Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Beneath the Surface

Dawn broke over the forest, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Selene stood by the edge of the clearing, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The events of the previous night weighed heavily on her mind.

Behind her, Aldric emerged from the cottage, his sword strapped across his back. "You didn’t sleep again," he observed, his voice low but steady.

"I don’t have the luxury," Selene replied without turning.

Aldric stepped closer, his boots crunching softly against the frost-laden grass. "You’re going to burn yourself out. Whatever’s coming, we’ll both need to be at full strength."

Selene glanced at him, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. "We?"

"You heard me," Aldric said. "I’m not doing this for you, witch. If this darkness spreads, it won’t stop with your forest. It’ll consume the villages, the towns—everything."

Selene nodded slowly. "Then we don’t have much time. There’s a place I need to go. A place that might hold answers."

"Where?"

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the strap of her satchel. "An ancient shrine, deep in the forest. It’s a sacred place for witches—a nexus of magic. If the corruption has spread there, it will confirm my worst fears."

Aldric frowned. "And if it’s already overtaken?"

"Then we’ll have to fight," Selene said simply.

Aldric didn’t argue. He’d seen enough to know that Selene’s instincts were rarely wrong.

The Journey to the Shrine

The path to the shrine was treacherous, winding through dense thickets and overgrown trails. The air grew colder the deeper they ventured, and the sunlight struggled to pierce the canopy above.

Aldric walked a few paces ahead, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "This place doesn’t feel right," he muttered.

"It isn’t," Selene said, her voice tense. "The magic here is… wrong. Twisted."

They came to a small ravine, where a crumbling stone bridge spanned a rushing stream below. Selene hesitated, her eyes scanning the worn structure.

"It’ll hold," Aldric said, stepping onto the bridge.

As he crossed, a sudden crack echoed through the air. The stones beneath his feet crumbled, sending him plummeting toward the water.

"Aldric!" Selene shouted, rushing forward.

Reacting instinctively, she extended her hand, a tendril of shimmering light shooting out to catch him mid-fall. With a grunt of effort, she pulled him back onto solid ground.

Aldric landed beside her, breathing heavily. "That was close."

Selene smirked, her hands on her hips. "You’re welcome."

He shot her a wry look. "I didn’t ask for your help."

"No," she said, "but you needed it."

Their banter was short-lived as they continued their journey. The forest grew darker, the air heavier with each step. When they finally reached the shrine, the sight before them made Selene’s heart sink.

The once-beautiful stone structure was now a ruin, its walls blackened as though scorched by fire. Tendrils of dark energy snaked across the ground, pulsating with an unnatural rhythm.

"This is worse than I thought," Selene whispered.

Aldric unsheathed his sword, his muscles tense. "What are we dealing with?"

"Corruption," Selene said, stepping closer. "A powerful force has tainted the shrine. It’s feeding off the magic here, growing stronger."

As she spoke, a low growl echoed from the shadows. Aldric and Selene turned to see figures emerging—twisted creatures with misshapen limbs and glowing eyes.

"Stay behind me," Aldric said, stepping in front of Selene.

"No," she replied firmly, her hands glowing with magical energy. "We do this together."

The creatures charged, and the battle began. Aldric moved with practiced precision, his sword cutting through the air as Selene unleashed bursts of light magic to hold the creatures at bay. The two of them fought in sync, their movements complementing each other in a way that felt almost natural.

When the last creature fell, Selene approached the shrine, her hands trembling slightly. She placed her palm against the cold stone, her eyes closing as she murmured an incantation.

"What are you doing?" Aldric asked, his sword still drawn.

"Trying to cleanse the corruption," Selene said.

The air around her shimmered as she channeled her magic into the shrine. For a moment, it seemed to work—the dark tendrils began to recede, the stone walls glowing faintly.

But then, a deafening roar shook the ground. A massive shadow rose from the center of the shrine, its form shifting and writhing as though it couldn’t decide what shape to take.

Selene stumbled back, her energy drained. "It’s too strong," she said, her voice weak.

Aldric stepped forward, his jaw set. "Then we bring it down together."

The shadow lunged, and the fight began anew. Aldric struck at its limbs, his blade glowing faintly as it cut through the darkness. Selene gathered what little strength she had left, weaving her light magic into his attacks.

Together, they fought with everything they had, until finally, the shadow let out a piercing scream and dissolved into nothingness.

After the Battle

The shrine was silent once more, its walls glowing faintly as if thanking them for their efforts. Selene sank to the ground, her breathing ragged. Aldric knelt beside her, his expression uncharacteristically soft.

"You okay?" he asked.

She nodded weakly. "I’ll be fine. The shrine is… healing. But the corruption—this wasn’t random. Someone is orchestrating this."

Aldric frowned. "And you think they’ll stop here?"

"No," Selene said. "This was only the beginning. Whoever is behind this, they’re targeting places of power. If they succeed, the entire region will fall."

Aldric’s grip on his sword tightened. "Then we stop them."

Selene looked at him, surprised by the conviction in his voice. For the first time, she saw not just a hunter, but an ally—a man willing to fight for something greater than himself.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Aldric stood, offering her his hand. "Let’s finish this."

Selene took his hand, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Together, they left the shrine, the bond between them stronger than ever.

With the corruption spreading and the stakes growing higher, Aldric and Selene’s partnership deepens. But as they uncover more about their enemy, they’ll face challenges that test their trust—and their hearts.

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