Unsure how long they had been in the dungeon this time, Kaelem and Selkor emerged from the cave to find that the sun had set, and night had fallen. On their way back to Ashbarrow, the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon gave way to the quiet hum of the night forest. The chirping of cicadas kept them company as they walked through dense trees. The cool night air embraced them, a welcome solace after their encounter in the dungeon.

Kaelem followed behind Selkor, his mind churning over the power he had tapped into during the fight with the hobgoblin. There was an unusual silence between them, but Kaelem appreciated it - it gave him time to process his thoughts, and he had the feeling that Selkor felt the same. He didn't dare tell Selkor about the power; not only would it mean admitting he had lost control, but it also felt like the power came from somewhere dark…

They continued through the forest until a sudden gust of wind swept through the trees - unnaturally cold for a night in mid-summer. The hairs on the back of Kaelem's neck stood up, and before he could ask, Selkor stopped dead in his tracks.

"Something's coming," Selkor muttered, scanning the trees.

As if to confirm his words, a thick fog rapidly rolled in, enveloping them and the forest, cutting off the moonlight that had filtered through the canopy. Kaelem could barely see Selkor ahead of him, so he stepped forward cautiously, trying to stay close to his mentor.

The fog thinned slightly, revealing three figures emerging from the shadows. Their silhouettes were hazy until they came closer. Black robes billowed in the breeze, and glowing runes shimmered faintly along their sleeves.

"Selkor…" the central figure spoke, their voice deep and bitter. "I knew I'd find you eventually."

Kaelem saw Selkor stiffen. His posture changed, and his hand drifted to the wand at his belt.

"We thought you'd died during the war," Selkor said coldly, his voice a mixture of anger and regret. "Eryndor."

The figure pulled back her hood, revealing a gaunt, pale face framed by long black hair tied in a ponytail. Her eyes glinted cruelly, and a twisted smile curled on her lips. "You of all people should know I'm not so easy to kill. Especially after you betrayed me."

Kaelem glanced between the two, confused by the history they seemed to share.

Selkor didn't take his eyes off Eryndor, but he spoke as if sensing Kaelem's curiosity. "We fought together in the last war. Eryndor was one of the kingdom's most powerful mages… but in her desperation for power, she sought a darkness she couldn't control. She tried to resurrect something ancient, something that had been sealed away - a force that could've destroyed us all. I had no choice but to stop her."

Eryndor's smirk widened into a grin. "Stop me? Selkor… no. You didn't stop me, you only delayed the inevitable." Her words were a chilling threat, and Kaelem could feel the tension between them.

Eryndor gestured to her companions. "More importantly, I've found others, Selkor. Others who share my vision." Her companions remained silent, cloaked in shadows, their eyes fixed on the two of them.

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A wave of unease flooded through Kaelem. Whatever Eryndor was planning, it wasn't good. His instincts flared, warning him of danger.

Selkor stepped forward, drawing his wand in one swift motion. It transformed in his hand, erupting in a flash of light, becoming a solid oak staff. At the top was a crystal, seated in the wood, gleaming like pure ice.

"I won't let you continue this madness, Eryndor. That power was sealed away for a reason - it cannot be controlled," Selkor said, his voice hard.

Eryndor chuckled. "You still don't understand, do you? I'm not here to fight you. Not yet. I'm here for answers… You've already met my familiar. I sent it to find something - or someone." Her gaze shifted to Kaelem, a cruel smile forming again.

Kaelem felt a sudden chill as Eryndor's eyes bore into him. Her two companions also shifted their focus toward him.

"You were right," one of them - a woman with a pale, ghostly face - whispered. Her voice was ethereal, almost dreamlike, and her eyes glistened eerily beneath her hood. "There's something inside him. Something darker than I've ever felt… ancient."

Kaelem instinctively took a step back, a wave of panic rising in his chest. He didn't understand what was happening, but he didn't like the attention suddenly fixed on him.

Selkor moved to stand protectively in front of Kaelem, his staff raised. "The boy has nothing to do with this," he growled. "This is between us, Eryndor."

Eryndor cackled. "Oh, Selkor, you can feel it too, can't you? The power he holds… You can't control everything. Some forces can't be tamed."

Selkor's eyes flared with anger. With a sweep of his staff, he summoned a shimmering barrier, layered with runes glowing in iridescent light. "The boy has nothing to do with this!" he reiterated, this time with more force.

Eryndor sneered. "You think a barrier will stop me? You haven't changed at all."

Without further warning, the air around her and her companions surged with dark energy. Her ghostly companion conjured purple runes in the air, causing the ground beneath Kaelem to erupt with jagged, bone-like spines. At the same time, the other mage launched a barrage of crimson bolts - wet and sharp like bloodied daggers - at Selkor.

Kaelem reacted instinctively, leaping back as his magic surged. He clapped his hands together, releasing a burst of energy that propelled him away from the rising spines.

Selkor countered the crimson barrage effortlessly. His barrier absorbed the bolts, and he retaliated with ice daggers, catching his opponent off guard.

Eryndor stood back, observing the fight as if testing Selkor's power.

Kaelem focused on the ghostly woman, but before he could react, an icy pain lanced through his head. He felt her magic digging through his thoughts, trying to probe into his mind. Panic surged, and the dark power within him began to boil.

The whispers came first - faint, insidious. He tried to block them out, but they grew louder, overpowering him. His heart raced, his mind drowning in the choral whispers. And then, suddenly, the ghostly woman screamed, clutching her head.

Her eyes turned black, her magic backfiring. She stumbled, scrambling away in terror. "Make it stop!" she cried.

Eryndor watched with interest, a twisted smile on her lips. "Interesting…"

Selkor pressed his attack, overwhelming his opponent. Eryndor finally gestured for her companions to retreat. The robed man rushed to help the woman, who was still writhing in pain.

"I'll be back for you, Selkor. And your little ward," Eryndor sneered before she and her companions dissolved into the mist, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

Kaelem stood frozen, his heart pounding. The whispers were gone, but he could still feel their echo - cold and hollow.

Selkor approached him, his brow furrowed in concern. "Are you alright?"

Kaelem nodded shakily. "I… I think so."

Selkor's expression was grim. "Eryndor is dangerous. Very dangerous. We'll talk more when we're safe. Let's get back to Ashbarrow."

As they made their way back, Kaelem couldn't shake the dread settling in his chest. The ghostly woman's words echoed in his mind: 'Something darker than I've ever felt… ancient.' Whatever power lay dormant within him, it terrified him more than he cared to admit.