The ancient oak groaned as Eldrin leaned heavily against its gnarled trunk, his breath coming in unsteady gasps. The effort of breaking Malifax's spell in the cavern had drained him more than he cared to admit. Yet he couldn't rest. Galen and his family were somewhere in this cursed forest, and every moment wasted brought them closer to danger.
Earlier, he had made a desperate, last-ditch effort to protect the family directly from the immediate magical backlash of the Crown's movement which resulted in a blinding energy that displaced him. When the light faded and the dust settled, Eldrin was simply gone. The result of the explosion landed him elsewhere in the forest.
"Come on, old man," Eldrin muttered to himself, adjusting the grip on his staff. "You've faced worse than this." But even as he said it, a shadow flickered in the corner of his vision. He turned sharply, the tip of his staff glowing faintly, but nothing was there.
---
Eldrin's destination was clear: the Den of Whispers, home to Nyssa, an enchanted fox with a tragic past and a talent for uncovering secrets. Nyssa had once been Malifax's trusted companion, bound to him by a dark spell. But when she broke free, her loyalty shifted to Eldrin, though her scars—both physical and emotional—remained.
As Eldrin trudged through the forest, the path seemed to shift beneath his feet, twisting and turning as though alive. Trees whispered in languages long forgotten, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers.
"Malifax's magic," Eldrin muttered, his brow furrowing. "He's trying to throw me off course."
A sudden crack of twigs made him spin around. This time, he saw them—shimmering forms darting between the trees. Malifax's spies. The spies were shadowy, small, wraith-like creatures with glowing yellow eyes and sharp claws. They emerged from the darkness, their movements fluid and unnerving.
"Didn't expect an easy walk, did you?" Eldrin said dryly, raising his staff.
The first shadow-ling lunged, its claws slicing through the air where Eldrin had stood moments before. He sidestepped, slamming his staff into the ground. A shockwave of light radiated outward, scattering the creatures like leaves in the wind.
But the respite was short-lived. The shadowy creatures regrouped, their numbers doubling.
Eldrin gritted his teeth. "Of course, there are more."
As the battle raged, one particularly small shadow-ling hesitated, seemingly unsure of itself. It shuffled nervously, its glowing eyes darting between Eldrin and its companions.
"You're not cut out for this, are you?" Eldrin quipped, deflecting another attack. "Bet you'd rather be haunting a nice quiet meadow."
The creature squeaked in what could only be described as indignation before scurrying off into the darkness.
"Smart one," Eldrin chuckled.
---
After hours of battling both the forest's twisting paths and Malifax's minions, Eldrin finally arrived at the Den of Whispers. It was a hollowed-out tree, massive and ancient, its bark shimmering faintly with silver runes.
"Nyssa," Eldrin called, his voice echoing inside the hollow. "It's me."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, a pair of glowing violet eyes appeared in the shadows.
"You look terrible," Nyssa said, stepping into the light. Her sleek, silver fur was marred by a jagged scar that ran from her ear to her jaw. Despite her words, there was a note of concern in her voice.
"Good to see you too," Eldrin replied, leaning on his staff.
---
Nyssa's Insights
As they sat around a small fire, Eldrin explained the situation. Nyssa listened intently, her tail wagging at intervals.
"So, Malifax has taken an interest in the Celestial Crown again," she said finally.
"It's worse than that," Eldrin said. "He's cursed Galen and his family, turned them into mice."
Nyssa's ears flattened. "That's low, even for him."
"Which is why I need your help," Eldrin said. "The mice are somewhere in this forest, but Malifax's magic is clouding my tracking spells."
Nyssa tilted her head. "There's a way to break through the interference, but it's dangerous."
Eldrin sighed. "Isn't it always?"
---
The Mirror of Truth
Nyssa explained that deep within the forest lay the Mirror of Truth, an ancient artifact capable of piercing through any illusion. But it was guarded by a powerful entity—an Echo Warden.
"The Warden feeds on fear," Nyssa warned. "It will use your darkest memories against you."
Eldrin nodded. "Sounds like a delightful creature."
"I'll guide you," Nyssa said, standing. "But don't expect me to fight the Warden for you. I'm not that strong and selfless."
"Fair enough," Eldrin said, smiling faintly.
---
As they made their way to the Mirror, the forest grew darker and colder. The ground became frosty, and low voices filled the air, taunting and mocking.
"You'll never save them," a voice hissed.
Eldrin stopped, gripping his staff tightly. The voice was familiar—his own, distorted and cruel.
"Do you hear that?" Nyssa asked, her fur bristling.
Eldrin nodded. "Malifax. He's trying to get inside my head."
"You'll have to do better than that," Eldrin shouted into the darkness.
---
The Echo Warden
They reached the Mirror of Truth, a tall, shimmering surface set into a stone archway. But standing before it was the Echo Warden, a towering figure cloaked in shifting shadows. Its eyes glowed a sickly green, and its voice was a chorus of whispers.
"Eldrin," it said, its voice echoing like a thousand drops of water. "You are unworthy."
The Warden raised a hand, and the shadows around it twisted, forming images of Eldrin's past—his failures, his regrets, his darkest moments.
"Do you really believe you can save them?" the Warden asked. "You couldn't save her."
The image of a woman appeared, her face full of sorrow. Eldrin's breath hitched.
"Enough!" he shouted, slamming his staff into the ground. Light erupted from the tip, driving back the shadows.
The Warden recoiled, but its whispers grew louder. Eldrin focused, channeling his magic into the Mirror. The surface rippled, revealing an image of the mice—tired but alive, making their way through the forest.
"They're close," Eldrin said, his voice filled with relief.
But the Warden wasn't finished. It attacked, its shadowy form enveloping him.
"Eldrin!" Nyssa cried, her voice filled with panic.
Just as the Warden's shadows threatened to consume him, a blinding light erupted from the Mirror, driving the creature back. When the light faded, Eldrin was on his knees, breathing heavily. The Warden was gone, but the Mirror's surface now showed something else—Malifax, standing over the mice, his hand raised in a menacing gesture.
"He's found them," Nyssa said, her voice trembling.
Eldrin stood, his resolve hardening. "Then we have to move. Now."