“哗啦啦！”霎时间，前方地面应声内凹塌陷，紧接着，里面传出阵阵凄厉之极的惨叫声：“吱吱吱??”“噌噌噌??呼呼呼??”下个刹那，迅疾窜蹦声响此起彼伏，紧接着，一大群遍体深青色的鼠头邪兽从内凹深坑里跑了...
WhenIcameto,Iwaslyingontheforestfloor,myheadthrobbingwithpain.Aetherawaskneelingbesideme,herfaceetchedwithconcern.
“Whathappened?“Iasked,tryingtositup,butawaveofdizzinesswashedoverme,forcingmebackdown.
“Youwere...youwereinatrance,“shesaid,hervoicesoftandsoothing.“Thefigurespoketoyou,andyoujust...lostyourself.“
Ilookedaround,tryingtorememberwhathadhappenedbefore.Butmymemorieswerehazy,fragmented.AllIcouldrecallwasthefeelingofbeingconsumedbysomethingdarkandpowerful.
Aetherahandedmeacanteenofwater,whichIdrankgreedily,tryingtoclearthefogfrommymind.AsIlookedupather,Isawthatshewasstillpaleandshaken,hereyeshauntedbyfear.
“Whatdiditsay?“Iaskedagain,tryingtopiecetogetherwhathadhappenedbeforemytrance.
Aetherahesitated,asifunsureofhowmuchtoreveal.“Itsaid...itsaidthatwearethekey,“shewhisperedfinally.“ThatweholdthepowertounlockthesecretsoftheShadow.“
IfeltachillrundownmyspineasIrealizedthetrueextentofourconnection.Weweremorethanjustallies-ohalvesofawhole,boundtogetherbysomeunseenforce.
“Whatdoyoumean?“Iasked,tryingtounderstandthedepthofAethera‘swords.
Aethera‘seyesseemedtocloudoveronceagain,andshefellsilent.Iknewthatlook,theonethatsaidshewasthinkingsomethingdeeperthanherownmindcouldcomprehend.
“Ithink...Ithinkwe‘remeantforthis,“shewhisperedfinally,hervoicebarelyaudible.
Inodded,feelingasenseofpurposewashoverme.Wewereinthistogether,nomatterwhatlayahead.
AsIsatup,Aetherahelpedmetomyfeet,andwebegantomakeourwaybackthroughtheforest.Theairseemedlighternow,theshadowslessoppressive.ButIknewthatweweren‘toutofdangeryet.
WehadunleashedtheShadow,anditwasstilloutthere,waitingforus.Andnow,withAetherabymyside,IfeltasenseofdeterminationthatIhadn‘tfeltbefore.
Together,wepressedon,ourfootstepsechoingthroughtheforestlikeapromise.Wewouldfacewhateverlayahead,nomatterwhatdarknessorlightcameourway.
Aswewalked,thetreesseemedtogrowtaller,theirbranchesreachingoutlikeskeletalfingers.ButIdidn‘tfeelafraid.IknewthatAetherawaswithme,andtogether,wewereunstoppable.
Andthen,asweroundedabendinthepath,Isawit-afigurestandingattheedgeoftheforest,itseyesfixedonuswithanunblinkinggaze.
Itwasmyownreflection,staringbackatmewithanexpressionofdetermination.Andnexttoitstood...somethingelse.
AcreatureunlikeanyIhadeverseen,itsbodytwistingandwrithinglikelivingdarkness.Butasitturnedtofaceme,IsawthatitwasAethera‘sreflection-hereyeslockedonminewithafierceintensity.
Iknewthenthatwewerenotaloneinthisfight.Wewerepartofsomethinggreater,somethingancientandpowerful.
Andtogether,wewouldfacewhateverlayahead,nomatterwhathorrorsorwonderstheShadowhadinstoreforus.