The night air was heavy as we left the ruined village behind, our steps muffled by the thick blanket of silence that seemed to follow us. Even the shard, so often a steady hum in my chest, felt subdued, its energy pulsing faintly, as though it too was cautious.

Resna led the way, her movements light and deliberate. I could hear the faint creak of her bow as she kept it ready, her instincts sharper than ever. Aric followed close behind, his armour clinking softly with every step. Neither of them spoke, their tension palpable.

The path ahead was uneven, the ground littered with debris from a forest left to decay. My cane tapped against the dirt, helping me navigate. But more than that, I relied on the shard. Its hum sharpened as we walked, guiding me around obstacles I couldn’t see.

“We shouldn’t be out here at night,” Resna muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. “Whatever caused this... it’s not gone.”

Aric scoffed. “Do you have a better idea? Sitting around in that village and waiting to be next?”

“She’s right,” I said quietly. The shard pulsed in agreement, its energy prickling along my skin. “There’s something here. Something is watching us.”

The forest grew darker as we moved deeper, the air growing colder with every step. My breath hitched as the shard’s energy surged, a sudden spike of awareness that made me stop.

“What is it?” Resna asked, her voice tense.

“There’s... something ahead,” I said, pointing toward the faint vibrations I felt. “Something large.”

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Resna knelt, her movements silent as she scanned the area. “I don’t see anything.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s not there,” I said. The shard pulsed sharply, warning me. “Be ready.”

A low growl, faint but unmistakable, cut through the silence. It was followed by the sound of rustling leaves, growing louder as whatever it was began to move.

“Positions!” Aric barked, drawing his sword. The metallic scrape echoed in the stillness, sending a chill down my spine.

Resna’s bowstring creaked as she drew an arrow, her breathing steady. “It’s circling us.”

The shard surged, its hum becoming a sharp vibration that resonated through my body. I tightened my grip on my cane, my other hand brushing against the medallion. “It’s not alone.”

The first attack came from the right, a blur of motion that sent Resna stumbling back. Her arrow flew wide, sinking into a tree. Aric lunged forward, his sword clashing against something solid—a creature, its growl rising into a snarl.

I couldn’t see it, but the shard painted a vivid picture. It was massive, its body twisted and malformed, as though corrupted by magic. Its claws raked the ground as it lunged again, forcing Aric to parry.

“There’s more!” Resna shouted, losing another arrow. The shard pulsed sharply, and I felt the second creature before it attacked, its movements a blur of vibrations.

“Behind you!” I shouted, turning toward Resna. She spun, her arrow flying true. The creature let out a guttural cry as it collapsed, its body thudding against the dirt.

The shard’s energy surged, and I moved without thinking. My cane struck the ground before me, sending a sharp vibration through the earth. The second creature faltered, its steps giving it away. I twisted, striking upward with the cane’s reinforced end. The impact was solid, the creature letting out a final growl before it fell.

The silence that followed was deafening. My chest heaved as I tried to steady my breathing, the shard’s hum still sharp but fading. Resna approached, her steps cautious.

“Is that all of them?” she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

“For now,” I said, though the shard’s faint pulse suggested otherwise. “They’re drawn to the magic here. Whatever’s happening, it’s only going to get worse.”

Aric wiped his blade clean, his tone grim. “Then we need to find the source. Fast.”