The forest’s breath wrapped around them like a shroud, heavy and suffocating. The air reeked of decay, sharp and invasive, as if the land itself had begun to rot. Nara struggled to steady her breathing, the oppressive silence only broken by the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional, unnerving snap of a branch somewhere beyond their sight.

The charm at her neck pulsed faintly against her skin, its warmth a fragile barrier against the icy tendrils of fear creeping through her. She glanced at Elden, who moved ahead with a deliberate calm that only barely masked his unease. His hand rested on the hilt of his dagger, his sharp gaze sweeping the shadows.

“Do you feel that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elden nodded, his gaze fixed ahead. “The forest is shifting. The shadows know you’re here—they can sense the light you carry.”

A faint tremor ran beneath her feet, so subtle that she thought she might have imagined it. The shadows between the trees rippled like disturbed water, and the whispering that had been faint before grew louder, more insistent.

“They’re feeding on your fear, Nara,” Elden said, his tone quieter now, though no less urgent. “Don’t let them take hold.”

“I’m not afraid,” she lied, gripping the charm tightly, her fingers trembling.

But even as the words left her mouth, doubt gnawed at her insides. The shadows crept closer, curling around the trees like dark tendrils. Was she afraid? Wasn't that exactly what the wraith wanted her to feel? She wanted to believe she was stronger, that she could face this. But the closer they got to whatever lay ahead, the more she felt the ground shifting beneath her.

Elden glanced back, his expression sharp but empathetic. “Fear isn’t the enemy,” he said, his voice unwavering. “It’s letting it control you that gives them power.”

Ahead, the path narrowed, the trees pressing closer together as though conspiring to block their way. The faint tremor came again, stronger this time, and the air seemed to hum with tension. Nara’s heart raced. The weight of the forest pressed down on her, and for a moment, she felt small, insignificant.

Then came the sound. A low, guttural vibration, almost like a growl, reverberating through the forest. Nara froze, her breath catching in her throat. The shadows ahead twisted, condensing into something tangible.

From the darkness emerged a figure, its body a churning mass of smoke and tendrils that hissed and crackled like distant thunder. Two crimson pinpricks burned where its eyes should have been, fixing on her with unrelenting malice.

Nara took an involuntary step back. “What… what is that?”

“A shadow wraith,” Elden said grimly, drawing his dagger. Its blade gleamed faintly in the dim light, but even that seemed feeble against the darkness closing in. “It’s stronger than the beast we fought before. It’s here for you.”

The wraith moved closer, its form shifting and curling like smoke caught in an unseen wind. Then, with a disturbing fluidity, it began to change. Its tendrils twisted and reshaped, forming arms, legs, and finally a face—her face.

Nara’s stomach dropped. The wraith stood as a perfect reflection of her, its void-like features an eerie mimicry. When it spoke, its voice was her own, distorted and hollow.

“You couldn’t save her,” it hissed. “Do you think this light will protect you? It’s only a flicker. And the dark? The dark is endless.”

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The words struck her like a blow, tearing through her composure. The memory of her mother surged to the surface—the fire, the screams, the shadows that had consumed everything.

Her hands shook. The Weave felt distant, cold as ice. Was it really hers? Could she control it? The wraith’s words echoed louder now, feeding her doubts, pulling her into the dark corners of her mind.

“You failed her,” the wraith continued, its voice a cruel mockery. “You couldn’t save her then, and you can’t save yourself now. You’re nothing but a flickering shadow. You’ll fail, just like you always do.”

The words hit hard, each one a barb that twisted deeper into her heart. Nara could feel the panic rising within her. She’s right. I couldn’t save her… The fire. The screams. The dark that had consumed her mother. How could she fight against something so vast, so overwhelming?

A flicker of frustration crossed Nara’s mind. Was this what Elden truly thought of her? That she could just trust herself? That she could be strong, when every step felt like she was drowning in the darkness? She wanted to scream, to lash out at him for expecting so much from her. But instead, she gripped the charm tighter, fighting back the urge to let doubt take over. He was right, though. She couldn’t keep hiding from herself.

The wraith laughed, its voice dripping with venom. “You think he can save you? He’ll fall, just like the others. Just like she did.”

“Stop!” Nara shouted, her voice cracking. Her legs felt frozen, her chest tightening as panic clawed at her. She could feel the Weave, but it seemed so far away now, slipping through her fingers.

Elden’s voice cut through the chaos. “Nara! You have to fight! Use the Weave!”

“I don’t know how!” she cried, clutching the charm as if it might somehow shield her from the darkness.

“Yes, you do!” Elden’s voice was fierce, insistent. “You’ve already touched it. Trust yourself. The Weave isn’t just power—it’s you. Your strength, your will. Let it guide you.”

The wraith lunged, its tendrils snapping forward like striking vipers. Elden deflected the attack with his dagger, but the force of it sent him staggering back.

Nara closed her eyes, her heart pounding. The Weave stirred faintly at the edge of her awareness, but it felt distant, unreachable. You failed her… You’ll fail again…

The words reverberated through her mind, her thoughts spiraling, but then something broke through. Her mother’s voice. “Trust in your power, Nara.”

It was clear, steady, and it brought a warmth that pushed away the darkness. The fear was still there, but now it didn’t control her. She didn’t have to fight it—she had to embrace it. She felt her breath steady, her heart calm. The Weave was not something she had to wrestle into submission. It was hers, part of her, flowing in tune with her heartbeat, her breath, her will.

With that trust, she reached for it, not as a foreign power, but as an extension of herself. Her hands snapped open, palms facing the wraith, and light erupted from her fingers—brilliant, golden, and pure. The wraith shrieked, its form rippling and quaking as the light engulfed it.

“You don’t control me,” Nara said, her voice steady now, each word infused with the strength she had finally embraced. “You never will.”

The light burned brighter, fueled by her resolve. The wraith writhed, its tendrils flailing wildly as it disintegrated, scattering into nothingness.

The forest fell silent, the oppressive weight lifting. Nara staggered back, her chest heaving, the warmth of the Weave still pulsing faintly in her hands.

Elden lowered his dagger, stepping toward her. “That wasn’t just power,” he said, his voice quieter now. “That was you—your strength, your will. Never forget that.”

She nodded, though her legs felt unsteady. The memory of her mother’s voice lingered, stronger now than ever before. For the first time, the Weave didn’t feel like an alien force—it felt like a part of her. It wasn’t just a power to wield. It was something she could protect.

Before she could dwell on it, the ground beneath them trembled, a faint vibration that quickly grew stronger. The shadows at the edge of the clearing began to ripple again, and a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees.

Elden’s expression hardened. “They’re regrouping.”

Nara tightened her grip on the charm, the warmth in her chest hardening into resolve. She wasn’t the same girl who had entered the forest.

“Then we’ll fight,” she said, stepping forward as the forest seemed to recoil from the light now blazing within her.

The shadows pressed in, the darkness thickening, but Nara stood firm. She didn’t know what would come next, but one thing was clear—she wasn’t afraid anymore. The light within her wasn’t just hers to command—it was hers to protect.