this time, though her hands still clutch at my tunic as if afraid to let go completely.


    Behind me, I hear a soft shuffle, and I glance up at Llamiryl. She''s standing a short distance away, her arms crossed, her face impassive, but I can see it—the subtle tension in her posture, the slight crease in her brow. Even she is shaken by what we''ve just seen, though she''s doing a far better job of hiding it than I am. For a brief moment, our eyes meet, and there''s a flicker of understanding between us.


    "We need to move forward," Llamiryl says, her voice calm, though there''s a tightness to it that wasn''t there before. "The dark presence is still out there... and Ryu''s time is running short."


    I nod, swallowing hard as I rise to my feet, keeping Nikko close to me. My heart still pounds in my chest, and the weight of what we''ve just seen lingers heavily in the air, but I know one thing for certain.


    The moment we step through the door, I''m greeted by a cold, dry wind that sends a shiver down my spine. I blink, adjusting to the sudden shift in light and air. The sky above us is a strange, pale orange, streaked with thin clouds. The air feels sharp, carrying with it the scent of something ancient and desolate. Beneath our feet, the ground is hard, cracked, and dry, as if nothing has grown here for centuries. In the distance, tall, jagged stone spires rise toward the sky, their surfaces worn smooth by the endless wind. The entire landscape feels barren, lifeless... hostile.


    ?????


    We''re standing in what looks like a massive arena, carved from stone that''s weathered by time. The walls stretch high around us, towering and ominous. The arena itself is a wide, flat space with a stone floor, scratched and scarred from countless battles. There''s an ancient weight to this place, as though it has seen endless violence, and the echoes of those battles still linger in the air.


    In the center of the arena, I see him.


    Ryu.


    He''s standing there, dressed in black robes that that hug his tiny frame, his face set in a hard, focused expression. My heart tightens as I watch him move—quick, deliberate strikes, his small hands gripping a long staff as he parries and blocks his opponent''s blows. He''s young—far too young—and I suddenly realize he''s the same age as Nikko. Seven years old. My breath catches in my throat at the thought.


    But it''s his opponent that catches my attention next—a strange, metallic being, taller than Ryu, moving with mechanical precision. It''s humanoid in shape but entirely made of gleaming, cold metal. Its eyes glow faintly, and it wields a dueling staff, striking at Ryu with relentless efficiency. Each of its movements is calculated, deliberate, with no hesitation.


    I glance over at Llamiryl, who''s watching with a mix of curiosity and confusion. "What kind of being is that?" she asks quietly, her eyes narrowing at the metallic figure.


    I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "It''s... a droid," I say, the word feeling foreign on my tongue, though I remember Ryu once explaining it to me. "It''s not alive. It''s a machine, built to fight. To follow commands. They don''t feel pain... they just keep going."


    Llamiryl nods slowly, her expression thoughtful, but my focus shifts back to Ryu. He''s fighting with everything he has, but it''s clear he''s struggling. His movements are slower now, and I can see the exhaustion on his face—the way his shoulders sag after every strike, the way he stumbles just a bit before regaining his footing. His face is bruised, his lip split, and a thin line of blood trickles down his temple.


    I feel my stomach twist painfully. He''s just a child... how could they do this to him?


    The droid''s attacks are relentless, and Ryu is barely keeping up. Each clang of the dueling staffs sends a sharp echo through the arena, and I wince every time Ryu misses a block, the staff coming dangerously close to striking him.


    My heart pounds in my chest as I watch, my hands clenched tightly at my sides. Nikko, standing beside me, is silent, her eyes wide with fear. She can sense it too—something terrible is happening, and Ryu is losing.


    And then it happens.


    The droid strikes with a vicious blow, too fast for Ryu to block. The staff slams into his face with a sickening crack, and Ryu crumples to the ground. I hear Nikko gasp beside me, her small hand flying to her mouth as she watches in horror.


    "Pathetic," a cold voice cuts through the air.


    I turn sharply toward the source of the voice and see him—Ryu''s master. He stands off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark cloak flowing around him. His hood is down, revealing his face—the same man from before. His beard is finely trimmed, and his eyes, sharp and calculating, are fixed on Ryu with a look of disappointment. The air around him feels heavy, oppressive, and I can feel the malice radiating from him.


    Ryu groans, his small hands trembling as he tries to push himself off the ground. His face is bloodied, his lip swollen, but he refuses to stay down. I can see how much pain he''s in, how hard he''s pushing himself, and it breaks my heart to watch.


    "You''re too slow," the master says, his voice sharp and condescending. "Your form is weak. Your mind is clouded. Again."


    I feel a surge of anger rise within me. How can he say that to Ryu? He''s just a child! My heart aches at the sight of Ryu struggling to his feet, spitting out blood as he grips the staff tightly. The droid shows no mercy—it attacks again, and I can see the exhaustion in Ryu''s every movement as he barely manages to block.


    "Papa!" Nikko''s voice suddenly rings out beside me, filled with panic and fear. Before I can react, she breaks free from my grasp and runs toward Ryu, her small figure darting across the arena.


    "Nikko! No!" I shout, my heart leaping into my throat.


    She reaches Ryu just as the droid swings its staff again, and she throws herself in front of him, arms outstretched as if to shield him. But the staff passes right through her, striking Ryu full force and sending him crashing to the ground again.


    Nikko stares, horrified, her eyes wide with shock and tears starting to well up. "Stop it!" she cries, turning to Ryu''s master, her voice trembling. "Stop it! He''s hurt! He can''t fight anymore!"


    The master doesn''t even acknowledge her. His eyes remain fixed on Ryu, cold and unfeeling. "Again," he says, his voice like ice.


    Nikko''s small fists clench at her sides, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please!" she sobs, her voice breaking. "Please... stop..."


    I run to her, pulling her into my arms as she shakes uncontrollably. "Nikko," I whisper, my voice cracking as I try to calm her. "This is a memory. We can''t change it. We''re just... observers."


    She sobs into my shoulder, her small body trembling as she clings to me, her heart breaking at the sight of Ryu suffering.


    Llamiryl steps forward, her expression grim. "The dark presence isn''t here," she says, her voice quiet but laced with frustration. "We need to move on."


    With a wave of her hand, she summons another door, the strange metallic door sliding upward with a hiss. Blinding light spills through, illuminating the harsh arena.


    I take one last look at Ryu, my heart heavy with sorrow. He''s still struggling to stand, his face bruised and bloodied, but I know we can''t stay. We have to keep moving.


    I pull Nikko close as we step through the door, leaving the nightmare behind.


    ?????


    As we step through the door, the air shifts again, and I feel the weight of this new place settle around me like a thick, oppressive blanket. The atmosphere is different here—heavier, colder, and filled with an ancient energy that hums in the background. We find ourselves in a small, dimly lit chamber, the stone walls carved with intricate patterns, their dark surfaces worn smooth by time. The room feels... old, like it has been here for millennia, untouched by the outside world.


    In the center of the chamber, Ryu sits cross-legged, his young face still marked with healing bruises from his earlier duel. His eyes are closed, his expression focused, and his hands rest gently on his knees as he meditates. There''s a stillness about him, a sense of deep concentration, but beneath that calm exterior, I can see the strain—the effort it takes for him to maintain this posture, this focus.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Floating in the air before him is a strange object—a puzzle, or at least, it seems like one. It''s made up of several intricate pieces, each one a different shape and size, all carved from the same dark metal. The pieces hover in mid-air, slowly rotating around each other in a delicate, almost hypnotic dance. The puzzle is complex, its surfaces covered in small, alien symbols that seem to shift and change as the pieces move. The way they float, the way they interact... it''s clear that this is no ordinary puzzle. There''s something about it—something that feels... alive, like it''s connected to the energy of this place.


    I watch in awe, unable to tear my eyes away from the sight. Nikko stands beside me, her wide eyes fixed on Ryu, while Llamiryl''s gaze sharpens as she takes in every detail of the scene. There''s a palpable tension in the air, a sense that something is happening, something far beyond our understanding.


    "Focus, Ryu," a voice commands, and I turn to see Ryu''s master standing near the edge of the room, his arms crossed over his chest, his cold gaze fixed on the boy. "Let the Force flow through you," he continues, his voice calm, but with an undercurrent of sternness.


    I glance at Ryu, watching as his brow furrows slightly, the strain of concentration etched across his face. The pieces of the puzzle begin to tremble, wobbling in the air as if they''re struggling to maintain their balance.


    "The Force is like a calm river," the master says, his tone slow and deliberate. "It flows smoothly, effortlessly. You must allow it to guide you, to move through you."


    But Ryu is struggling. His breathing quickens, his hands twitch slightly, and the pieces of the puzzle begin to shake more violently. For a moment, it looks as if he''s about to regain control, but then, with a soft clatter, the pieces fall apart, dropping to the stone floor with a dull thud.


    Ryu lets out a soft sigh, his shoulders sagging in defeat. His head hangs low, and I can feel his frustration from where I stand.


    "Pathetic," the master''s voice cuts through the chamber like a blade. I wince at the coldness in his tone, my heart aching as I watch Ryu shrink under his master''s disapproval.


    "You are too rigid," the master says, stepping closer, his eyes narrowing at Ryu. "Your mind is clouded with doubt, with fear. The Force cannot flow through you if you are blocking it with your weakness."


    Ryu says nothing, his hands clenched tightly in his lap, his breathing shallow. I can see the pain in his eyes, the desperation to please, but he''s... trapped. Trapped in this cycle of failure.


    "You are not leaving this chamber," the master continues, his voice low and unforgiving, "until you do the puzzle correctly. Again."


    I feel my stomach twist as I watch Ryu straighten up, his small body trembling as he prepares to try again. The puzzle pieces rise slowly from the floor, floating unsteadily in the air before him. I can see the effort it''s taking him, the strain in his face, the way his hands tremble.


    "It''s too much for him," Nikko whispers beside me, her voice small and filled with worry. She grips my hand tightly, her eyes locked on her Papa as he struggles. "Why is he making him do this?"


    "I don''t know," I murmur, my heart aching as I watch Ryu. "He''s... so young."


    Llamiryl, standing beside us, watches with a critical gaze. "He is pushing Ryu to his limits," she says softly, though there''s an edge to her voice, a hint of disapproval. "It is cruel... and unnecessary."


    The puzzle pieces continue to rise, but they''re shaking, unstable, as if they''re on the verge of falling apart again. I hold my breath, hoping—praying—that Ryu will succeed, that he''ll find the strength to complete the task. But then, just as the pieces seem to align, they collapse again, crashing to the ground with a final, echoing thud.


    Ryu lowers his head, his breath ragged, and I can see the tears welling up in his eyes. But his master says nothing this time. He simply stands there, his gaze cold and unfeeling. The silence in the chamber is suffocating, heavy with the weight of Ryu''s failure.


    "He''s hurting," Nikko whispers, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Why won''t he stop?"


    I squeeze her hand, trying to hold back my own tears. "I don''t know, Nikko. I don''t know."


    Llamiryl, her expression grim, steps forward. "The dark presence isn''t here," she says quietly, her voice cutting through the silence. With a wave of her hand, she summons another door, the now-familiar metallic design hissing open, revealing the blinding light beyond.


    Without a word, I guide Nikko through the door, leaving the memory behind, though the weight of it lingers in my chest.


    ?????


    Memory after memory, we move forward, stepping through door after door, but each time, the Shadowfell slips away, eluding us just as we get close. The hallway stretches on endlessly, its cold, metallic walls gleaming as we pass through, the air heavy with the weight of Ryu''s memories. Each one is a glimpse into his past, a fragment of the pain and struggle he endured. And each one twists my heart a little more.


    We step into the next memory, and I find myself in a dimly lit room lined with shelves, each one overflowing with old, worn books and scrolls. The air is thick with the scent of ancient paper and dust. In the center of the room, a young Ryu—perhaps eight or nine years old—sits hunched over a table, his brow furrowed in concentration. Before him are several old texts, their pages covered in strange symbols I don''t recognize. Some of the books bear a symbol that seems... holy. The others have a different mark—a dark, foreboding one that sends a chill down my spine.


    I notice small, pyramid-like objects scattered across the table as well—glowing faintly in the dim light. Ryu''s fingers brush over them delicately as if he''s reading something from within their glow. I have no idea what they are, but they feel... powerful. Dangerous, even.


    "What is he reading?" Nikko asks, her voice soft, as she watches her Papa with wide eyes.


    "I don''t know," I admit, stepping closer, my gaze flicking between the strange texts and the glowing objects. "But whatever it is... it''s important. He''s learning."


    Llamiryl steps forward, her eyes narrowing at the symbols on the books. "These markings," she mutters, her tone thoughtful. "They hold great power. It seems Ryu''s master is teaching him things far beyond just combat."


    Nikko clings to my side, her brow furrowed in concern. "Why... why is he doing this? What''s in those books?"


    I shake my head, unable to answer. The weight of the memory presses down on me, and I can feel the strain on Ryu, even here. He''s learning so much, absorbing it all, but the darkness that surrounds him... it grows with every page he turns.


    Before I can process it further, the scene shifts again.


    We find ourselves back in the same small chamber from earlier, the same puzzle pieces floating before Ryu as he sits in his meditative pose. He''s older now, perhaps nine, and though the bruises from before are gone, there''s a new focus in his eyes, a deeper determination. The puzzle pieces hover more steadily this time, their strange, angular shapes rotating in midair, clicking together slowly as Ryu works to solve the complex structure.


    He''s gotten better. His movements are more controlled, his focus sharper. I can see the progress he''s made—how much he''s grown since that first attempt. The pieces tremble only slightly as they align themselves, forming a shape I still can''t quite understand.


    "Look," Nikko whispers, her voice filled with awe. "He''s doing it. He''s getting better."


    I nod, feeling a strange mix of pride and sorrow as I watch him. "Yes... he is."


    But then, just as the final piece is about to click into place, the puzzle wavers. Ryu''s face tightens with strain, his brow furrowing as he tries to hold it together. The pieces shake... then fall, clattering to the ground once again.


    Ryu lets out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping. His hands tremble slightly, and I can see the exhaustion in his eyes. He''s so close, but still... he can''t quite grasp it.


    His master stands in the corner, watching silently. He doesn''t speak, but the look on his face says it all—disappointment, cold and unyielding. The air is thick with it, and I can feel the weight of Ryu''s failure pressing down on him.


    Llamiryl, standing beside me, crosses her arms, her expression unreadable. "He''s pushing himself too hard," she mutters, her voice low. "But that''s exactly what his master wants."


    I don''t respond, my heart aching for Ryu as he closes his eyes, taking a deep breath before trying again. The pieces rise into the air once more, but this time, I can see the tremor in his hands, the strain in his face. He''s tired—so tired—and yet, he refuses to give up.


    "Papa..." Nikko whispers, her voice barely audible.


    But once again, the pieces fall apart.


    The memory shifts again, and we find ourselves back in the arena, the same ancient stone walls looming over us like silent sentinels. Ryu is older now—ten, it seems—and the bruises are gone, replaced with a quiet confidence. He''s dueling the same droid as before, but this time, there''s a difference. He''s faster, more controlled. His movements are precise, his strikes deliberate. I watch in awe as he parries the droid''s attacks with ease, his dueling staff moving in smooth, practiced arcs.


    He''s improved so much. Every strike, every block is sharper, more refined. The droid attacks relentlessly, but Ryu is holding his own, his small body moving with a grace that I hadn''t seen before. It''s as if he''s finally found his rhythm, finally learned how to tap into the power that''s been growing inside him all this time.


    "Look at him," I whisper, my heart swelling with pride. "He''s doing it. He''s winning."


    Nikko''s eyes are wide with awe as she watches her Papa fight, her small hand gripping mine tightly. "He''s... so strong."


    Llamiryl''s gaze sharpens, watching every movement with a critical eye. "He''s come a long way," she says softly, her tone almost impressed.


    And then, with one final strike, Ryu disarms the droid, sending its staff clattering to the ground. The droid stumbles back, its mechanical limbs twitching as it tries to regain its balance, but it''s too late. Ryu has won.


    He stands there, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. He looks over at his master, his eyes filled with a quiet pride, hoping—perhaps—for a word of praise, a sign that he''s finally earned his approval.


    But the master''s expression remains cold, unmoved.


    "Sloppy," he says, his voice sharp and cutting. "Your form was weak. Your footwork was slow. You left yourself open to attack too many times."


    Ryu''s face falls slightly, the pride in his eyes dimming as he listens to the criticism. His shoulders slump just a fraction, but he doesn''t argue. He simply nods, accepting the harsh words without question.


    "Again," the master commands, his voice cold and unfeeling.


    Ryu straightens up, gripping the dueling staff tightly in his hands, preparing to start the fight all over again. There''s no rest, no moment of triumph—only the constant push to be better, to be perfect.


    My heart aches as I watch him, the weight of it all pressing down on me. He''s just a child, forced to grow up too fast, to bear the burden of expectations no child should ever have to face.


    Nikko tugs on my sleeve, her voice trembling. "Why... why can''t he stop? He won... didn''t he?"


    I shake my head, unable to find the words to explain it. "I don''t know, Nikko. I don''t know."


    Llamiryl steps forward, her expression grim. "The dark presence isn''t here," she says quietly. With a wave of her hand, she summons another door, the now-familiar metallic design hissing open, revealing the blinding light beyond.


    Without a word, I guide Nikko through the door, leaving the memory behind, though the weight of it lingers in my chest.


    ?????


    The hallway stretches out before us once again, its cold, metallic walls gleaming under the dim light. But this time, something feels different. The air is thicker, heavier, pressing down on me with a weight that''s hard to shake. I take a slow breath, trying to steady myself, but the images of Ryu—young, bruised, pushed to his breaking point—linger at the edges of my mind. My chest tightens at the thought of him, at what he''s endured, and the fear of what''s still to come gnaws at me.


    We''ve been chasing the Shadowfell through Ryu''s memories, but every time, it slips away. It''s like trying to catch smoke with our bare hands. I can feel its presence, lurking just out of reach, watching us with a twisted satisfaction. The thought of it, of what it could do to Ryu, makes my stomach turn.


    What if... what if we can''t find it in time? What if it consumes him completely? The idea of Ryu being lost, his mind overtaken by that dark, malevolent force—it sends a shiver down my spine. I glance down at Nikko, her small hand still clutching mine, her wide eyes filled with worry. For her sake, for Ryu''s sake, I have to stay strong. I have to keep moving forward.


    But then, something shifts.


    The air grows colder, and the light around us seems to dim. My heart skips a beat, and I freeze in place, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. I know what''s coming. I can feel it.


    And then I hear it.


    A voice—low, ancient, and crawling with malice—seeps into my mind, slithering through my thoughts like a venomous snake. It''s not just a voice. It''s a presence, cold and oppressive, wrapping itself around me, sinking its claws into the deepest parts of my mind.


    "Ah... the brave Talia," it whispers, its tone dripping with mockery. "So determined, so noble. Yet, beneath that resolve, I see it... the fear. The doubt."


    My head throbs suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain spreading from my temples. I wince, clenching my teeth as I try to push the voice away, but it''s like trying to hold back a storm. The pressure in my skull builds, growing more intense with every word it speaks.


    "You think you can save him, don''t you? You think your love will shield him from the darkness. But you know... deep down, you know... you are powerless." The voice twists around me, each word like a dagger, finding the most vulnerable parts of me. "You couldn''t save him before. You stood by, helpless, while he suffered. And now... now you think you can stop me?"


    I stumble slightly, my vision blurring as the pain in my head intensifies. My knees feel weak, my pulse pounding in my ears. I clutch Nikko''s hand tighter, though my grip falters as the weight of the voice bears down on me.


    "He was broken long before I came, Talia. You know this. You''ve seen the cracks in his soul. I am merely... the inevitable. You cannot stop what has already begun."


    The pain spikes again, sharper this time, and I let out a soft gasp. It''s not just in my mind anymore—it''s physical, coursing through my body, making it hard to think, hard to breathe. I glance at Nikko, and I can see it in her eyes—the same pain, the same fear. Llamiryl stands rigid beside us, her face tight with strain, her hand pressing against her temple as if she too is fighting against the pressure.


    But the voice doesn''t stop. It presses on, relentless, each word digging deeper into my mind, tearing at the fragile barriers I''ve tried to build.


    "And what will you do when he turns on you? When the darkness finally consumes him? Will you watch him destroy everything you hold dear, just as he has been destroyed? Will you stand by, helpless, as you always have?"


    A wave of nausea rolls over me, the pain in my head reaching a blinding crescendo. I want to scream, to push it out, but I can''t. The words coil around my heart, squeezing tighter, suffocating me with their cruel truth.


    "You can''t save him, Talia. You''ve never been able to."


    My legs buckle, and I fall to one knee, gasping for air as the voice echoes through my mind, louder, darker, more consuming than before. The hallway around us seems to warp, the walls bending and twisting as if they''re reacting to the voice, to the Shadowfell''s presence.


    My vision blurs again, and I struggle to focus, to keep myself grounded. I can feel Nikko trembling beside me, her small body wracked with the same pain, the same overwhelming fear.


    The voice laughs, a dark, hollow sound that reverberates through the air, sending a fresh wave of pain through my skull.


    And just as quickly as it began, the voice fades, slipping away like smoke on the wind. The pain lingers, throbbing in my head, but the pressure eases slightly, enough for me to stand without stumbling. I look at Nikko, her tear-filled eyes reflecting the same agony I feel, and I pull her close, holding her tightly as the fear and pain still cling to us both.


    Llamiryl exhales sharply, her hand still pressed against her temple, her eyes narrowing with frustration. "It''s... toying with us," she mutters, her voice low and tense. "We have to find it. Quickly."


    I nod, though my heart is still racing, my head still pounding with the remnants of the Shadowfell''s words. We have to keep moving. We have to find it... before it''s too late.