The days following their victory in the clearing passed in a blur of healing and silence. The forest, once so heavy with the dark magic that had plagued it, seemed to breathe easier now. The oppressive weight that had hung in the air for so long had lifted, and even the creatures—those that were left—seemed to slink away from the remnants of the darkness. But though the air had cleared, the people of Brigadoon knew better than to think it was truly over.
Lucian could feel the shifting tide within him, the magic that had coursed through him during the battle still restless in his veins. Each time he closed his eyes, he saw the twisted forms of the shadow creatures, and each time, something darker lurked behind them. His mind couldn't shake the feeling that what they had defeated wasn't the true enemy, merely a manifestation of something far older, far more dangerous.
The journey back to the village had been somber. Though they had succeeded in stopping the immediate threat, none of them spoke of what they had seen in the heart of the forest. The altar had been destroyed, the ground cracked and hollow, the symbols now fading into the earth like scars. There was a deep sense of relief, yes, but also something else—something that no one could quite name.
Elina, despite her usual strength, had been unusually quiet. She'd spent much of the journey with her head lowered, her lips pressed in a thin line, as though she were deep in thought. Laila, too, had been subdued. Lucian had never seen her so quiet, her eyes always a little too distant, as though she were looking for something she couldn't quite find.
Selia had greeted them with her usual gruff demeanor when they returned to the cabin, offering no praise, but also no criticism. Her eyes, however, were sharp as always, watching them with a scrutiny that made Lucian feel both seen and exposed at once. She hadn't asked for details, but Lucian could tell she knew more than she let on. There was always something about her that seemed to understand the unseen, the things that lingered just beyond the reach of ordinary perception.
That night, after a brief supper, the family gathered in the cabin. The fire crackled, casting long shadows along the walls. Lucian and Laila sat on the floor, their bodies still stiff and sore from the battle. Elina leaned against the back of a chair, arms crossed, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Did it feel… finished?" Elina asked, her voice quiet but heavy.
Lucian glanced at Laila, who met his gaze with an unreadable expression. "No," Lucian said honestly. "It didn't feel like we finished it. Not all of it, anyway."
Laila nodded, as though she had expected that answer. "I felt it too. The magic we stopped—it wasn't the source. It was a fragment. A manifestation of something else. Something worse."
"More?" Selia's voice was low, almost a growl, as though the mere thought of it set her teeth on edge. "This thing's been festering for centuries. Why would it show its hand now?"
"I don't know," Lucian admitted, rubbing his sore shoulder. "But I can't shake the feeling that the darkness was never fully contained. It's still out there, somewhere. And it's waiting for something."
Elina straightened, her eyes hardening. "We've barely touched the surface, haven't we? We've just fought a piece of it. But the true enemy is still hidden in the dark. All this time, it's been in the shadows."
"Yes," Laila said softly. "And it's gathering strength. That much I can feel. It's not over yet."
The room grew quiet as the weight of her words sank in. The fire crackled, the only sound breaking the stillness. Lucian swallowed, his throat dry. The thought of it—the idea that they had done so much, sacrificed so much, only to find that the enemy had merely been a shadow of what was to come—it gnawed at him. They weren't just facing the darkness anymore; they were facing something ancient and far more dangerous than they had realized.
Selia finally spoke again, her voice hard, like tempered steel. "You're right. But we're not going to sit here and wait for it to find us. If we're going to end this, we need to go deeper. Find where it started. Find the heart of it."
Lucian looked up at her, his heart racing with both fear and anticipation. "You know where it came from?"
Selia gave a single, sharp nod. "I've seen the signs before. Not just in the forest, but in other places. The kind of magic that darkens the land—it leaves a trace. I've tracked it for years, though I never thought it would come to this."
Laila's eyes widened, and Lucian could see the same realization dawning on her. "You've known about this… and you never told us?"
Selia's expression softened for a brief moment, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. "You weren't ready. Not until now. You've seen it yourself. The way the magic burns through you. You've felt it—what it does to the land, to the people. It twists things. Corrupts them."
Lucian looked down, the memory of the shadow creatures still fresh in his mind. "But why didn't you stop it earlier? Why wait until it had grown this strong?"
Selia's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening as though the question stung. "I'm no savior, boy. I don't go hunting every ghost and shadow that shows up. I'm a hunter, not a hero. But now it's different. Now, it's too strong to ignore."
Laila stood suddenly, her body tense with purpose. "Then what are we waiting for? If you know where to go, let's go."
Selia's gaze flicked to Elina, who had remained silent throughout most of their exchange. The two women exchanged a look—one that spoke volumes, a silent agreement made long before Lucian had been born.
"I know the path," Selia said, her voice low and certain. "But we're not going in half-prepared. We'll need supplies, knowledge—everything we've got. This isn't some petty hunt. We're going after the root of this darkness. It won't go quietly."
Elina sighed, her shoulders slumping for a brief moment before she stood, her expression resolute. "Then we leave at first light."
Lucian looked between them, feeling the weight of their decision settle in his bones. They were leaving the village. They were leaving everything behind to face the heart of this dark magic. The idea of it, the enormity of the task, sent a chill through him. But there was no other choice. If the darkness was going to be stopped, it had to be now.
"Then it's settled," Lucian said, his voice steadier than he felt. "We'll stop it. Together."
As they gathered their things, the tension in the room was palpable. The fire burned low, casting long shadows on the walls, and for the first time in a long while, Lucian realized just how much they had already lost. But he also knew that they hadn't lost everything. They still had each other. And with that, they still had a chance.
The next day, they would begin the hardest journey of their lives. But no matter what lay ahead, Lucian knew they would face it together. And for that, he would risk everything.