My Mysterious Ring

ing the horizon as though expecting an ambush at any moment. Elenna stuck close to me, her nervous energy almo

rried-and the danger it attracted. As we trudged onward, the terrain shifted from the swampy lowlan

now?" I asked, breaki

here, but the closer we get, the stronger the pull will be

face. "You keep saying the Shadows are after us, but wh

. "No. They're... fragments of something

asked, my cu

anding, where chaos reigns. The Shadows are its agents, sent to disrupt and destroy. T

k tighter around her shoulders. "

darkened. "The e

in the air, silencing

-

ther as though trying to keep the sunlight at bay. The faint hum of the sh

hand, signaling us to

hing, but then a faint chill crept over me, sending a shive

ael said grimly,

idened in panic

re close. Stay quie

ry rustle of leaves and snap of twigs set my nerves on edge, and the puls

-

see the at

our breathing. The next, a shadowy figure burst from t

ger. The blade glowed faintly, the light slicing through the

d, her voice shar

, their ghostly forms flanking us on all sides. I raised my hand, the ring flaring to life as I unlea

s light flashing as I sent another blast of energy toward the creature. It dis

ving!" I

any Shadow that came too close. Despite our efforts, the Shadows see

s up!" I called ou

, her focus entirel

-

hed in golden sunlight. The Shadows hesitated at the edge of t

aised. "They won't follow us here-not

I tried to catch my breath. Elenna sank down b

re those things?

d a weight of unease. "They'll keep coming, stronge

ight flickering faintly. "Why didn't they

ed. "Not without a host to channel their energ

hill through me. The Shadows didn't ju

-

ing into a soft glow. Kael stood watch at the edge of the grove, he

aze distant. "Do you think we

I don't know," I admitted. "But we d

expression grim.

its warmth a small comfo

soon," she said, her voice quiet. "But it's not going to get easier. The Shadows

ination in her eyes steeli

I lay beneath the stars, the ring's faint pulse seemed to echo the steady rhythm of

ouldn't afford to falter. The f