The forest felt different now. The air, once filled with the whisper of leaves and the soft rustle of hidden creatures, now hung thick and suffocating. Elara moved through the shadows, her footsteps quieter, her heart heavier.
She stole a glance at Kael, who walked a few paces ahead, his shoulders tense, his hand never straying far from his blade. His silence felt like a wall between them, each unspoken word a stone added to the growing barrier.
Elara's thoughts churned, replaying his accusations, his wary glances, the sharpness of his voice. Doubt coiled around her heart, its cold tendrils tightening with every step.
Am I becoming the threat he fears?
A sudden snap of a branch shattered the tense quiet. Elara froze, her senses flaring. Kael spun, his blade flashing as his eyes searched the shadows.
"Show yourself," he growled, his voice cutting through the darkness like a blade.
A figure stepped forward, the faint moonlight catching on dark armor and a scarred face twisted into a mocking grin. He moved with a predatory grace, his eyes locked on Elara.
"I should have known the fire-touched would be this reckless," the stranger said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But you, Kael... I expected better."
Kael's grip on his blade tightened, his jaw clenching. Elara felt the air around them thicken, the shadows pressing closer as if drawn to the newcomer's presence.
"Who are you?" Elara demanded, her voice steady despite the fear curling in her gut.
The man's grin widened, his eyes flicking to her hands, where faint, ember-like scars still glowed beneath her skin.
"A reminder," he replied, his gaze hardening. "That power like yours comes with a price."
Before she could react, he lunged, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Elara felt the heat in her veins ignite, her power responding with a fierce, protective surge.
Kael moved to intercept, his blade clashing against the stranger's with a burst of sparks. The sound rang out, sharp and jarring, echoing through the twisted branches like a warning bell.
Elara stumbled back, her heart racing, her mind a chaotic swirl of fear and fury. She clenched her fists, the fire within her roaring in response, casting flickering shadows across the darkened forest floor.
I won't be afraid. Not anymore.
With a defiant cry, she reached for her power, letting it surge through her veins, her flames casting the stranger's twisted grin into sharp relief.
The battle had begun, and Elara knew this was only the beginning.