Chapter 18: The Pursuit of Eternity
Melissa’s POV
As Kane and I got ready for our trip, the curse of the talisman weighed hard on my chest. The chilling throb of the damned thing lingered in the back of my consciousness, and the sanctuary felt colder than before. Its eerie energy appeared to beat in time with my mounting uneasiness.
“Are you certain of this? As he fastened the strap on his pack, Kane questioned in a low, worried voice.
I looked him in the eye and said, “We have no choice.” “I’ll seize the opportunity if there’s any chance we can save our child. Regardless of the danger.
Kane put a comforting hand on my shoulder as his face softened. “We’ll work together to overcome this.”
I gripped the relic around my neck and nodded. It hummed gently as if knowing the urgency of our quest.
There was a lot of stress on the way to the ancient seer. Every shadow appeared to be a possible danger, and the roads were too quiet. With his hand close to his weapon, Kane remained vigilant.
“How far along is it? I broke the stillness by asking.
“Not far,” Kane said, looking over the way ahead. However, the seer isn’t renowned for being hospitable.
I said, “I’ll choose unwelcoming over useless.”
We eventually arrived at a tiny, dilapidated hut perched on a cliff. There was a tremendous, almost supernatural vibe in the air.
As we got closer to the entrance, Kane said, “Stay close.”
Before we could knock, the door creaked open, showing a stooped person in the shadows. The seer’s piercing eyes met mine, and she gave me a knowing, unsettling smile.
Her voice sounded like the rustle of leaves as she continued, “You’ve come to bargain with fate.”
“Yes,” I replied as I moved forward. “We need to break the curse.”
I felt shivers down my spine when the seer laughed. “Ah, the curse of Lyra’s talisman. Doesn’t it feed on the essence of life?”
“How can we prevent it? Kane made a hard demand in his voice.
With her eyes fixed on mine, the seer cocked her head. “A path exists, but it is located in the Forbidden Forest, where few people dare to go.”
“What’s within the woodland? Despite the knot in my stomach, I asked in a firm voice.
“Danger,” the seer said plainly. “The cure you seek is guarded by the forest itself. It will try you, break you if you’re not careful.”
Kane moved in closer. “We’ve encountered worse.”
The seer’s cryptic look changed as her eyes shifted to his. Maybe. However, this trip will require sacrifice in addition to power.
“What are you saying? I pushed.
She drew closer, her voice falling to a whisper. There is no giving without taking in the wild. Keep it in mind.
She gave me a tiny vial that contained a glistening substance. When you locate the glowing bloom, sip this. For a brief instant, it will display the remedy. If you don’t take immediate action, the opportunity will be gone forever.
I nodded while holding the vial firmly. “I’m grateful.”
The seer looked off into the distance. “May your love be resilient enough to withstand the challenges that lie ahead.”
The tall, mist-covered trees of the Forbidden Forest towered over us. I could smell the smell of rot and earth in the moist air.
As we moved into the shadows, Kane murmured, “Stay close.”
The sounds of distant growls, rustling leaves, and the odd unsettling whisper filled the woodland. Every step I took made my heart race, and I kept thinking about the seer’s warning.
“What was that? I tightened my hold on Kane’s arm and whispered.
Despite his tense posture, he responded, “Just the wind.”
The trees appeared to enclose us as we went farther. The branches of the trees reached out like skeletal hands as they twisted in an odd way.
The silence was abruptly broken by a deep growl. In the darkness, a pair of bright eyes emerged, and then another, and still another.
Kane responded, calmly but firmly, “Wolves.”
They moved in a predatory, purposeful circle around us. Their hunger and instinctive need to defend their territory were palpable to me.
Kane moved forward, protecting me with his body. With a firm tone, he stated, “We’re not here to fight.”
The biggest wolf bared its teeth and roared.
With my heart racing, I whispered, “I don’t think they care.”
When one of the wolves lunged, Kane swung at it, showcasing his strength and expertise. With the artefact’s power buzzing at my fingers, I concentrated on keeping it ready.
We fought together, our camaraderie strong as we drove the wolves back. When the last one disappeared into the shadows, we were left breathless but unbroken.
“Are you alright? With his eyes searching me for wounds, Kane inquired.
Even though my legs were shaking, I said, “I’m fine.” “Let’s continue.”
After several hours, we arrived at a clearing that was illuminated by a mystical light. One luminous flower with petals that glistened like liquid gold stood in the middle of it.
“That’s it,” I muttered, feeling a wave of relief and amazement.
Kane gave a nod. “Take caution.”
The artefact pulsed with electricity as I moved forward. As I got closer, the flower’s glow seemed to intensify, as if it were responding.
However, the earth underneath me moved as I extended my hand to pluck it. From the ground, vines grew, encircling my ankles and drawing me back.
“Hey, Melissa! Kane hurried to my side and yelled.
The thorns of the vines dug into my flesh as they grew tighter. The ground shook as a deep, guttural howl reverberated around the clearing.
A huge creature with a majestic and terrifying form arose from the shadows. Its voice rumbled like thunder, and its eyes radiated an unearthly light.
“Are you willing to take what belongs to me?” it growled, its gaze fixed on me.
I fought the vines and said, “We don’t mean any harm.” “The flower is all we need to save our child.”
The creature’s face became stony. “There is a cost to the forest.”
With his eyes burning with resolve, Kane pulled out his weapon. After that, take it from me.
The clearing burst into mayhem as the creature let out a roar.
As the beast came toward us, the luminous flower pulsed furiously, its light flashing. With a sinking heart, I recognized that this was no typical combat as the air crackled with energy. In addition to guarding the flower, the forest’s guardian was putting our survival instincts to the test.