Episode 14: Through the Hidden Path

Elias led the way through the forest with a confidence that unsettled Henry. He moved like a man who had traveled these woods countless times, his walking stick tapping rhythmically against the uneven ground. The morning sunlight filtered through the trees in fragmented rays, but even the warmth of the day couldn’t melt Henry’s growing unease.

“How do you know this path?” Henry asked, his voice edged with suspicion.

Elias didn’t turn, his gaze fixed ahead. “I know many things, Professor. These woods are riddled with forgotten routes and secrets. You’d be surprised how much the world has hidden in plain sight.”

Mara, walking beside Henry, kept a firm grip on her knife. Her eyes rarely left Elias, her wariness mirroring Henry’s. “You’ve avoided the question,” she said flatly. “Why should we trust you?”

Elias chuckled softly, his voice laced with amusement. “Trust is such a fragile thing, isn’t it? But let me ask you this—do you have a better guide? Or would you prefer to wander into an Order checkpoint?”

Mara didn’t respond, but her jaw tightened. Henry could feel the tension radiating from her, and he couldn’t blame her. Their situation felt like a delicate house of cards, and Elias was a gust of wind.

They walked in tense silence for another hour, the forest growing denser with each step. The path Elias had chosen wasn’t a path at all—it was a chaotic tangle of roots, brambles, and uneven terrain. Mara and Henry stumbled frequently, but Elias navigated it with an almost unnatural ease.

Finally, they emerged into a small clearing. In the center stood a moss-covered stone obelisk, its surface etched with faint symbols that seemed to shift under the sunlight. Elias stopped, leaning casually against his walking stick.

“This is where we part ways,” he said, his tone casual.

Henry blinked in confusion. “What? I thought you were guiding us to Ardenov.”

“I did,” Elias replied, gesturing to the obelisk. “The hidden path begins here. Follow the symbols, and you’ll find your way to the town. But don’t stray—these woods aren’t as forgiving as I am.”

Mara stepped forward, her knife glinting in her hand. “Not so fast. You said you wanted to see the manuscript. If you think you’re walking away without holding up your end of the deal, you’re mistaken.”

Elias raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. “Relax, Mara. I’m a man of my word.”

He extended his hand, and Mara reluctantly handed over the manuscript, her eyes never leaving his face. Elias opened it carefully, his movements reverent. The symbols on the pages glowed faintly, casting an eerie light on his weathered features.

“Fascinating,” he murmured, tracing a finger over the intricate patterns. “The craftsmanship alone is remarkable. But it’s the energy… it’s alive, isn’t it?”

Henry stepped closer, his curiosity overriding his caution. “What do you mean, ‘alive’?”

Elias glanced at him, his eyes sharp. “This isn’t just ink and parchment. It’s a conduit, a link to something far greater. The Abyss isn’t just a place—it’s a force, a living entity. This manuscript is its tether.”

Henry felt a chill crawl up his spine. “And the Order wants to control it?”

Elias closed the manuscript and handed it back to Mara. “They don’t just want to control it. They want to merge with it, to become its masters. But power like that doesn’t come without a price.”

Mara slid the manuscript into the satchel, her expression unreadable. “And what’s your price, Elias? Why help us at all?”

Elias smiled faintly. “Let’s just say I have a personal stake in keeping the Order from succeeding. Their vision of the world doesn’t align with mine.”

Henry frowned. “That’s not exactly comforting.”

“It’s not meant to be,” Elias replied, turning to leave. “But you’ll understand soon enough. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have my own path to follow.”

Mara didn’t stop him as he disappeared into the forest, his figure swallowed by the shadows. Henry watched him go, a knot of unease tightening in his chest.

“Do you think we can trust him?” he asked quietly.

Mara adjusted the satchel and turned toward the obelisk. “No. But we don’t have time to worry about him. We have to focus on getting to Ardenov.”

Henry nodded, though the sense of foreboding lingered. He followed Mara to the obelisk, where she began studying the shifting symbols. The air around the stone felt charged, as if it were alive with unseen energy.

“What now?” Henry asked.

Mara pointed to a series of symbols carved into the base of the obelisk. “These are markers. If we follow them, they’ll lead us to the town.”

Henry glanced nervously at the dense forest ahead. “And if they don’t?”

Mara smirked, though her eyes held no humor. “Then we hope Elias was telling the truth.”

With that, she stepped forward, leading the way into the trees. Henry followed close behind, the weight of the manuscript a constant reminder of the danger they carried.

As the shadows deepened and the symbols began to glow faintly along their path, Henry couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

And somewhere in the distance, a crow cawed, its call echoing like a warning through the woods.

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