The journey after that night felt different. The air between Kaelen and Sigrid had shifted, a subtle understanding developing between them, like two distant stars slowly aligning in the sky. Nessa, for her part, kept to herself, absorbed in her thoughts and the relic she carried, as though it were a secret she was still trying to unlock.

Kaelen found his gaze often drifting to Sigrid, her every movement purposeful and graceful, yet there was an edge to her—a coldness she kept tightly wrapped around her heart. He wasn’t sure why, but it intrigued him.

As they moved through the dense forest, the trees growing thicker and the air heavier with impending rain, Kaelen couldn’t help but feel that they were being watched. His instincts were always sharp, honed by years of hunting and surviving in places like this. He didn’t trust the forest's silence.

“I don’t like it,” Kaelen muttered, his eyes scanning the dark trunks ahead.

Sigrid, who had been leading, stopped. Her eyes, ever vigilant, narrowed as she slowly turned. “What do you sense?”

“Something’s wrong.” Kaelen’s hand went to his sword, the smooth leather of the hilt familiar and comforting in his grip.

“Stay close,” Sigrid said, her voice low. She drew her own blade, a sharp glint of steel catching the fading light.

Nessa, sensing the tension, pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders. “What is it?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure yet,” Kaelen said, his voice tense. “But stay alert.”

Suddenly, the rustling of leaves broke the stillness, and before Kaelen could react, a mass of shadowy shapes burst from the underbrush. Dark figures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes, their faces contorted into grim, feral snarls.

Kaelen’s sword was in his hand before he had time to think. He charged forward, a blur of motion, his body a blur of strength as he collided with one of the beasts. The creature let out a high-pitched screech, its claws raking across his armor, but he grinned through the pain, twisting his blade into its side.

Beside him, Sigrid was a whirlwind of precision. Her dagger flashed through the air, cutting through another beast with cold efficiency. Her movements were deliberate, each strike a calculated choice, her body weaving through the chaos with practiced grace.

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Kaelen barely had time to react when another creature lunged at him from behind. In one smooth motion, he spun, knocking it aside with a swift kick before slashing at its throat. The beast gurgled and collapsed, but he was already moving again, scanning for his next opponent.

“Kaelen!” Sigrid’s voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding.

He didn’t need to look. He already knew what she was about to do.

The ground trembled, and a pulse of energy rippled through the air. Sigrid raised her hand, her fingers curling in an intricate gesture. The earth beneath their feet cracked open, and tendrils of magic shot up from the ground, wrapping around the remaining creatures. The beasts snarled, struggling against the binding magic, but it was no use.

“Get them out of here,” Sigrid ordered, her voice cool but strained from the effort.

Kaelen nodded, grabbing Nessa’s arm and pulling her away from the struggle. “Run,” he snapped, pushing her ahead of him.

Sigrid held the beasts in place, her magic keeping them contained, but Kaelen could see the strain on her face. Her magic was powerful, but it wasn’t infinite. The creatures’ writhing bodies were wearing her down.

“Get ready,” she called out to Kaelen. “I’m not going to be able to hold them for long.”

“On it,” Kaelen grunted, pulling his sword tighter.

He wasn’t sure how many creatures there were, but there were too many for comfort. They’d need to finish this quickly. He glanced at Sigrid, her brow furrowed in concentration, sweat glistening on her skin as she continued to wield her magic.

With a sharp, battle-hardened yell, Kaelen charged back toward the fray, his sword slicing through the air. His body moved on instinct, the years of training and hunting beasts like these kicking in. Each swing was precise, his movements swift and brutal.

As he cut through one of the remaining beasts, he felt something inside him shift. A faint, pulsing energy thrummed under his skin, like a heartbeat, a deep connection to the darkness around him. For the briefest moment, he felt his senses sharpen, the world slowing down as he focused solely on the fight.

And then he understood. He could see the creatures’ movements before they made them.

It wasn’t just his eyes, but a heightened awareness of his surroundings. He felt the faintest shift in the air before each attack came.

With a fierce grin, Kaelen moved through the beasts like a shadow, cutting them down one by one. His blade danced through the air, swift and unrelenting. The beasts had no chance.

Sigrid, watching in awe, took the opportunity to send one last burst of magic, cracking the earth beneath their enemies. The creatures fell, their struggle ceasing as they were consumed by the force of her spell.

Kaelen stood, panting, as the last of the beasts crumbled to the ground. His pulse still raced, the adrenaline surging through him. He didn’t even notice the blood dripping from a shallow gash on his arm, too focused on the aftermath.

“Nice work,” Sigrid said, wiping her dagger clean and sheathing it.

Kaelen gave a low laugh, wiping his brow. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

They set up camp once more, the fire flickering weakly against the cold night air. The forest around them was eerily quiet, as if the battle had disturbed the very life of the land. Kaelen sat near the fire, cleaning his sword.

Sigrid took a seat across from him, her gaze distant, lost in thought. “You didn’t tell me about your... abilities.”

Kaelen glanced up, his expression unreadable. “Wouldn’t be much of a secret if I did, would it?”

“You’re not just some reckless hunter, are you?” she said, her voice laced with something akin to curiosity.

Kaelen didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he tossed a stick into the fire, watching it burn. “You’re not the only one with a few tricks up their sleeve.”

Sigrid studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “I suppose we all have our secrets.”

Kaelen smirked, the firelight dancing in his eyes. “Secrets are what make the game interesting.”

Sigrid said nothing, but the faintest glimmer of respect flashed in her eyes.