Azad floated in darkness—a deep, suffocating void that seemed endless, pressing in around him like a heavy fog. He felt as though he were drifting, lost and weightless, with no sense of time or direction. The sharp pain that had once seared through his palm faded into a dull throb, and for a moment, he wasn't even sure if he was still alive.
But then, faint echoes began to rise from the silence—whispers that he couldn't quite grasp. He felt them brush past him, strange and haunting, calling from somewhere he couldn't see. And then, a faint light flickered in the distance, casting faint shadows across the void. With each pulse, it seemed to tug at him, pulling him forward.
He drifted toward it as flashes of memories that weren't his own sparked before him. A young Ellie, standing alone in a village, her eyes wide with fear as villagers turned away from her. Then another: Ellie's grandfather, Rizvi, wielding a sword against a monstrous foe, his face determined yet filled with sorrow. And finally, betrayal—Rizvi surrounded by villagers, their faces twisted with malice.
Azad reached out, trying to grasp the images, but they slipped through his mind like water. The light grew stronger, and suddenly the pain in his hand returned, sharper and more intense. He gritted his teeth against it, and as the agony surged through him, his eyes snapped open.
He gasped for air, his chest heaving. The first thing he saw was the sky, streaked with dawn's colors of deep purple and fiery orange. His heart pounded as he struggled to orient himself, his hand still throbbing faintly with a strange warmth.
Sitting up slowly, Azad saw they were still at the clearing beneath the twisted tree. The dark, knotted branches reached toward the sky like skeletal fingers, casting eerie shadows across the ground. Next to him, Ellie lay still, her face pale but serene. Choco sat beside her, his eyes anxious, letting out a soft whine as he nudged her cheek gently.
"Ellie..." Azad murmured, reaching out to touch her arm. His voice was hoarse.
At his touch, Ellie's eyes fluttered open, disoriented. She looked around, and for a brief moment, it seemed as though she were still trapped in that strange dream. But as her gaze met Azad's, a sense of relief softened her face.
"Azad…," she whispered, her voice barely audible, filled with emotion and exhaustion.
"I'm here," he assured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Are you okay?"
Ellie sat up slowly, her movements shaky as she took in their surroundings. She glanced at the twisted tree, noticing its dark roots stained by the ritual. Lorn stood a few steps away, watching them with quiet satisfaction.
Ellie's voice was a faint whisper as she asked, "What… happened? I saw so much... things that felt like memories..."
Azad nodded, still feeling the lingering warmth in his palm. "I think it worked. The powers your grandfather talked about… they're waking up, aren't they?"
Ellie closed her eyes, her breath shallow. "I saw memories, Azad. My grandfather's memories—and something darker, something… ancient."
Lorn's voice cut through the silence like a cold wind. "You sought answers, and answers you received. But remember, young one, power always has a cost. This is only the beginning."
Azad struggled to his feet, wincing as he flexed his hand. The wound still glowed faintly, a reminder of the ritual. "Alright, you said we'd get the truth. So what's the next step? What's the price we have to pay now?"
Lorn gave him a chilling smile. "The ones who betrayed Rizvi are still out there, seeking you, Ellie. They sense the power now within you, and they will come, sooner than you think. If you wish to survive, you must learn to control it before they find you."
Ellie rose to her feet unsteadily, but determination shone in her eyes. Azad stood beside her, his jaw clenched. "Then we'll face them together," he said firmly. "Whatever it takes."
Lorn nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering. "Very well. But heed this warning: power without control is chaos. You have merely scratched the surface of your abilities. If you do not master them, they will consume you." He fixed his gaze on Ellie, his expression darkening. "And those who hunt you—they will not rest until they have taken what is yours."
Ellie's face hardened with resolve. "Then I'll learn. I'll control it."
Lorn's smile faded, and he gave a slight nod. With a last, cryptic look, he turned away, his cloak billowing as he melted back into the shadows. "Then I leave you to your fate. The path is yours to walk… but remember, child: the shadows you have awakened will not rest until they've claimed what is theirs."
He disappeared into the forest, leaving Azad and Ellie standing in the clearing beneath the twisted tree. The silence settled heavily, broken only by the faint whistling of the wind through the branches above. Choco pressed against Ellie's leg, letting out a low whine as if sensing the weight of what had just happened.
Azad glanced at Ellie, who was staring into the forest where Lorn had vanished. "Ellie…" he said softly, touching her arm. "You okay?"
She shook her head slightly, breaking from her trance. "I will be," she murmured, her eyes fierce with determination. "We have to keep going. The answers are out there—waiting."
Azad nodded, steeling himself as he looked at the twisted tree one last time. He could still feel the memories haunting him, lingering like shadows at the edge of his mind.
Choco barked softly, nudging his leg as if to reassure him. Azad smiled and patted the dog's head, grateful for the grounding presence of his friend.
"Alright," he said, his voice steadying. "Let's get moving."
With Choco trotting beside them, they gathered their belongings, extinguished any remnants of the campfire, and turned toward the path ahead. The morning light began to creep over the horizon, casting long, eerie shadows across the ground, as if the world itself were watching their journey.
But as they ventured forward, Azad couldn't shake the feeling that the ground beneath them, the trees around them, and even the sky above had somehow changed, as if they were now part of a world darker and more dangerous than before.