Mist clung to the forest floor, curling around the roots and ferns like restless spirits. Adrian stepped lightly, eyes scanning the shadows between the trunks. The Heart pulsed faintly in his dagger, guiding him along the hidden path Kael had chosen.
Kael led the way, silent and alert, occasionally gesturing for the group to slow or stop. Behind him, Elara moved with equal care, pack straps tight, hands brushing over concealed weapons. Adrian matched her steps, adjusting instinctively to her rhythm.
A distant rumble echoed through the trees. Adrian froze, listening.
"Earth tremors," Kael whispered. "Not natural. Could be the Plume's defenses—or something else."
Elara crouched near a fallen log, hands pressed against the earth. "Something's moving beneath us."
Before Adrian could react, a fissure split the path ahead, sending a spray of soil and rock into the air. The forest seemed to shudder. Kael leaped over it effortlessly, motioning for the others to follow. Adrian vaulted, landing hard on the other side, rolling to absorb the impact.
The forest opened suddenly into a valley—a long, jagged stretch of broken stone and half-collapsed cliffs. The Shattered Vale.
Adrian scanned the terrain. Twisted roots jutted from the ground, and sharp rocks lined the slopes. Shadows clung to the jagged stone like spilled ink.
"Stay close," Kael said, voice low. "The Vale isn't just unstable. There's movement down there."
Elara crouched beside Adrian at the edge. "The Heart is stronger here," she said. "The artifact—it's reacting to something."
Adrian nodded, feeling a pulse in his hand as the dagger vibrated faintly. He kept his focus on the path below, watching for hidden threats.
They began their descent carefully, stepping between loose rocks and twisted roots. A faint shimmer of energy flickered across the Vale's floor. Adrian's heart quickened—this was the kind of pulse he had learned to read, each beat guiding him toward the source.
Suddenly, a shadow shifted among the rocks. Kael raised a hand, halting the group. A figure stepped forward, cloaked and hooded, moving with deliberate, silent steps.
"Identify yourself," Kael demanded.
The figure pulled back its hood. A woman with dark hair and sun-tanned skin met their gaze, eyes sharp and calculating. Adrian's grip tightened on the dagger.
"You shouldn't be here," she said, voice calm but firm.
"Neither should you," Kael replied. "Step aside."
The woman's eyes flicked toward Adrian briefly before returning to Kael. "Not just him," she said. "The artifact. It belongs to no one, but it will answer to those who understand its pulse."
Adrian felt the Heart in his dagger vibrate sharply. He watched as the woman raised her hands over the glowing runes etched into the stone floor. Energy arced between her fingertips and the fissures in the Vale, illuminating the jagged rocks with a pale, blue light.
Elara's eyes narrowed. "She's controlling it. Be ready."
The woman's voice echoed across the Vale. "You don't know what you meddle with. Leave now, or the Vale will swallow you."
Kael stepped forward. "We're not leaving without answers."
A flash of energy shot toward them. Adrian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the surge, and felt a jolt as the Heart pulsed violently. He adjusted the dagger, redirecting a portion of the energy. Elara moved to his flank, striking at the ground where the energy had originated, fracturing a small rune that had anchored the surge.
The woman faltered, and the Vale trembled again. Rocks shifted and twisted, sending debris sliding down the slopes. Adrian ducked under a falling boulder, rolling to land near Elara.
"Keep moving!" Kael shouted.
They advanced carefully, dodging bursts of energy and shifting stone. Adrian's hands were steady, the dagger humming with power as he redirected pulses from the Heart. Elara moved with him, her strikes precise, each movement calculated.
At one point, a surge split between them. Adrian lunged to redirect it, and Elara's elbow brushed against his side as she struck the final rune in the pattern. Energy discharged harmlessly into the air, leaving the Vale still, for a moment.
The woman paused, breathing heavily, her hands lowering. "You understand it… but barely," she said. "The Heart chooses, not the wielder."
Kael stepped closer. "Then tell us what it wants. Why is it here?"
Her gaze swept over Adrian. "The artifact responds to the pulse of those who carry intent. Your father… he left marks that only his bloodline could read. You feel it, boy, and the Heart recognized it long before you did."
Adrian's throat tightened. He didn't respond. He could feel the weight of the words, but his focus remained on the pulse beneath his dagger, steadying the energy in the Vale.
The woman's eyes flicked to Elara. "And you… you are capable, but untested. The Heart will judge you both if you linger too long."
Elara's hands flexed around her daggers, but she remained still. Kael's eyes narrowed, assessing the woman.
The ground shifted again, the Vale moaning with cracks and tremors. Adrian adjusted the dagger's energy, keeping the artifact stable. The Heart thrummed sharply, as though aware of the tension in the air.
"Enough," Kael said. "We need to move before this place collapses."
The woman nodded. "Follow the path of the Heart. It will guide you through the Vale safely… if you keep your wits."
The path twisted downward, narrow and slick with moss. Rocks shifted beneath their feet, but the Heart pulsed steadily, illuminating safe footing. Adrian led, Elara close behind, Kael bringing up the rear.
Falling stones rattled against the cliffs, but none struck them. Adrian adjusted the dagger's pulses, guiding them through the unstable terrain. He noticed Elara leaning slightly to read the vibrations of the artifact, adjusting her steps instinctively. They passed in near silence, broken only by the occasional shift of loose rock or Kael's brief instructions.
Finally, they reached the base of the Vale. The forest beyond stretched wide, mist curling between trunks. The Heart pulsed softly in Adrian's hand, the artifact secured in its pack.
Kael exhaled. "We made it. For now."
Adrian adjusted his grip on the dagger, eyes scanning the tree line. Elara did the same, crouched and alert. The Vale was behind them, but the forest ahead held its own dangers, shadows thick and heavy.
No words were exchanged about the moments of shared action, the precise timing, or the instinctive coordination they had relied upon. It had happened, unspoken, observed only through movement and timing.
The Heart thrummed in Adrian's hand. The next step awaited.