The forest felt different as they pressed forward. The air was heavy with a damp chill, and the trees grew taller and closer together, their twisted branches forming a dense canopy overhead. Shadows played along the path, flickering with each step, while faint whispers drifted through the air like echoes of unseen movement.

Mihai led the way with Cian and Raven at his side, the elder captains, Ronan and Maeve, flanking them with their own parties. Ronan’s scarred face was set in grim determination, his gaze steady. Maeve, calm and composed, carried an aura of quiet focus.

As they moved deeper, the ground beneath them softened, patches of damp earth making their steps more cautious. The atmosphere held a faint, unsettling scent, and the undergrowth seemed oddly twisted, as though touched by an unnatural presence.

Ronan signaled the group to halt, his hand raised as he scanned their surroundings. “Stay close. We’re nearing their lair.”

They huddled together, Ronan and Maeve gathering the leaders of each party for a quick consultation. Mihai noticed how Ronan’s fingers rested on his sword hilt, his stance alert.

Maeve’s voice dropped to a whisper, addressing the group. “The Draugar are close. Watch for shadows or signs of movement. They blend in with the darkness until they strike.”

Ronan nodded, his expression hard. “If we encounter them, aim for the head. Disabling them quickly is crucial.”

Cian tightened his grip on his bow, his gaze focused. “And the revenant?”

A flicker of unease crossed Maeve’s face. “The revenant is different. It’s said to sense fear. When the time comes, stay close, stay focused.” She looked at Mihai, her gaze filled with resolve. “Remember, you’re our shield.”

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Mihai met her eyes, nodding. “I’ll hold the line,” he promised. “Cian and I will do what’s needed.”

Maeve gave a nod before gesturing to the path ahead. “We move in formation. If anything happens, fall back and regroup. The forest will try to separate us.”

They set off in silence, each party moving in tight formation, weapons at the ready. Cian stayed close to Mihai, his bow strung with an arrow, his eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement.

The deeper they ventured, the more twisted the landscape became. Trees loomed like silent watchers, their bark rough and darkened by time. A faint hum seemed to pulse through the air, an eerie rhythm that echoed their steps.

Then, from the shadows, something stirred.

Mihai tensed, his grip tightening on his swords as a figure emerged from behind a tree. Its outline was faint and blurred, but its gaze held an unsettling intensity.

A Draugr.

The creature’s head tilted, its movements slow but deliberate. Mihai raised his swords, his stance steady.

“Now!” Ronan’s voice cut through the quiet, and the parties sprang into action.

Mihai lunged forward, his right sword slashing downward. The Draugr moved with surprising speed, sidestepping, its hand reaching out. Mihai twisted, dodging the grasp as he brought his left sword around, catching the creature off-guard.

Cian’s voice called from behind, and an arrow shot past Mihai, striking the Draugr’s shoulder. The creature staggered, momentarily disrupted, and Mihai seized the opportunity, driving his sword forward.

The Draugr fell, and the clearing grew quiet.

They barely had time to regroup before two more figures emerged from the shadows. The creatures approached slowly, their movements deliberate, as if gauging the strength of their opponents.

Ronan’s voice rang out. “Hold the line!”

Mihai, Cian, and Raven joined the other adventurers, their weapons flashing as they met the Draugar in a careful but forceful clash. Each strike was calculated, each movement precise.

Mihai felt the strain in his muscles as he parried a blow, using the creature’s momentum to pivot and counter with his own strike. Cian moved with precision, his arrows finding their mark even in the dim light. He and Mihai fought in a rhythm, Raven darting between them, intercepting attacks and drawing attention away.

Maeve’s party fought nearby, torches casting warm light that illuminated the shadows, making the Draugar’s figures clearer. The firelight created an intense contrast, sharpening the focus of every movement.

As the last of the Draugar fell, the clearing was still. Mihai lowered his swords, his breaths coming steady as he caught his breath.

Ronan stepped forward, his face grim but determined. “That was only the beginning. The revenant is near—I can feel it.”

Maeve approached, her expression calm as she surveyed the group. “The air grows colder. We’re close to its lair.”

Mihai nodded, his resolve strengthening. He glanced at Cian, who gave him a nod, his bow at the ready.

“Stay close,” Ronan commanded. “If it’s true that this revenant senses fear, then we face it together.”

As they regrouped, a faint, steady sound echoed through the trees. Mihai recognized it as a heartbeat, pulsing with an energy he could feel in his chest. But beyond the fear, he felt his purpose—a determination that would carry him through.

Together, they would face what lay ahead.They would drive out the darkness.