The fire crackled softly, sending flickering shadows dancing over the trees. Eldrin sat cross-legged, his fingers tracing the golden symbols on the tablet. The air smelled of damp earth and burning wood, but beneath it all, there was something else—unease.
Nyssa watched Arkyn from across the fire, her amber eyes narrowed. She still didn't trust him. And if she was being honest, she didn't trust Eldrin's judgment in bringing him along.
"We shouldn't let our guard down," she murmured. Eldrin barely looked up. "I know. But if he really can lead us to the next fragment, we need him." Nyssa's tail flicked. "And if he's leading us into a trap?" Eldrin hesitated. Deep down, the same thought gnawed at him. But they had no time to waste. Malifax was already searching for the fragments, and every moment counted.
Across from them, Arkyn leaned against a tree, tossing a dagger into the air and catching it absentmindedly. "You know, it's rude to whisper about people when they're sitting right here." Nyssa growled. "It's rude to lie, too." Arkyn placed a hand over his heart. "Lie? Me? Never. I'm as honest as they come." "Then tell me why you were lurking in the forest when you 'happened' to find us," Nyssa challenged. Arkyn flashed a grin. "Maybe I was just waiting for the right company."
Eldrin sighed. "Enough. We need to focus on the map. Where does it lead?" Arkyn pointed to a symbol near the center of the tablet. "The Obsidian Mire."
A silence fell over them. Nyssa's ears flattened. "That place is cursed." Eldrin's stomach churned. He had read about the Obsidian Mire. A vast swamp, thick with blackened trees and swirling mist, where the air was said to carry secrets. And worse—where Malifax's magic was strongest.
"Then we'll need to be careful," Eldrin said. Arkyn stretched lazily. "Careful is my middle name. Shall we?"
---
The Obsidian Mire
They reached the edge of the swamp by dawn. The trees loomed overhead, their gnarled branches stretching like skeletal fingers. A thick fog curled around their feet, carrying a damp, musty scent. The water shimmered darkly, still as glass.
Eldrin hesitated. Something about the swamp felt... alive. "Stay close," he warned.
They stepped into the Mire, their boots sinking slightly into the mud. The path was treacherous, twisting, and half-submerged in black water. Strange, distant whispers floated through the fog, but when Eldrin turned to listen, they vanished.
"I hate this place," Nyssa muttered.
Arkyn seemed completely at ease, whistling as he stepped lightly over a fallen branch. "I think it has a certain charm." Eldrin shot him a look. "Stop that. You'll draw attention." Arkyn grinned. "Who's going to hear us out he—"
A violent splash cut him off. The ground beneath them trembled. Then the water moved. A massive, black-scaled creature rose from the depths, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow. Its long, serpent-like body coiled around a tree, and its mouth opened at intervals to reveal rows of needle-like teeth.
Nyssa's fur bristled. "Swamp fiend!"
The creature lunged. Eldrin raised his staff, casting a shield just as the fiend struck. Its fangs scraped against the barrier, sending sparks of magic flying. Arkyn rolled aside, drawing both daggers. "Well, this is fun!" The fiend swung its tail, knocking over trees as it tried to wrap around Eldrin. Nyssa leaped onto its back, her claws digging into the slimy scales.
"Hurry!" she shouted.
Eldrin focused, summoning a bolt of blue energy. He thrust his staff forward, sending the blast directly into the fiend's head. The creature roared, thrashing wildly. Arkyn took the opportunity to leap onto its back, plunging his daggers into its thick hide. The fiend howled, twisting violently.
"This thing is stubborn!" Arkyn grunted. "Hit the eyes!" Eldrin called. Nyssa darted forward, claws slashing at the glowing yellow orbs. The creature screeched in pain, its body writhing. Eldrin seized his chance, summoning a final blast of magic. And with a blinding flash, the energy struck the fiend's skull. For a moment, it froze. Then, with a final gurgling hiss, it collapsed, sinking back into the swamp.
Momentary silence followed.
Arkyn whistled. "Now that was a fight." Nyssa shook swamp water from her fur. "You nearly got us killed." Arkyn grinned. "But I didn't." Eldrin ignored them, turning his attention back to the tablet. The golden symbols pulsed faintly. They were close.
"This way," he said.
---
They moved deeper into the Mire, the fog thickening. The whispers grew louder. "We should turn back," Nyssa warned, "something isn't right." "We're almost there," Eldrin insisted.
Arkyn said nothing. He trailed slightly behind them, his fingers brushing the small enchanted stone in his pocket. Malifax's spell had been cast—the moment Eldrin activated the tablet at the next location, Malifax would know exactly where they were.
He smirked. They were walking straight into the trap.
---
The Obsidian Mire holds more than just dangers—it holds deception. As Eldrin and Nyssa place their trust in Arkyn, they unknowingly edge closer to Malifax's grasp. But will Arkyn's conscience hold? Or will his betrayal be complete?