Alice dropped to her knees exhausted and drained. The mist faded clearing the way around them. Much of the ground was scarred and cracked from the giant’s assault. Already Alice’s permeating Sword Breath had started to seep into the ground and the land around them. The dark patches and dying grass were shifting their stalks.
Elias walked back to check on the horses while Thompson went over to Alice. She sat quietly while breathing heavily. Thompson slid his crossbow over to its hook on his belt and let it rest as he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Good job. You did great out there. Your ability to finely control your magic was amazing.”
“It felt like it was always on the edge of falling apart but didn’t right at the edge of every attack,” she said with a slight chuckle. “I’m running on empty. You will have to face the next set of enemies in the valley without my magic and maybe without me.”
“I don’t think we will have to worry about that. I think you scared them off. We should get going though. If the corruption is half as sapient as I think it is then it will have noticed our stunt and the large burst of your magic that we used. It will send more enemies our way. The closer we are to Dawncoast the better when it happens. You can rest yourself while we ride.”
Thompson turned back to where Elias was pulling the horses to their group. The three horses were a little skittish but cooperative. Elias hopped on Thunderstruck and Thompson followed with his horse. A minute later Alice stood up and got on her horse as well. She grabbed a canteen of water and slowly sipped it as they started to ride.
“There should be an old fort spanning the end of the valley. It is one of the markers separating the southern cities from the rest of the kingdom. You’ll be able to rest there,” said Elias while watching Alice. She held her head down focused on the rhythmic movements of her horse.
A few hours passed as they rode. Corruption bled into everything around them. They path they took went over the old road through the valley. It was long overgrown and was barely even noticeable. The main way to recognize it in its current form was the slight bump between it and the rest of the corrupted nature around it. The further they rode the more Alice recovered. She let her horse take control of itself while she ate. It was smart enough to stay right next to Thompson’s horse. Mist had started to creep back into the valley once more in the hours since it had been banished by Alice. The mist now had a lighter quality and didn’t bring the same chill as before.
While the sun set over the valley hills they set up camp for the night. Alice took up the first watch after resting for most of the day. Elias estimated it would take them one more day to reach the end of the valley. They rested around a simple fire keeping the cold at bay.
The next morning greeted the trio with a hazy sunrise, the light filtering through the mist that hung low over the valley. They packed their camp swiftly, their movements efficient and silent, a result of their many days on the road. The air was crisp, the chill of dawn lingering as they continued their journey, the promise of the fort at the valley's end driving them forward.
The valley itself was a tapestry of contrasts, with jagged cliffs towering over them, their rocky faces scarred by time and elements. Sparse vegetation clung to the crags, defiant in the face of adversity. The valley floor, a blend of lush green and corrupted patches, was a visual reminder of the ongoing struggle between nature and the encroaching darkness.
Alice rode at a steady pace, her energy slowly returning. The natural rhythm of her horse's gait was soothing, a balm to her wearied spirit. Her eyes, now more alert, scanned the surroundings, ever watchful for signs of danger. The Sword Breath that had so fiercely flowed through her in battle was now a quiet stream within, its presence a constant comfort.
As they neared the end of the valley, the landscape began to change. The cliffs drew closer, creating a natural choke point. The path, now more defined, wound its way through the narrowing passage. It was here, in this constricted space, that the echoes and screams first reached them.
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The sounds were chilling, a cacophony of despair that resonated through the mist. The trio exchanged glances, an unspoken understanding passing between them. They urged their horses into a brisk trot, keen to traverse the perilous path before them.
Suddenly, the valley trembled. It began as a subtle vibration, a mere whisper beneath their feet, but quickly escalated into a violent shaking. Rocks, once secure in their lofty perches, began to shift, then tumble. The valley was coming alive in a most unnatural way.
"Ride!" shouted Elias, spurring his horse forward. The animals, sensing the danger, needed no further encouragement.
They rode as if chased by the wind itself, the thunderous sound of falling rocks a constant companion. The valley seemed to quake with a life of its own, the mist swirling and twisting in chaotic patterns. The horses navigated the treacherous path with an almost supernatural grace, guided by the instinct to survive. He rode in their front hastily watching for the best path forward and kept them moving. His ears took in the sounds of the chaos to prepare for the dangers he couldn’t see.
As they galloped, Alice's mind raced. The valley's reaction was too violent, too targeted to be a mere coincidence. It was as if the corruption they fought against was aware of their presence and was doing everything in its power to stop them. The rocks shattered against the ground behind them into pieces of many sizes. Some tumbled faster than others slowly gaining momentum and kicking up debris. The mist was thrown up creating pockets in their vision where they could not see parts of the oncoming danger.
Thompson could tell that his horse did not like the ride and was growing ever more worried and desperate. It had waited as they had dealt with many dangers, but in this situation, escape wasn’t a sure thing. The horse pounded its hooves into the ground without Thompson’s input and followed after the others. He held the reigns only to feel a sense of safety in the chaos.
The valley trembled further the closer they got to their destination. In the distance, the fort stood largely unchanged even after years of abandonment. Alice drew on her power pushing it outward in an attempt to cleanse the corruption and stop the strange sentient force from blocking their way. At her actions, the rocks rolled out of control, and closer to the fort she saw the walls of the valley breaking.
“If it can’t bury us now it is going to stop us from reaching the fort at all,” said Alice as she manipulated her power.
“Keep going. I’m right behind you. It doesn’t want to throw rocks at the fort. There may be monsters waiting for us there, but it would be better than this mess,” said Thompson.
Up ahead the cliffs in the valley started to fall. The corruption was trying to close them in. Elias urged his horse onward, his eyes darting between the collapsing cliffs and the path ahead. The fort, now tantalizingly close, seemed a haven amidst the chaos. He knew they had to reach it before the valley became their tomb.
Behind him, Alice's efforts intensified. Her power, a radiant force, pushed against the corruption with a will of its own. The Sword Breath, now a tempestuous storm within her, surged forth, battling the dark energy that sought to consume them. She was the beacon in the darkness, her resolve unwavering despite her exhaustion.
Thompson, at the rear, struggled to keep up. His horse, panicked by the tumultuous surroundings, veered unpredictably. He held on tightly, trying to steer the animal back on course. Just as they neared the end of the valley, disaster struck. A massive boulder, dislodged by the relentless shaking, crashed down towards them.
Thompson reacted instinctively, veering to the side, but it was too late. The rock struck his horse, sending him tumbling to the ground. The weight of the boulder crushed his legs, pinning him amidst a cloud of dust and debris.
Alice, hearing the commotion, turned back in horror. She leaped off her horse, her energy and anger surging forth as she rushed to Thompson's side. The mist around them seemed to recoil at her fury, clearing a path to her fallen companion.
As she knelt beside him, Thompson's eyes met hers, pain and resignation mingling in his gaze. "Alice... go," he gasped, blood seeping from his wounds.
"No!" Alice cried, her hands glowing with energy as she attempted to heal him. But the corruption in the air fought against her, twisting her magic into ineffective wisps.
Elias, realizing the danger they were still in, called out, "Alice, we must leave! The valley is closing!"
Tears streamed down Alice's face as she struggled with the decision. Her power seemed to freeze the crumbling walls around them. Elias hurriedly jumped off Thunderstruck and went to the pair. He saw the despair on her face and was on the verge of tearing up as well. Thompson held a small smile on his face and pushed his bag to Elias. Blood continued to pool around Thompson.
“Go. Take the books and my things. Return them to the capital. You may need them.”
Elias grabbed the bag and Alice’s arm. It was a bit harsher than he would have liked but they needed to go. He could already feel the magic around them fading. Whatever effect Alice was having on the valley would fade soon. Thompson closed his eyes.