Chapter 8: A Price to Pay

The battlefield quieted as the last of the Hunters fell or retreated into the mist, their movements vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. Zeryn stood amidst the chaos, her heart pounding and her hands trembling. The shadows receded, coiling back into the ground like smoke dispersing in the wind.

The green-eyed figure wiped blood from their blade, casting Zeryn a sharp look. “Not bad for a first fight,” they said grudgingly. “But you’re reckless. That hesitation nearly got you killed.”

Zeryn scowled, anger flaring. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

“Enough,” the leader interrupted, stepping between them. “Zeryn held her ground, and that’s what matters.”

He turned to her, his tone softer. “But they’re right about one thing—you can’t hesitate. The darkness doesn’t wait for you to decide. It thrives on instinct.”

Zeryn nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I’ll do better next time.”

“There will be a next time,” the leader said grimly. “The Hunters are only the beginning. Word will spread of what happened here, and others will come. Stronger, more relentless.”

Zeryn looked down at her hands, still faintly tinged with the dark energy she had unleashed. “Why is this happening to me?”

The leader didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he motioned for the group to move. “We’ll rest once we’ve put enough distance between us and this place. Then we’ll talk.”

Hours later, they reached an abandoned ruin deep within the forest. Stone walls, overgrown with vines and moss, formed a protective barrier around the clearing. The group settled into the space, lighting a small fire that cast flickering shadows against the crumbling stone.

The leader sat across from Zeryn, his expression unreadable. “It’s time you understood the truth,” he said.

Zeryn leaned forward, her exhaustion forgotten. “What truth?”

“The Eclipseborn were not always hunted,” he began. “Long ago, we were revered as protectors, guardians of the balance between light and shadow. But that balance is fragile. Too much light blinds the world, while unchecked darkness consumes it. The Eclipseborn are meant to keep that balance in check.”

“Then why are we being hunted?” Zeryn asked, her voice trembling.

“Because the balance was broken,” he said simply. “One of us betrayed their purpose. They used their power to tip the scales toward darkness, plunging the world into chaos. Since then, fear and hatred have followed our kind.”

“Who was it?”

The leader hesitated, his gray eyes shadowed. “Their name has been erased from history, but their legacy remains. The Hunters are part of that legacy—a force created to eradicate us and ensure the balance never tilts again.”

Zeryn’s mind raced. The vision from the obelisk returned to her: a figure cloaked in darkness, their power overwhelming. Was that the betrayer he spoke of?

“Why me?” she asked again, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Because you are stronger than most Eclipseborn,” the leader said. “Stronger than I’ve ever seen. The Hunters will stop at nothing to destroy you because they fear what you might become.”

Zeryn looked away, her thoughts a whirlwind of doubt and fear. The fire crackled in the silence, its light flickering against the ruined walls.