A group of people wake up in a video game world and are forced to work together to survive and find out how to escape.

The group continues their journey in the mountains to the fortress and encounters a mysterious foe.

This chapter is my favorite so far next 3 chapters are written and just need polishing up should not be too long for the next few.

Chapter 18 Recap.

The campfire burns low as the night draws on. Kaida eventually drifts off to sleep, her head resting on her pack, while Veyron sits with her, unusually quiet and still trying not to wake her.

Lorien’s hand finds mine under the cloak, his fingers curling around mine in a way that feels somehow protective and soothing. I close my eyes, leaning into him just a little more.

It was nice today no fights or monsters… and honestly giving in to how I feel about Lorien is… kinda great.

After a bit longer I fully drift to sleep his hand still in mine.

Chapter 19

The faint glow of dawn filters through the trees, and I blink awake slowly. The world is still hushed, wrapped in the quiet of early morning. Something hard is pressing against my side, and I stiffen slightly as realization sets in.

Oh no.

Shade’s voice slithers into my thoughts, amusement dripping from every word. “Well, well, well… isn’t this an interesting wake-up call? Didn’t take Lorien for someone so… enthusiastic. I wonder if you’ll pretend you didn’t notice or make it more awkward. I’m rooting for the second option.”

Shut up, I hiss in my mind, though my face burns hot. My heart is racing—not from fear, but from the sheer awkwardness of the situation. I want to move, but Lorien’s arm is still draped over me, his face peaceful in sleep.

“Aw, come on,” Shade coos. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered. So, what’s the plan fearless leader? Push him away? Pretend you’re still asleep? Or maybe just… enjoy it?”

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay still. Forget it. Forget everything. Just stay calm and hope he doesn’t wake up.

Shade chuckles softly. “You’re lucky he’s a deep sleeper, Artemis. Though if you keep fidgeting like that, you might make things even more fun for me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to focus on the sounds of the camp—the soft crackle of the smouldering fire, the distant rustle of leaves, anything but the sensation of Lorien’s warmth and Shade’s mocking presence in my mind.

This is fine, I tell myself desperately. Totally fine. Nothing weird happening here.

But as Lorien stirs slightly, murmuring something unintelligible, my heart skips a beat. Please don’t wake up. Please don’t wake up.

I freeze, every muscle in my body locking up as Lorien shifts again. The cloak feels tight now, wrapped around us both, and I can barely breathe with how close we are. My mind races, unbidden, back to the dream I had the day before.

The meadow. The cabin. The things we did inside.

I grit my teeth, shame and confusion battling for control. I only let it happen in the dream because… I don’t know why. Maybe because it wasn’t real.

But this—this is real. Or as real as it gets, trapped in this game. And I refuse to let that happen.

“Oh, sure you do,” Shade whispers, its tone soft and teasing. “But you’re already thinking about it, aren’t you? Wondering what it would feel like. Wondering if it would be the same.”

I clench my fists under the cloak. Forget it. Forget the dream. Forget everything. Just fall back asleep.

Shade’s chuckle is quiet but relentless. “You know you want to experience it for real.”

Nope, nope, nope, I think furiously, shutting my eyes tighter. “I hate you being in my head and knowing everything.”

“Oh, you love me really,” Shade says.

I grit my teeth and focus on Lorien’s steady breathing, forcing myself to ignore everything else. Maybe if I pretend hard enough, I can fall back asleep. Maybe then this mess will disappear.

Lorien shifts a little, loosening his hold on me as his breathing evens out again. He doesn’t wake up, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. The cloak still feels tight, though, and I can’t stop the spiral of thoughts that Shade has already stirred.

I try to tell myself that everything will go back to normal when we escape this world. That we’ll all return to our lives, and this… whatever this is… won’t matter anymore.

The fact I even let myself be in a relationship of any kind with Lorien is already a lot, I think, my heart twisting. There’s no way I take it any further. No way.

“And yet…” Shade hums, its voice curling around my thoughts like smoke. “Here you are. Wrapped up in his arms, clinging to him like he’s your lifeline. Face it, Artemis—you’ve already crossed a line. Quite literally, I might add.”

“It’s not like that,” I argue, though my words feel weak even in my own mind. “This is just temporary. It’s comfort. That’s all it is.”

“Comfort,” Shade echoes mockingly. “Oh, I see. You’re just ‘comforting’ yourself with his warmth, his touch, the way he whispers your name even in his sleep. Definitely nothing to overthink there.”

I press my face into the fabric of the cloak, my cheeks burning. “Shut up. You don’t understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly,” Shade counters, its voice softening into something almost pitying. “You’re afraid. Not of him, though. Of yourself. Of what it means to want him.”

My chest tightens, and I clench my fists beneath the cloak. “It doesn’t matter. When we get out of here, this will all be over. I’ll go back to being Alex, and Lorien will…”

I falter, the thought incomplete and heavy with uncertainty.

“And Lorien will what?” Shade presses, its tone sharper now. “Forget everything? Stop looking at you like you’re the only person who matters? What happened to all that courage from last night Artemis. You really think you can put this back in the box?”

“I can. I have to,” I insist, though doubt gnaws at the edges of the thought.

Shade chuckles softly, “If you say so. But I think you’re starting to realize just how much you’d miss this. Him. And that’s the part you’re really afraid of, isn’t it?”

I stay silent, my heart racing as I try to push Shade’s voice away. I can’t let him get to me. Not now. Not when I’m already drowning in questions I don’t have answers to.

I stare at the fire’s fading embers, Lorien’s warmth steady beside me, and let my thoughts drift to the real world. All I’ve wanted since I got here is to go back. To be myself again. Not this. Not a girl.

Shade’s voice returns, quieter this time. “But you’re starting to wonder, aren’t you? Whether ‘yourself’ even means the same thing anymore. Whether you even want to go back.”

“I do,” I think back, gripping the cloak tighter. “I just want to be me again.”

“And who is that?” Shade asks softly, its tone maddeningly calm. “The awkward, invisible Alex who let the world pass him by? Or Artemis who’s built something real here? Who’s stronger, more capable, more wanted than Alex ever was?”

My chest tightens, and I squeeze my eyes shut. Alex is still me, I don’t need to be… this to matter.

“Maybe not,” Shade says, almost thoughtfully. “But do you want to go back to being invisible? To being forgotten the second you’re out of sight?”

I press my lips together, the weight of Shade’s words settling over me like a heavy fog. “It’s not about that,” I think. “This world isn’t real. That world is.”

“If you say so,” Shade murmurs, its voice retreating slightly. “But the real world didn’t give you this. It didn’t give you them. It didn’t give you him.”

I swallow hard, refusing to let the thought take root. I focus on the sound of Lorien’s breathing, steady and close, and try to ground myself in the moment.

“Even if I were to want to stay,” I think, guilt twisting in my chest, “which I’m not saying I do—there’s no way everyone else would stay.”

I picture Hrothgar’s face, the way he talked about his wife and child. “Hrothgar would never stay. He has a family waiting for him. Same with the others—they have lives out there. College, friends, careers. People who love them. They wouldn’t abandon all of that.”

“Wouldn’t they?” Shade asks, its voice curling around my doubts like a shadow. “People are surprising, Artemis. They might stay, if you gave them a reason to.”

“No,” I think firmly. “I couldn’t ask them to do that. It wouldn’t be right.”

“You wouldn’t have to ask,” Shade counters smoothly. “They’d stay for you. Lorien especially. You can see it in the way he looks at you, the way he holds you. He’d follow you anywhere, even if it meant being trapped forever.”

I swallow hard, the thought twisting painfully in my chest. He shouldn’t have to make that choice.

“Maybe not,” Shade says softly. “But he already has.”

I still could have a good life in the real world, I think desperately, clinging to the idea. I could fix the problems with my parents. If I made something of myself, they’d finally believe me. We’d be normal again.

But as the thought settles, it feels fragile, like glass about to crack.

“And what about them?” Shade asks quietly. “Do you think they’ll follow you back to the real world? That Lorien will still look at you the same way when you’re Alex again?”

My chest tightens, the weight of Shade’s words pressing down on me. “It doesn’t matter they have to, I have to.”

“Do you?” Shade presses, its voice curling through my mind like smoke. “You keep telling yourself you’ll all go back to your old lives, but you know it’s not that simple. Hrothgar has a family. Kaida and Veyron have their futures ahead of them. But you?” Shade pauses, its voice dipping low. “What exactly are you going back to, Artemis? A life where you’re Alex again? Invisible? Alone? Forgotten?”

I clench my jaw, as my chest tightens. “We’ll make it work. Once we’re out of here, we’ll figure it out. Together.”

“Together,” Shade echoed mockingly. “That’s adorable. But don’t forget, Artemis—once you’re free, you’re not Artemis anymore. You’re Alex. And Alex… well, let’s just say he might not hold their loyalty quite the way Artemis does. He certainly doesn’t have a track record for loyal friends.”

The words sting, but I push them aside. “That doesn’t matter. What we’ve been through—it matters. It’ll still matter when we’re back home.”

“If you say so,” Shade said with a chuckle, its presence retreating slightly. “But let’s see how far that hope takes you when the time comes.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to focus on the thought of freedom. Lyra, safe and whole again. Lorien, Kaida, Hrothgar, Veyron—alive and free to live their lives. That’s what matters.

Back to reality, I repeat. Out of this game. All of us free. No matter what it takes.

“Morning,” I hear Lorien say softly, his voice still thick with sleep.

The sound catches me off guard, and my eyes snap towards him. I hadn’t even noticed he was awake. My heart jumps, and I freeze for a moment, suddenly aware of how close we are again—his arm draped around me, the cloak still snug over both of us.

“Oh,” I murmur, my voice quieter than I intend. “Uh… morning.”

Lorien’s lips curve into a small, sleepy smile as he looks at me. His expression is warm, his eyes soft in the pale light of dawn. He doesn’t seem bothered by the situation—if anything, he looks entirely at ease.

“Sleep well?” he asks, his voice gentle.

“Yeah,” I answer, though I know it isn’t the full truth. “You?”

A quiet chuckle escapes him, low and soothing. “Can’t complain,” he says, his arm loosening slightly as he stretches beneath the cloak. “You’re surprisingly good at keeping warm.”

Heat rushes to my face, and I glance away, suddenly wishing I could disappear beneath the cloak entirely. Why is he so calm about this?

“Uh… thanks?” I mutter, barely able to find my voice.

His laugh is softer this time, and his eyes crinkle with amusement. “You really are cute when you’re flustered, you know that?”

I glare at him, my cheeks burning even hotter. “I’m not flustered,” I say quickly, sitting up and pulling the cloak tighter around me in an attempt to create some space.

“Sure,” he says but he doesn’t press further, instead rubbing the back of his neck. “The others are still asleep,” he observes, glancing toward the rest of the camp.

My gaze follows his. Kaida is curled up near the embers of the fire, her hair spilling out of her hood, while Veyron is sprawled out nearby, one hand resting on the hilt of a dagger even in sleep. Hrothgar sits against a tree, his massive form steady and relaxed as he dozes, looks like he fell asleep while keeping watch.

“Should we wake them up?” I ask, the words coming out faster than I mean them to. I’m desperate to shake off the thoughts from this morning—the things Shade said, the way I woke up, what I woke up to.

Lorien tilts his head slightly, considering the sleeping group for a moment. “We probably should…” he starts, his voice calm and measured. But then, without warning, he reaches out, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. His fingers linger just long enough to make my breath catch.

He looks at me, his eyes soft, almost searching. “But… maybe we just stay like this a bit longer,” he finishes quietly.

The words hit me harder than I expect, and for a moment, I’m completely still. I don’t know what to say. I don’t even know what I want to say.

Suddenly I can’t deny how badly I want to stay like this, just for a little while longer. The world feels so heavy most of the time—responsibilities, guilt, fear—but here, right now, with him looking at me like that, it’s easy to forget all of it.

I hesitate, my heart racing. Finally, I let the words slip out before I can stop them. “Maybe… a little longer,” I whisper.

Lorien pulls me closer, his hand brushing lightly against my arm as he leans in. When his lips meet mine, it’s gentle, familiar, and it sends a rush of warmth through me.

“Looks like that dream is getting closer to reality," Shade says, his voice coiling through my mind with smug amusement.

The comment jolts me, and I instinctively pull back a little, my heart racing.

“Are you okay?” Lorien asks softly, his brows furrowing as he looks at me, his concern written all over his face.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” I reply quickly, though the words feel like I’m trying to convince myself more than him. I nod for emphasis, as if that will make it true.

His eyes search mine, as if he’s trying to make sure, but he doesn’t push. Instead, he just waits, his hand still resting lightly on me.

I hesitate for a moment longer, my mind swirling with doubt and Shade’s ever-present murmurs in the background. But then I make a decision—trying not to overthink, not to let Shade’s voice or my own fear get in the way.

I lean back into him, my lips finding his once more. My hands rest on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my fingers.

Shade hums approvingly in the back of my mind but doesn’t say anything.

I try to ignore him completely and focus entirely on the moment—the warmth of Lorien’s touch, the way he kisses me back with a tenderness that makes my chest ache. It feels safe. It feels warm.

I let myself get lost in it. Just for a little while longer…

Lorien’s hand slides gently up my arm as the kiss deepens, his touch steady but unassuming, as if he’s afraid to push too far. My heart pounds in my chest, a mix of exhilaration and nerves tangling together in a way I can’t quite control.

“Oh, now we’re talking,” Shade murmurs, his voice curling through my thoughts like smoke. “You’re finally letting yourself give in, aren’t you? It’s adorable, really.”

I ignore it, my focus entirely on Lorien—on the way his hands rests lightly on my waist and arm, on the warmth of his presence, on the way the world fades into the background. No game, no Shade, no looming responsibilities or death. Just this.

When the kiss finally breaks, we’re still close, our breaths mingling in the cool morning air. Lorien doesn’t move right away; his forehead rests lightly against mine, his eyes half-closed as he looks at me with a softness that makes my chest ache.

“I meant what I said earlier,” he murmurs, his voice quiet but sure. “No matter what’s ahead, we’ve got this. Together.”

The sincerity in his tone sends a wave of warmth through me, but it’s quickly followed by that familiar pang of doubt. Does he really mean that? Would he still feel the same if he knew everything about me?

“Oh, stop overthinking,” Shade chimes in, its tone exasperated. “Just take the win, Artemis. He’s not going anywhere.”

I bite my lip, my gaze dropping for a moment before I force myself to look back at him. “Together,” I echo softly, though the word feels heavy on my tongue.

The sounds of the camp stirring behind us begin to filter in—the rustling of Kaida stirring, Veyron’s low grumble as he shifts in his sleep. Reality creeps back in, pulling me out of the bubble we’ve created.

I pull away slightly, my mind already racing to refocus on the day ahead. “We should probably get moving,” I say, my voice quieter than usual.

“Probably,” Lorien agrees, though he doesn’t move right away. His hand lingers on mine for a moment longer before he finally lets go, his expression steady and unhurried.

As I stand, brushing off the cloak and turning toward the others, Shade’s voice returns, its tone playful and smug. “You’re falling hard, Artemis. You can deny it all you want, but you and I both know how this ends. And oh, it’s going to be delicious.”

I shake my head slightly, trying to clear it. There’s no time for Shade’s games—not today. Not with everything we’re facing.

“Hey, sleepyheads,” I call out, my voice sharper now as I nudge Kaida with my boot. “Get up. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

Kaida groans dramatically, pulling her hood over her head. “You’re such a buzzkill, Artemis,” she mutters. “Let us live.”

“Move it,” I reply, my tone firm but not unkind. “The mountains aren’t getting any closer.”

As the group stirs, I glance back at Lorien. He’s watching me, his expression calm and steady, as if silently reminding me of his words.

I nod slightly to myself, steeling my resolve. Whatever lies ahead, I’ll face it. With them. With him. For now, that’s enough, that has to be enough.

The morning slips into motion as we begin gathering our things, the quiet sounds of the dying fire blending with the faint rustling of the forest around us. Kaida stretches with an exaggerated groan, still half-asleep as she shoves her blanket into her pack. Veyron, ever smug, smirks at her.

“You’re acting like this is the first time you’ve ever been up before sunrise,” Veyron says, already adjusting his daggers at his side.

Kaida glares at him, her hair sticking out wildly from under her hood. “Not all of us are nocturnal gremlins, Veyron.”

“Sure, sure,” Veyron replies, grinning as he tosses her an apple from his pack.

I let the banter wash over me as I check my own supplies, pulling out a small portion of dried meat and fruit. The rations are bland almost flavourless, but they’ll keep us going for a while longer. Hrothgar joins me by the fire, his massive hands deftly securing the straps of his pack.

“Everyone’s in one piece this morning at least,” he notes, his voice low and steady. “Good sign.”

“Let’s hope it stays that way,” I reply, glancing toward the path ahead. The mountains loom in the distance, shrouded in mist, their jagged peaks a stark reminder of what’s waiting for us.

As we eat, the air is filled with the quiet sounds of chewing, the occasional scrape of a blade being adjusted or a pack being tightened. Lorien sits beside me, his calm presence grounding even as my thoughts drift back to this morning. His hand brushes mine briefly as he passes me a piece of his rations, and I look away quickly, pretending to focus on the map spread out before us.

“We follow the ridge,” I say, tracing the route with my finger. “It’ll be steep, but it’s the fastest way through. If we keep a good pace, we should reach the next marker by nightfall.”

Kaida groans again, stuffing the last of her bread into her mouth. “Good pace.’ Can’t we take the scenic route for once? Maybe find a cute little village with hot baths and nice food?”

“Sure,” I say dryly, rolling up the map and tucking it into my pack. “Right after we figure out how to escape this death game.”

She sticks her tongue out at me but doesn’t argue further, shouldering her pack with a dramatic sigh.

As we start moving, I can already feel the cold air coming down from the mountains. It’s not nearly as bad as last night, but it’s there—biting just enough to make me wary. It’s only going to get worse as we climb.

Lorien falls into step beside me, his spear resting lightly on his shoulder. He doesn’t say anything, but his presence feels reassuring.

Kaida pulls her hood tighter, muttering something under her breath as we reach some snow covered grounds. “You’d think with all this walking, I’d be sweating, but nope. Just cold and miserable. Love that for me.”

“Better get used to it,” I say, glancing up at the distant peaks looming above us. “It’s going to get colder the higher we go.”

She groans dramatically, leaning forward as if the weight of the mountain itself is already on her shoulders. “Why can’t any where we go be nice and peaceful in this game and not ‘freezing-to-death mountain climbing simulator.’”

“I’ll write that down for next time,” I reply dryly.

Lorien chuckles softly behind me, his voice low and warm. “We should probably make some torches before it gets worse. If we get caught in this without something to keep us going, we’ll burn through too much energy too fast.”

“Good idea,” I agree, glancing at the thin, gnarled trees dotting the trail ahead. “We can stop soon, gather some wood and prep while the weather’s still manageable.”

Hrothgar nods, adjusting the massive pack slung over his shoulders. “We’ll want to plan for the night too. Once the sun starts to dip, the wind’s going to be unforgiving.”

Kaida groans again, this time louder. “I love how optimistic we all sound. Can’t wait for the frostbitten end of our story.”

Veyron smirks, keeping pace with her. “If anyone’s losing any fingers, it’s definitely you. You’re too slow to keep them warm.”

“Don’t tempt me to shove snow down your tunic,” she snaps back, but there’s no real anger in her tone.

As their banter carries on behind me, I glance up at the sky, the pale light of day barely piercing the thick clouds hanging over the peaks. The mountains ahead look steep and unyielding, their ridges sharp and imposing.

Shade stirs in the back of my mind, its voice curling in lazily. “Torches and warm bodies, hmm? How quaint. But do you think that’ll really be enough once you’re up there? You’ve felt it, haven’t you? That growing chill—not just the cold. Something darker.”

I grit my teeth, shaking the thought off as we push forward. We’ll stop soon, make torches, and prepare. That’s all I need to focus on for now. Just one step at a time.

Kaida’s sash wrapped snugly around my neck adds a little extra warmth. Between that and the torches we’re planning to make, It’ll be enough to keep the cold at bay—at least for the day. Hopefully.

After a little more walking, we come across a stretch of trees with low, twisted branches. Perfect for gathering some good-sized sticks for torches. I start picking through the brush, testing a branch here and there for sturdiness, when Veyron speaks up.

“I’ve been thinking about all of this,” he says, his voice breaking through the sound of snapping twigs and the crunching snow in the area. He gestures vaguely at the world around us, his expression thoughtful but distant. “And no matter what way you look at it, it simply doesn’t make sense.”

Hrothgar straightens, glancing at Veyron as he pulls a thick branch from the ground. “What do you mean?”

Veyron exhales sharply, as though trying to put his thoughts into words. “Okay, think about it,” he starts, brushing some dirt off his hands. “Option one: the game somehow took our minds into itself. That would explain the menus, the skills, and the weird game logic, right? But the issue with that is… everything’s way too realistic.”

I pause, glancing at him. “What do you mean by ‘too realistic’?”

“Think about it,” Veyron says, gesturing around us again. “The graphics are wayyy too good. This looks exactly like real life. We can feel everything—the cold, pain, textures. Even our movements aren’t limited to preprogrammed animations like in a normal game. I can stretch, jump, spin in circles—whatever I want—and it’s seamless. No game engine could handle that.”

Kaida raises an eyebrow. “Okay, so… what’s your point?”

“My point,” he continues, his tone sharper now, “is that even if you somehow made the most advanced computer system in existence, this still wouldn’t be possible. You’d have to map out the entire human brain and upload it into a system—and that alone would take hundreds of years of development, assuming it’s even possible.”

Kaida frowns, looking skeptical. “But isn’t technology advancing super fast these days? Maybe it’s just… ahead of its time?”

Veyron shakes his head. “No. A human brain has over two million gigabytes of storage, not to mention processing power. Uploading even one person’s mind would be impossible with super advanced technology. Let alone six people.”

Hrothgar strokes his chin, his expression thoughtful. “So if that’s not the answer, then what is?”

“That’s the thing,” Veyron says, picking up a stick and twirling it idly. “Option two: we were all kidnapped and hooked up to some kind of machine. You know, like those sci-fi stories where you’re in a simulation but your real body’s lying in some lab somewhere.”

“That’s a comforting thought,” Kaida mutters.

“Yeah, but even then, this world wouldn’t make sense,” Veyron presses. “Machines can’t create this. The details of this world—it’s too realistic to be possible.”

“Okay, so what’s your third option?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

Veyron hesitates, as if the words don’t sit right with him. “The only other thing I can think of is… this isn’t a game or a simulation at all. It’s another world. Like, actually another world.”

There’s a beat of silence as the words hang in the air, heavy and strange.

Kaida snorts. “Another world? Seriously? With floating menus and an announcer when we first got here? That doesn’t exactly scream ‘real world,’ Veyron.”

“Exactly,” he says, tossing the stick he was holding aside. “That’s what doesn’t make sense. If this is another world, why does it have all the trappings of a game? Who made it? How does it work?”

I glance toward the mountains ahead, my thoughts spinning. Veyron isn’t wrong—none of this makes sense. But thinking too hard about it only seems to raise more questions.

Shade chuckles softly in the back of my mind. “Oh, let him keep puzzling it out. The truth will come eventually, and I can’t wait to see the look on your face when it does.”

I clench my jaw and shove the voice aside, focusing instead on the branch in my hands. “No matter what this place is,” I say aloud, “we’re still stuck here. And the only thing that matters is finding a way out.”

Veyron shrugs, his smirk returning. “Fair enough, fearless leader. But if I figure out the secret first, you owe me something good.”

Kaida rolls her eyes. “Sure, Veyron. You can have first dibs on getting us all out of here. That work for you?”

He grins. “Works for me.”

Hrothgar chuckles, shaking his head as he hefts a bundle of sticks onto his shoulder. “Let’s focus on staying warm first, yeah?”

As we gather the last of the materials for the torches, I can’t help but let Veyron’s words linger in my mind. Another world. The idea feels absurd, impossible—and yet, standing here, breathing this air, feeling the cold against my skin… I can’t entirely dismiss it I’d thought about it myself before but…

For now, I set it aside. One step at a time. No point focusing on it when we won’t be able to actually figure it out.

“Kaida, did you get like matches or something?” I ask, holding the materials for the torch in my hands.

“Nope,” she says with a grin, already pulling her staff from her back. “Watch this.”

She holds her staff in one hand, and it begins to glow faintly at the tip. A soft hum fills the air as a tiny flame flickers to life, dancing at the end of the staff like it’s alive. With a flick of her wrist, she brings the torch she’s holding closer, and the flame leaps to it, igniting the bundle of sticks instantly.

“Ta-da!” Kaida says, turning to me with a self-satisfied smirk. “Can’t believe you missed me doing this last night. I’m basically the human campfire.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Or you’re just really dramatic.”

“Hey,” she says, pointing the now-lit torch at me like it’s a sword. “It’s not dramatic if it’s useful. Besides, you’d be freezing without me.”

“Fair point,” I mutter, holding out my own torch toward her. “Mind sharing the magic?”

“Of course, fearless leader,” she teases, the flame from her torch sparking to life on mine with another quick flick of her staff. “Consider it my gift to the party. You’re welcome.”

“Appreciated,” I say, though I roll my eyes. “And here I thought you were going to save all your energy for, you know, actual combat.”

Kaida grins, clearly pleased with herself. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty left if anything decides to jump us, I just got a perfect nights rest.”

Behind us, Veyron snorts. “Show-off.”

“Jealous?” Kaida shoots back, twirling her staff before slinging it over her back again.

“Hardly,” he replies, smirking. “I prefer my heat in the form of subtlety and precision, not big, flashy pyrotechnics.”

“Subtlety,” Kaida repeats, mockingly. “Right. That’s why you knocked that guard out in the middle of the street.”

As they bicker, I hold the torch closer, letting its warmth seep into my hands. The glow of the flames against the snowy trail gives me a strange sense of comfort, even as the cold air from the mountains bites at my cheeks.

Hrothgar steps closer, his voice low and steady. “We’d best keep moving. The wind’s picking up.”

I nod, glancing toward the ridgeline ahead. “Let’s go. The sooner we hit higher ground, the sooner we can find some kind of shelter for the night.”

Kaida grumbles something under her breath about hating mountains, but she follows along, holding her torch high. As we push forward, the banter dies down, replaced by the steady crunch of boots against snow and the flickering glow of torches cutting through the mist.

We continue walking, the chill growing sharper with every step. The trail winds upward, the hilly paths uneven and covered in patches of frost that crunch beneath our boots. The cold bites at my face and creeps under my clothes, the warmth of the torch only doing so much to keep it at bay.

Every once in a while, the wind picks up, cutting across the ridgeline and forcing us to pull our cloaks tighter. Kaida, as usual, voices what everyone’s probably thinking. “How much longer are we going to be climbing like this? I’m starting to feel like a freaking mountain goat.”

“Until we find a good place to camp or until my legs give out—whichever comes first,” I reply, glancing over my shoulder at her.

“Great. Can’t wait for both of those to happen at the same time,” she mutters, pulling her hood farther down over her face.

Shade stirs in the back of my mind, his presence a constant, though less abrasive than usual. “She has a point, you know. You’re pushing them pretty hard. Not that I’m complaining—your determination is admirable, really. But you might want to think about how far they can go before the cold gets the better of them and you.”

I clench my jaw, the torchlight flickering against the frost-covered rocks ahead. “I’m aware,” I think back to him. “But we can’t afford to stop too soon. The higher we go, the better chance we have of finding a safe spot for the night. We can’t just stop on a hill.”

“Fair,” Shade responds, his voice calm but firm. “Just don’t let that stubbornness of yours turn into recklessness. You’ve actually got a good thing going with these people. No need to break them before we get where we’re going.”

There’s no mocking tone in his words this time, which catches me off guard. I almost want to argue with him out of habit, but instead, I just sigh inwardly. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”

Hrothgar’s steady voice cuts through the cold. “The terrain’s getting steeper. Stay sharp—some of these rocks are slick.”

“Got it,” I call back, scanning the path ahead for anything that might trip us up. The wind howls briefly, sending a shiver through me.

Lorien steps closer, his voice low. “You holding up?”

I nod, glancing at him. “I’m fine. You?”

He smiles faintly, the torchlight reflecting in his eyes. “Always.”

Shade’s voice hums softly in my mind. “Ah, there it is. The silent reassurance, the steady presence. You do know he’d follow you anywhere, right?”

“So you’ve said.” I think back, my chest tightening slightly.

Shade doesn’t press further, his presence fading slightly as I refocus on the trail. One step at a time.

As we go higher, the mist thickens into a dense fog, wrapping around us like a shroud. The snow on the ground rises, making each step heavier, more deliberate. It’s not just cold anymore—it’s suffocating. If it starts snowing, we could easily be buried within hours.

The sound comes faintly at first, a distant neigh, barely audible over the wind. My head snaps up, and I turn toward the others, my heart pounding. “Did you hear that?”

Hrothgar narrows his eyes, scanning the fog. “Horses?”

Veyron straightens, his smirk cutting through the tension. “Finally, something helpful.”

I hold up a hand, signaling for quiet. The air feels heavier now, the sound of hoofbeats growing louder, echoing faintly through the fog. My grip tightens on my bow as I step forward, straining to see through the haze.

Then I see them. The eyes.

At first, it’s just the faint red glow I thought I’d imagined the night before—burning through the fog, growing closer. My stomach drops, the memory of the night rushing back. I definitely didn’t imagine it.

The form takes shape, emerging slowly from the fog. A massive horse, its coat so black it seems to drink in the light of our torches. Steam rises from its nostrils, and its hooves crunch against the snow as it steps closer.

On its back is a figure, clad entirely in black armor. The metal gleams faintly in the torchlight, the edges sharp and unrelenting. A black helmet conceals his face, save for the eyes—burning red, glowing like embers in the shadows.

I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest. The others see it now too, their weapons shifting instinctively into ready positions.

Kaida’s voice is barely above a whisper. “What… the hell is that?”

The figure doesn’t speak, doesn’t make any move to acknowledge us. He just continues forward, the fog swirling around him as if the very air bends to his will.

Shade’s voice stirs in my mind, calm but firm. “Careful, Artemis. This one’s no ordinary enemy. And something tells me he’s not here for small talk.”

I glance back at the others, my voice low but steady. “Weapons up. Stay close.”

The knight pulls his horse to a stop a short distance away, the beast snorting and pawing at the snow. The figure sits motionless for a moment, the glow of his eyes seeming to scan over each of us, lingering on me for a moment too long.

I grip my bow tighter, every muscle in my body tense. “Who are you?” I call out, my voice cutting through the stillness.

The knight doesn’t answer. Instead, he slowly lifts a hand, reaching for the hilt of the massive sword strapped to his back.

“Not friendly,” Lorien mutters, stepping closer to me, his spear ready.

“Guessing he’s not here to offer us a ride,” Veyron quips, though his tone is sharper than usual, his daggers already in hand.

I draw an arrow, nocking it against the string, the tension pulling taut. The air around us feels heavy, suffocating, as if the fog itself is pressing down.

The knight’s hand grips his sword, and the red glow of his eyes seems to flare brighter.

This is bad, I think, my heart racing.

Shade hums softly in my mind, his tone laced with quiet warning. “Very bad. I’d suggest you not let him make the first move.”

“What are you doing up here?” I ask, my voice firm, though my stomach churns with unease. I hope—pray—for an answer but I quickly wish he hadn’t answered at all.

The knight tilts his head slightly, those glowing red eyes locking onto mine. When he finally speaks, his voice is deep and hollow, echoing like something that doesn’t belong to the living.

“I’m here to kill you.”

The words hit like a physical blow, and before I can even react, he leaps off the back of his horse. The height of his jump is impossible—inhuman—and as he lands with a deafening thud, the snow beneath him explodes outward in a flurry of white.

His dark cape flows wildly in the wind as he charges straight for us, his massive sword already drawn and gleaming in the pale light.

Everything in me screams to move, to act. My instincts take over, and I release the arrow I had drawn.

The arrow cuts through the air, aimed directly for his chest. It strikes—but instead of slowing him down, it glances off his armor with a sharp clang, shattering into splinters as if I’d fired it at solid steel.

“Damn it!” I hiss, already reaching for another arrow.

The knight barrels forward, his speed terrifying for someone in such heavy armor. The ground shakes slightly with each of his steps, and the glow of his eyes seems to burn brighter the closer he gets.

“Back up!” Hrothgar roars, stepping in front of the group with his axe raised. He braces himself as the knight closes the distance.

Lorien moves quickly to my side, his spear already in hand. “Artemis, stay back!”

“I’m fine!” I snap, drawing another arrow and taking aim again.

Kaida raises her staff, her voice sharp as she begins chanting something. A faint glow surrounds her hands, but the cold seems to sap her energy. “He’s too fast—he’s already on us!”

The knight swings his sword with a single, brutal motion, the sheer force of it cleaving through the air with a high-pitched whine. Hrothgar blocks the blow with the head of his axe, but the impact sends him skidding backward, his boots digging deep into the snow.

“Veyron, flank!” Hrothgar shouts, recovering just in time to brace for another strike.

“On it!” Veyron vanishes into the fog, his movements silent and quick.

I fire another arrow, this time aiming for a gap in the knight’s chest and shoulder. The arrow hits, and this time it doesn’t shatter, but the knight doesn’t so much as flinch. He swings his massive sword toward me, the force of the swing creating a gust of wind that nearly knocks me off balance.

Shade’s voice growls in my mind, low and sharp. “You’re not going to bring him down with brute force. He’s too strong—too fast. Find another way, Artemis.”

“I’m open to suggestions!” I think back, my heart pounding.

“Test him. Find his weakness. He has one—everything does. But don’t let him corner you. Keep moving!” Shade’s tone is calm, but there’s a tension beneath it, as if even he knows how bad this is.

The knight’s glowing eyes lock onto me again, and for a moment, it feels like he can see right through me. Then he moves, faster than before, his sword slicing toward me in an arc of dark steel.

I dive to the side, barely avoiding the strike as snow sprays up around me. My hands fumble for another arrow, my breath ragged. “We can’t keep this up,” I mutter.

“Then we find a way to end it!” Lorien shouts, planting his spear and lunging at the knight, his strike aimed at the same shoulder where my arrow is still lodged.

The spear connects, forcing the knight to shift slightly, but it’s not enough to stop him. He spins, his sword cutting through the air as he turns his focus back toward me.

My mind races, every instinct screaming at me to run, to fight, to survive.

The knight moves with a speed that doesn’t make sense for his size, spinning his sword and butting the end of its hilt into Lorien’s chest. The impact forces Lorien back, and I catch a flash of pain across his face before he stumbles into the snow.

Without hesitation, the knight grips the arrow in his shoulder and yanks it free. He tosses it aside like it’s nothing, the glowing eyes beneath his helmet locking onto me again.

“If you can’t handle it, I can always step in,” Shade says, his voice low. “They’ll find out about me eventually, Artemis. No point letting them—and yourself—die before that happens.”

“We can handle him,” I snap back, my breath ragged as I leap out of the way of another swing. The massive blade carves through the air, inches from my face, before slamming into the ground with a dull thud. I scramble backward, the snow slick under my boots.

The knight pivots, his movements fluid and relentless. His sword arcs toward me again, but before it can connect, Hrothgar charges in, his axe meeting the blade with a deafening clang.

Hrothgar grits his teeth, holding firm against the knight’s overwhelming strength. “You’re not getting through me!” he growls, shoving forward and forcing the knight to take a step back.

The knight doesn’t falter for long. His sword swings again in a brutal arc, but Hrothgar is ready, blocking it with the flat of his axe. The sound reverberates through the air, and sparks fly as the weapons clash.

Veyron uses the opening, slipping through the fog like a shadow. His daggers flash as he attacks from behind, aiming for the gaps in the knight’s armor. One dagger strikes, sinking into the joint where the knight’s shoulder plate meets his back.

The knight jerks slightly, his head snapping toward Veyron. For a split second, his focus wavers, and Hrothgar uses the moment to push harder, forcing the knight to retreat a step.

Lorien pushes himself back to his feet, gripping his spear tightly as he circles around to the knight’s side. His chest rises and falls heavily, but there’s a fire in his eyes that refuses to fade.

The knight, however, doesn’t seem fazed. His glowing eyes burn brighter, and he swings his sword in a wide arc, forcing both Hrothgar and Veyron to back off momentarily. His cape flows behind him, the snow swirling around his feet like a storm brewing in his wake.

“You’re running out of time, Artemis,” Shade murmurs in my mind. “He’s testing you, pushing your limits. How long do you think you can keep this up before someone gets hurt—or worse?”

I grit my teeth, my hand tightening around the bow. “We’ll handle it,” I think firmly. “Just stay out of it. For now.”

Shade hums softly, his tone unreadable. “For now, then. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when the time comes.”

The knight steps forward again, his sword raised high. My grip on the bow tightens as I ready another arrow. Whatever it takes, I’m not letting this thing win. Not here. Not now.

I pull the string back, aiming for the same shoulder where my last arrow stuck, and release. The arrow flies straight and fast, but the knight reacts instantly, shifting his massive blade to deflect it with a sharp clang. The impact sends the arrow spiraling uselessly into the snow.

Before I can nock another, the knight spins, his sword cutting through the air toward Veyron. Veyron narrowly ducks under the strike, rolling to the side just as the blade slices through the space where he was standing.

“Close one!” Veyron calls out, but his smirk falters as he glances toward the knight, whose glowing eyes now lock on him with eerie precision.

“Hold still!” Kaida yells, her staff glowing brighter as she finishes her chant. She slams the tip into the snow, and roots burst from the ground, dark and twisted, writhing like serpents.

The roots snake around the knight’s legs and arms, pulling taut as they try to hold him in place. The fog swirls around him, making the sight even more surreal as the roots twist tighter, keeping his movements restricted.

“Got him!” Kaida shouts, her eyes glowing faintly as she pours her magic into the spell.

“Good!” Hrothgar roars, rushing in with his axe raised high. He swings downward, the blade of his axe aimed for the knight’s chest.

The knight, though bound, doesn’t panic. His glowing eyes burn brighter, and with a sharp tug, he twists his arm free from the roots just enough to raise his sword.

The clash of weapons rings out as the knight blocks Hrothgar’s strike with terrifying strength. The sheer force of the collision sends sparks flying, and Hrothgar grits his teeth, trying to push through the block.

“Keep him pinned!” Hrothgar growls, struggling to hold his ground against the knight’s unrelenting strength.

Kaida’s face is tight with concentration, beads of sweat forming on her brow. “He’s strong—I can’t hold him for long!”

Lorien takes the opportunity to strike, lunging in with his spear. He thrusts toward the knight’s exposed side, but the knight twists his torso at the last second, the spear glancing off his armor instead of piercing it.

The roots around the knight’s legs start to splinter, his movements becoming more forceful. “He’s breaking free!” Kaida shouts, her voice tense.

My heart pounds as I scramble for another arrow, quickly nocking it and taking aim. “Keep at it—we have to wear him down!”

Shade’s voice rumbles softly in my mind, calm but pointed. “You’re playing defense, Artemis. You won’t win by simply reacting. You need to figure something else out.”

“Working on it,” I think back sharply, my focus locked on the knight.

The knight rips his arm free entirely, his sword swinging wide to slice through the roots at his feet. Kaida stumbles back, her spell faltering as the glowing magic fades.

The knight lets out a low, menacing sound—almost like a growl—and turns toward me, his cape flaring behind him as he begins to advance again.

“Everyone, back up!” I shout, my voice cutting through the chaos. My fingers grip the bowstring, the magic thrumming faintly beneath my fingertips as I draw it back.

The others hear me and immediately begin to retreat. Lorien pulls away from his last strike, his spear spinning back into a defensive position as he sidesteps the knight’s blade. Hrothgar takes a step back as well, his massive frame still braced for another attack, while Kaida moves back a bit farther to catch her breath, her staff trembling slightly in her hand as she releases the vines.

The knight’s glowing red eyes snap toward me, sensing the shift in the battle, but I don’t give him time to react. I release the string, and my ability surges to life.

A flurry of arrows streak through the air, glowing faintly with arcane energy as they fan out toward their target. The arrows rain down on the knight in a concentrated volley, slamming into him with relentless force. The sound of impact echoes sharply, each arrow striking with a burst of energy.

One arrow—the arcane arrow—cuts through the chaos, its glowing tip striking directly at the knight’s chest plate. The arcane energy explodes on contact, forcing him to stagger back a step, his sword rising instinctively to shield himself.

“Lorien, now!” I shout, not wasting the opportunity.

Lorien doesn’t hesitate. His spear glows faintly as his deep strike ability activates, and he lunges forward with a precision that slices through the chaos. The spear drives into the knight’s armor, slipping between the plates at his side.

The knight growls low, the sound reverberating through the air as he swings wildly toward Lorien. But Lorien is already moving, spinning away from the counterattack and pulling his spear free in one smooth motion.

“Hrothgar, hit him hard!” I call out, my hand already reaching for another arrow.

Hrothgar lets out a roar, his ability activating as he charges forward. His entire frame seems to tense, muscles rippling as he grips his axe tightly. He swings with all his might, the weapon slamming into the knight’s shoulder.

The force of the blow reverberates through the air, knocking the knight to the side. His sword drops slightly, leaving him vulnerable for a brief moment.

“Keep the pressure on!” I yell, firing another arrow to keep him distracted.

Kaida raises her staff again, muttering an incantation as flames flicker to life at its tip. “I’ll slow him down!” she calls out, sending a burst of fire toward his legs. The flames lick at the knight’s armor, forcing him to shift his footing as he bats at the fire with his sword.

Shade’s voice hums approvingly in my mind. “Not bad, Artemis. You’re starting to think like someone who actually wants to win.”

“I’m just doing what I have to,” I think back, my focus unrelenting.

The knight’s glowing eyes flare brighter as he steadies himself, his cape whipping behind him. He plants his sword into the ground for leverage, pulling himself upright. The damage we’ve dealt is starting to show—his movements are a bit slower now, his armor actually scuffed. But his presence is no less menacing, and the red glow of his eyes burns with an intensity that sets my nerves on edge.

“This isn’t over yet,” Lorien mutters, stepping back into position beside me.

“No,” I reply, gripping my bow tighter. “It’s not.”

“You want to use abilities now?” the knight says, his voice sharp and biting as he fully rises, his presence even more imposing.

Abilities? The word spins in my head, sharper than any blade. How does he—

Before I can finish the thought, his massive sword begins to glow, the light dark and crimson, almost alive. A shimmering, crackling barrier extends from the blade, doubling its length. It hums with power, every pulse making the air around us heavier, thicker.

He swings it once, hard and fast, slamming the glowing edge into the snow at his feet. The impact sends a wave of snow and ice flying outward, scattering over the remains of Kaida’s fire and extinguishing it in an instant. The hiss of steam fills the air as the fog thickens.

“Looks like you’ve found another player,” Shade says, his voice calm and assessing, but not without an edge of curiosity. “The question is, is he trapped here like you? Or is he just playing a game, like the one from the forest?”

My stomach turns at the thought. Another player. Another person like us—or, someone free, like that bandit leader who was just playing a game while we were stuck here fighting to survive.

“We need to stop him before someone gets killed.” I think back to Shade, my grip tightening on my bow.

Shade hums in quiet agreement. “Don’t let your guard down. He’s not just strong—he knows what you are.”

The knight’s glowing eyes shift between us, his helmet tilting slightly as if sizing us up. Then, without warning, he surges forward, his blade leaving a trail of glowing energy in its wake.

“Move!” I shout, already leaping to the side as his blade slams into the ground where I’d been standing. The ground shakes, the impact sending cracks spidering through the snow and earth.

Kaida scrambles back, gripping her staff tightly as she regains her footing. “He’s kinda wiping the floor with us right now!” she shouts, panic creeping into her voice.

“Stay focused!” Hrothgar bellows, stepping forward to block the next strike. The tension in his muscles are visible as he braces against the glowing blade.

Lorien moves beside him, his spear glowing faintly. “We can take him if we work together!” he shouts, thrusting the spear toward the knight’s exposed side.

The knight pivots with alarming speed, his blade sweeping wide. The glowing blade slices cleanly through the snow, forcing Lorien and Hrothgar to break apart to avoid being caught in its path.

Veyron darts in from the side, daggers gleaming as he aims for the gaps in the knight’s armor. “He’s fast, but we’ve fought worse!” he calls out, his strikes precise and relentless.

The knight grunts, turning his attention briefly to Veyron, but he’s already gone, disappearing into the fog.

“He’s barely trying,” Shade murmurs, his voice low and unsettling. “He hasn’t even started taking this seriously yet.”

“That makes two of us,” I think back, my jaw tightening. I draw another arrow, as I ready it for my next strike.

The knight turns his gaze back to me, his glowing eyes locking onto mine as if he knows exactly what I’m about to do. For a moment, everything seems to slow, the weight of his presence pressing down like a physical force.

This isn’t just another fight. It’s a test—a fight against someone who knows more than I do, someone who might hold answers I don’t.

But I don’t have time to think about that. Not now. Not while he’s still coming for us.

“Keep him off balance!” I yell, firing my arrow straight toward his shoulder.

The knight’s blade hums with power as he swings again, this time toward Hrothgar. The axe comes up just in time, the clash of weapons ringing out across the fog-shrouded mountains. Hrothgar’s strength holds for a moment, but the sheer force of the strike is too much—he’s knocked backward, his massive frame hitting the ground with a heavy thud.

“Damn it!” I hiss, my fingers tightening around the bowstring as I track the knight’s movements.

Lorien seizes the moment, darting in with his spear. He thrusts hard, finding an opening in the knight’s armor. The weapon pierces through, but the knight barely flinches, his movements precise and relentless.

Before Lorien can pull back, the knight spins on him with terrifying speed, his glowing blade arcing downward.

“Lorien, move!” I yell, panic rising in my chest.

Lorien rolls to the side, narrowly avoiding the main swing, but the extended length of the glowing blade catches him as he moves. The edge grazes his side, leaving a shallow cut that sends him staggering.

“Lorien!” Kaida shouts, her voice filled with alarm as she steps closer, her staff trembling in her hands.

Lorien grimaces but waves her off, gripping his spear tightly as he steadies himself. “I’m fine,” he says, though the worry in his voice betrays him.

The knight doesn’t give him a moment to recover. His glowing eyes flare as he shifts his focus back to me, his blade already raised for the next attack.

Shade’s voice echoes in my mind, calm but edged with urgency. “You need to end this, and fast.”

“I’m trying!” I think back, frustration bubbling up.

“Try harder,” Shade replies evenly. “Because if you don’t, it’s not just Lorien who’s going to get hurt.”

I clench my teeth, pulling back another arrow. My mind races as I take aim, trying to calculate our next move. Hrothgar is struggling to get back to his feet, Kaida’s fire is too slow to reach him, and Lorien is already hurt.

“Veyron, hit him again! Aim for the back!” I shout, letting the arrow fly.

The knight deflects the shot with a flick of his blade, his movements almost casual. His focus stays locked on me, and I feel the weight of it settle like a stone in my chest.

I glance at the others for a split second, catching the flicker of panic in their eyes as Veyron darts in again, his daggers flashing in the dim light. He moves fast, striking at the knight’s exposed back, but his blades barely scratch the surface of the black armor before the knight spins toward him, forcing Veyron to retreat with a curse.

My heart pounds, my fingers gripping the bow tightly. This isn’t working, I think, panic clawing at the edges of my mind.

“Shade…” I begin, hesitating for just a moment. “Can you, like, secretly help me? Empower these arrows or something? Without them noticing?”

Shade’s presence shifts slightly, his voice coming softly into my mind, a quiet hum of curiosity and amusement. “Oh? Finally asking for help, are we?”

“Not the time,” I snap mentally, nocking another arrow. “Can you or not?”

There’s a brief pause, as if he’s savoring the moment. “I can… adjust things for you, yes. A bit of my strength, let’s say. It won’t be subtle, though. Your little mage might notice the shift. Are you prepared for that?”

I grit my teeth, my eyes locking onto the knight as he pushes forward, his glowing blade carving through the snow in a wide arc. “I don’t care. Just do it.”

Shade chuckles softly, the sound low and satisfied. “Very well, Artemis. Let’s see what you can do with a little… enhancement.”

A faint pulse of energy ripples through me, cold and electric. My bow hums faintly under my grip, the next arrow I nock glowing faintly with an ominous, dark energy. The weight of it feels strange but powerful, and I take a steadying breath, ignoring the unease prickling at the back of my mind.

“Keep him busy!” I shout to the others, drawing the string back. The magic surges through the arrow, a sharp, foreign sensation that makes my chest tighten.

Lorien glances at me briefly, his brows furrowing as he steadies his stance. “Artemis, what—”

“Just trust me!” I cut him off, releasing the arrow.

It streaks through the air, the dark energy trailing behind it like smoke. The arrow strikes the knight’s shoulder, and this time, it pierces through the armor, sending a visible ripple of force across his body. He stumbles slightly, his glowing eyes narrowing as he looks directly at me.

“Good,” Shade murmurs, his voice laced with satisfaction. “Now keep going. Let him feel the difference.”

The others hesitate, clearly noticing the strange glow surrounding my shot, but there’s no time to explain. The knight straightens again, gripping his blade tighter, the red energy around it flaring brighter.

I nock another arrow, ignoring the questions rising in my mind—and the worried looks from my friends. Whatever this power is, it’s working. And right now, that’s all that matters.

I release the arrow, but the knight moves faster than I can track, his glowing eyes fixed on me like a predator locking onto prey. His speed is terrifying—inhuman—and before I can nock another arrow, he’s right in front of me.

Lorien lunges toward him, spear ready, but the knight is too fast. He barrels past Lorien like he isn’t even there, closing the distance in a heartbeat. My hand flies to my quiver, desperate to grab another arrow, but it’s too late—his gauntleted hand clamps around my throat, lifting me off the ground like I weigh nothing.

I choke, my hands clawing at his armored wrist, panic surging through me as his glowing red eyes bore into mine.

“Artemis!” Kaida’s voice cuts through the air, sharp and filled with panic. She doesn’t hesitate, raising her staff and firing a ball of fire directly at the knight.

The flames streak toward him, bright and hot, and he snarls, tossing me aside to block the attack with his blade. The force of his throw sends me crashing into the rocky wall of the mountainside, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs. Pain lances through my body as I slump to the ground, dazed and gasping for air.

The knight slashes through the ball of fire with a single, precise swing, the glowing edge of his blade cutting it clean in half. The fire dissipates into the cold air, leaving behind only the faint scent of smoke.

He spins back toward me, his blade glowing brighter as he lifts it high. The sight of the weapon poised above me sends a surge of adrenaline through my body. I roll to the side at the last possible second, the blade slamming into the wall where I’d just been.

But instead of getting stuck in the rock, the blade cuts through it like butter, glowing with an unnatural energy.

The ground beneath me shakes violently, the force of the strike sending cracks spidering through the mountainside. A deep rumble echoes around us, growing louder with every passing second.

Before I can scramble to safety, the wall of rock and snow above us gives way. An avalanche of stone and ice crashes down, slamming into both me and the knight. The world turns white and cold, the force of it driving the air from my lungs.

I can feel myself falling, tumbling through the chaos as the snow and rock swallow me whole. My mind races, panic and terror taking over. *Did it knock me off the mountain? Is this it? Is this how I die?*

The thought hits hard, but there’s no time to hold onto it. The cold bites at my skin, and the sensation of weightlessness overtakes me as the ground disappears. The last thing I see before the world goes dark is the blur of white and shadow as the avalanche drags me into the void.

End of chapter 19