Chapter 9: The Glow of Fate
The girls stood frozen, staring in awe and fear. Their hearts pounded violently. Until now, the Shrouded One had only been a figure in ancient carvings and whispered legends.
"That… that's really him," Elara stammered.
Ariella said nothing. She could barely breathe.
As the figure drew closer, his red eyes gleamed. He sneered.
"What a joke. Sending two little children to their deaths. They call me heartless, yet they're the ones sacrificing children. Who, then, is truly heartless?"
Terrified, the girls stumbled backward. Ariella tripped and fell. Elara quickly extended a hand to help her.
The moment their palms touched, a soft glow emerged—blue and white—twisting together in a radiant swirl. For a heartbeat, time stood still. The beauty of it mesmerized them.
The beasts recoiled, startled by the light. Their formation broke, disorienting the line that once protected their master. The Shrouded One merely chuckled.
"Haha… so they gave you the stones. How desperate they must be. Fine then. I'll play along."
His voice turned cold. "I'll be the bigger person. Walk away now. Keep your little lives, because next time… I won't be so generous."
With a single pat to the two-headed beast, he turned. The formation reassembled, and in a blink, they vanished. The forest fell silent.
Even the smoke in the sky disappeared.
Still breathless, the girls stared at their hands. The glow had faded, but its warmth lingered.
"We should go home," Elara said quietly. Ariella nodded.
As they walked, Ariella turned to her. "Should we tell our parents?"
"I agree. The danger's real now. Especially after that warning. The elders might know what to do," Elara replied softly.
"But… aren't you scared?" she added. "I am. After what he said, I don't know if I want to see this through or back off like he suggested."