The forest pressed in from both sides, shadows twisting along the moss-covered trunks. Adrian moved quietly, adjusting his footing over exposed roots. Kael led the way, eyes sharp. Behind him, Elara shifted a pack higher on her shoulder, scanning the trees without pause.
"Keep to the path," Kael said softly. "Scouts could be anywhere."
Adrian fell into step beside her. A low branch swung toward her shoulder; she ducked smoothly, and he followed instinctively, stepping closer to avoid hitting the same branch.
The stronghold rose through the mist ahead, walls hidden beneath thick vines and carved stone runes. A faint pulse of energy ran along the edges.
"Elara," Adrian whispered, kneeling near the first node. "We need to cut the nodes in order."
She crouched, eyes narrowing at the runes. "I'll take the wards. Watch for movement."
Hands brushed briefly as they swapped tools. Adrian focused on the node's pulse, sending energy through it. Elara traced the runes, her fingers moving carefully, and the wards flickered then dimmed.
Kael gestured toward a narrow side passage. "In. Quietly."
The corridors twisted inside the fortress, walls etched with faint runes glowing softly. Adrian adjusted his steps to hers, mirroring the pace. A shadow moved in the corner—he signaled with a tilt of his head. Elara responded instantly, blocking the angle, and a pair of patrolling sentries fell before they even drew blades.
Deeper in, the corridor widened. Four Plume operatives stepped from the shadows, weapons humming with enchantment. Adrian shifted the dagger, letting the Heart guide his movements. Kael intercepted the first strike, Elara the second.
A surge misfired from a nearby node. Adrian reached to adjust it, and Elara's hand touched his forearm as she moved to stabilize a ward. She didn't speak. He didn't think—he just moved.
The last operative fell, and they paused in a darkened alcove. Their breathing was heavy; the glow from residual magic cast uneven light on their faces.
Kael stepped forward. "Chamber's ahead. Move."
The chamber opened into a cavern, the air thick with hum of energy. A crystalline orb hovered above a pedestal, surrounded by wards. Adrian crouched near the first node, Elara beside him on the other side.
"Ready?" he asked.
She nodded, hands moving over the runes.
They worked together, moving in sync—hands brushing over tools and nodes, eyes catching each movement. The wards dimmed, the nodes ceased pulsing, and the orb hung still above the pedestal.
A low hum warned them too late. Shadowy constructs surged from the walls. They moved automatically, side by side. Kael intercepted the heaviest attacks. Adrian redirected bursts of energy from the nodes. Elara struck with precision, each movement measured and deliberate.
A surge hit Adrian's side, sending him off balance. Elara's hand shot out to steady him, and he pivoted into position again, swinging the dagger. The constructs fell.
Outside, dawn filtered through the trees. The artifact secure, the fortress quiet. Adrian straightened, brushing dust from his sleeves. Elara did the same, adjusting her pack.
"You alright?" he asked.
She glanced at him briefly, nodding, then scanned the forest ahead.
They moved on, stepping carefully over roots and fallen leaves. Kael paused, looking back at them both, then led them down the path. The forest seemed to press in closer as mist curled between the trees, and the silence stretched.
Adrian noticed the shift in pace beside him, the rhythm of her steps, the way she moved through the forest without pause. He didn't speak. She didn't glance at him again, but they fell into step naturally, moving forward through the mist.
The inland stronghold was behind them, but the forest ahead held more uncertainty, more dangers, and the artifact humming softly in Adrian's pack.