Valenius shook his head, frustration evident in his expression. Voilen glanced at him and said, "Why did you bring it here?"

“So we can eat it,” Valenius replied, dragging the carcass closer to the camp.

Voilen laughed, shaking her head. “We can’t eat that—it’s poisonous. If you’re eager to die tonight, go ahead. But we won’t last long without proper food.”

She paused, her tone softening. “We need real meat soon, or we won’t make it. How about this: you find water. There’s a lake to the left of here. I’ll get us something safe to eat.”

As she spoke, Valenius caught a faint flash of light in the corner of his eye. He turned back to Voilen, but she had vanished, disappearing into the shadows without a trace.

His instincts kicked in, and he quickly dragged the carcass farther from the campsite to avoid attracting predators.

Following her instructions, Valenius set out for the lake. But something nagged at him. Curiosity got the better of him, and instead of heading to the water, he diverted his path toward where Voilen had last been. As he ventured deeper into the woods, a strange figure caught his eye.

In the distance, he saw the silhouette of a woman. Her hair glowed faintly in the dim light, and for a moment, Valenius froze. The figure looked eerily familiar—her hair, her stance. It reminded him of Eleantra. He moved closer, cautious yet drawn in by a feeling he couldn’t shake.

As he neared, he saw her body shift, her features twisting. To his horror, the woman transformed into a wolf. The creature dashed into the forest before Valenius could react.

His mind raced—was that really Eleantra? He hesitated, on the verge of retreating, but something in him refused to back down.

Determined, Valenius followed her trail, weaving through the trees. He soon found her in the clearing, the wolf tearing into a deer carcass. Blood dripped from its muzzle, staining the ground beneath. Slowly, the wolf began to shift, and before his eyes, Eleantra stood once again, her human form taking shape amidst the moonlit forest.

At that moment, Valenius shouted, “Voilen!” His voice echoed through the forest, and the woman’s eyes widened, her hands sparking with energy. She cackled, the sound sharp and mocking. “So, you’ve figured it out.”

Valenius’ heart pounded as he stepped forward. “Why did you attack her? Why pretend to be her? What do you really want?”

The smirk on her face deepened, and before his eyes, Eleantra transformed back into Voilen. Her voice shifted, taking on the same mocking tone Salintus had used. “What do I want? You’ll soon find out,” she sneered, before turning and running toward where Salintus was.

Valenius hesitated, his mind racing. He quickly searched his gauntlet, hoping for some guidance or system that could help him figure out what to do next. But there was nothing. He realized with a sinking feeling that Eleantra would reach Salintus first.

Conflicted, Valenius walked in the opposite direction, his heart heavy. Was the real Voilen alive? Was she dead or perhaps held prisoner? He wasn’t sure, but the questions gnawed at him.

The deeper he went into the forest, the more he doubted his choices.

At one point, he considered heading to a nearby town for answers but then changed his mind. He had to find Salintus—he must know the truth.

With that, Valenius sprinted in the direction of Salintus and his people.

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When he arrived, he saw Salintus with his sword drawn, fire circling around him as the heat scorched the ground. Valenius readied his own sword and shouted, “It wasn’t Voilen! She’s a mage—she took Voilen and pretended to be her!”

Salintus glanced at the Eleantra, who was now barely holding back a smirk. “What did we talk about the last time we spoke?” he demanded, his fiery hands raised, his gaze locked on Eleantra.

Eleantra, her face still twisted with amusement, cackled. “You got me.”

Flames erupted from her hands as she summoned fire, aiming it toward Salintus. But just before the flames could consume him, they flickered out, and she lunged at him in her wolf form.

Her jaws clamped down on his arm, and Salintus screamed in pain, struggling to break free.

“Please!” Salintus gasped, blood pooling around his wound. “I just want Voilen back! Can’t we work something out? I want her safe, with our people.”

The wolf’s form shifted again, and the woman returned to her human guise. She stood over Salintus, her expression unreadable. “Yes,” she said coldly, “Valenius needs to come with me to get her if you ever want Voilen back. That’s the only way.”

Valenius stared at her, icy determination in his eyes. Eleantra, glanced back at him with a smirk. Then she turned to Salintus and spoke. “Do we have a deal?”

Salintus turned to Valenius, desperation in his eyes. “Please, only you can bring Voilen back. Help her.”

Valenius tightened his grip on his sword and nodded. “I will.” He turned to Eleantra, who let out a cold laugh.

“Good,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, they vanished, reappearing in the dark forest where Valenius had first seen Mayarn and Voilen.

Valenius walked slowly behind Eleantra, his hand gripping his sword hilt as he watched her every move. To prepare for whatever might come, he sprinkled fire salts on his blade, the flames

flaring briefly before settling. His eyes never left Eleantra as she led the way.

“If I wanted you dead, you’d already be gone,” she cackled, glancing back at him with a smirk. Then, without another word, she pressed forward, guiding him deeper into the forest.

The air thickened with swirling winds and choking smoke, making it harder for Valenius to breathe. As they pushed through the trees, the forest grew darker, more oppressive. Suddenly, a twig snapped behind him. Valenius spun around and saw a tall, shadowy figure looming in the mist. Its face was hidden behind a mask, half-blue and half-white.

Eleantra!” Valenius called out, but when he turned to look for her, she had vanished. His heart raced as his eyes flicked back to the dark figure. To his shock, Eleantra now stood by Olenius’s side.

Olenius raised a hand, murmuring incantations under its breath. Valenius found himself frozen, unable to move as Olenius approached.

With a flick of its wrist, Valenius was violently flung into a tree. Pain exploded through his ribs as he struggled to breathe, every breath shallow and strained.

Before he could react, Olenius lifted him into the air, the branches of nearby trees wrapping around his limbs, binding him tightly to the trunk.

He was trapped, helpless as Olenius loomed closer. Eleantra lingered in the background, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

The figure bent down, lowering itself to Valenius’ height. Its voice was a low, menacing hiss. “Now, tell me… why are you here? What do you seek in this world? What have you discovered, and what are your true intentions?”

Valenius struggled to speak through the pain, his voice weak but defiant. “I don’t know... I’m trying to figure it out,” he muttered, his thoughts racing.

“I don’t believe you!” Olenius roared. “You will tell me the truth, or you will die.”

With another chant, smoke filled the air, and Valenius felt searing heat radiating across his body. His skin burned, as if invisible flames were licking at his arms. He screamed in agony, his body writhing against the bindings, but the tree held him.

“I’m telling the truth!” Valenius cried out. “I don’t know anything! I swear!”

Valenius gasped for breath, struggling to speak as pain surged through his body. His words came out in broken gasps. "Please... let me find Salintus..."

Before he could finish, Olenius interrupted, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean, Salintus? Is he here with you?"

Olenius glanced at Eleantra, suspicion in his voice. "Call your 'friend' Salintus. Let's see what he wants."

Olenius turned back to Valenius, his gaze cold and calculating. He released Valenius from the tree's grip, and Valenius collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

Summoning what little strength remained, Valenius forced himself to stand, though his legs trembled under the weight of his exhaustion.

Eleantra motioned for him to follow. With great effort, Valenius trudged forward, his steps heavy. While Olenius followed behind, his presence a constant threat looming over them all.