The air was thick with tension as the group made their way deeper into the forest, the looming silhouette of Malakhor’s fortress growing ever closer in the distance. It seemed to pulse with dark energy, casting a faint, ominous glow that barely pierced the fog settling over the land. Each step felt heavier, not just from the weight of their weapons and supplies, but from the unspoken fears that gnawed at them.
“We can’t afford any mistakes,” Alaric’s voice cut through the silence, though his tone was more strained than usual. His hand occasionally drifted to his side, where the pain from his previous injury flared. “One wrong move, and we’ll lose more than just Lysandra.”
Finn’s jaw tightened as Alaric spoke, the words hanging in the air like a challenge. He quickened his pace, moving ahead of the group with an urgency that hadn’t left him since they had fled the stronghold without Lysandra.
“You alright, Finn?” Maelis asked, catching up to him, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
“No, I’m not alright,” Finn replied curtly, his eyes fixed ahead. “She’s in there, Maelis. Lysandra’s in there with that monster, and we’re out here. Talking.”
“We’re not just talking,” Maelis said, her voice even but edged with frustration. “We’re planning. If we rush in again, we’re going to end up captured or worse.”
Finn shook his head, his voice rising. “You heard Verran. Malakhor’s power grows every second we wait. Lysandra could be—”
“She’s strong,” Maelis cut in, stepping in front of him to block his path. “You need to stop thinking of her as some damsel in distress. She’s survived more than most of us ever have.”
Finn’s breath hitched as he stopped short, glaring at Maelis. “I know she’s strong. That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?” Maelis crossed her arms, the distance between them suddenly feeling more like a battlefield than the actual war they were fighting. “Because right now, your head’s a mess, and you’re not thinking clearly. We can’t afford to have you running into this half---.”
Finn’s fists clenched at his sides. “The point is that every second we waste out here, Lysandra is suffering in there. She’s... she’s my friend. More than that.”
Maelis’s eyes softened slightly at the admission, but she didn’t back down. “And if we fail because you can’t keep your emotions in check, then what? We lose her, we lose the battle, and the world falls into darkness. You have to think about the bigger picture here, Finn.”
“I am thinking about the bigger picture,” Finn shot back, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. “And Lysandra is a part of that picture.”
There was a beat of silence between them, the words hanging in the air like an unspoken truth neither of them had been willing to fully acknowledge until now. Finn’s feelings for Lysandra had always been there, bubbling beneath the surface, but the fear of losing her had brought them crashing to the forefront. It wasn’t just about the mission for him anymore—it was about her.
Maelis, sensing the shift, sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Look, I get it. I do. But this isn’t just about you and her. There’s a war at stake.”
Finn’s shoulders slumped, the weight of everything pressing down on him. “And if we lose her, what’s the point of winning the war?”
Maelis stared at him for a long moment, the fire in her eyes dimming as she saw the pain etched across his face. She had always been the one to think rationally, to focus on the mission and keep her emotions locked away where they couldn’t distract her. But seeing Finn like this, seeing the raw fear and love in his eyes, made something inside her shift.
“I won’t let us lose her,” Maelis said, her voice softer now. “We’ll get her back, I promise. But we do it together. You have to trust me on this.”
Finn’s gaze met hers, and for the first time since they had left the stronghold, he nodded. “Alright. Together.”
Their brief moment of understanding was interrupted by a sudden, sharp noise in the distance. Maelis’s head snapped toward the sound, her instincts immediately kicking in.
“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice low and alert.
Alaric, who had been trailing behind, stepped forward with a grimace. “It’s them. Malakhor’s forces.”
“They’ve found us,” Maelis muttered, drawing her sword.
The group fell into a tense, defensive formation, each of them scanning the darkened forest for any signs of movement. The shadows seemed to shift unnaturally around them, twisting in ways that made it impossible to tell where the danger was coming from.
“I don’t see anything,” Finn whispered, his grip tightening on his weapon.
“Just because we can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not here,” Alaric replied through gritted teeth.
As if on cue, a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, followed by the sound of feet rushing toward them. The first of Malakhor’s creatures appeared—a twisted, hulking figure made entirely of shadow, its glowing eyes filled with malice. Behind it, more figures began to emerge from the darkness, their numbers multiplying faster than the group could react.
“We’re surrounded,” Maelis said, her voice steady but tense.
Alaric raised his sword, grimacing as he struggled to hide the pain in his side. “We hold our ground. Stay close.”
The creatures surged forward, and the battle began in earnest. Finn lunged at the nearest one, his blade cutting through the dark form, but the creature reformed almost instantly, lashing out with claws of shadow. He barely dodged, rolling to the side as more of them closed in.
“We need to move!” Finn shouted over the din of the battle. “There’s too many of them!”
“We can’t just run,” Maelis called back, slicing through another creature. “They’ll chase us down before we even make it halfway.”
Alaric gritted his teeth, his movements slower than usual. His injury was taking its toll, and it was clear to everyone that he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.
“Alaric, fall back!” Maelis ordered, her eyes darting toward him.
“I’m fine,” Alaric insisted, but his voice betrayed the strain he was under.
“No, you’re not!” Finn yelled, cutting down another creature before rushing to Alaric’s side. “We can’t lose you, too.”
The battle raged on around them, the creatures relentless in their attack. Maelis fought with all the skill and precision she had, but even she could feel the tide turning against them. They were outnumbered, and the weight of the battle was pressing down on them like a storm.
As the group began to falter, Maelis caught a glimpse of something in the distance—a glimmer of light through the trees. Hope flickered in her chest as she realized what it was.
“There’s a clearing up ahead!” she called out, parrying a strike from one of the creatures. “If we can reach it, we might be able to hold them off.”
Finn nodded, his eyes flicking to Alaric, who was struggling to keep up. “Go. I’ll get him there.”
Maelis hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to stay and fight, but the logical part of her knew they didn’t have much time. She gave Finn a brief, meaningful look. “Don’t let him slow down.”
With that, she surged forward, cutting a path through the creatures toward the clearing. Finn stayed close to Alaric, helping him navigate the chaos as they fought their way forward.
But just as they neared the edge of the forest, Alaric stumbled, his face pale with pain.
“Alaric!” Finn shouted, catching him before he could fall. “Come on, we’re almost there!”
Alaric shook his head, his breathing labored. “I’m… slowing you down.”
“Don’t talk like that,” Finn snapped, his grip tightening on Alaric’s arm. “We’re not leaving you behind.”
But Alaric’s eyes were filled with exhaustion, the weight of his injury finally catching up to him. The creatures were closing in, and time was running out.
“We can’t afford any mistakes,” Maelis shouted back at them, her voice filled with urgency. “One wrong move, and we’ll lose more than just Lysandra.”
Finn looked at Alaric, his heart pounding in his chest. They were running out of options.
“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” Finn whispered, determination flashing in his eyes.
But even as they pressed forward, the darkness closed in, and the weight of their choices bore down on them.