Chapter 13: The Hunter's Chase

Zeryn stood at the edge of the plateau, her senses heightened after her trial in the Abyss Gate. The weight of her new power settled in her chest, a constant hum that resonated with the shadows swirling around her. Despite the darkness she had confronted within herself, a nagging doubt lingered in the back of her mind.

Was she truly ready for what was coming?

"We leave at first light," the leader said, his voice breaking through her thoughts. "The Hunters will know what we've done. We need to move before they catch our trail."

Zeryn nodded, the urgency in his words driving her forward. She had no intention of letting the Hunters catch up to them. Not after everything she had just gone through.

The group packed quickly, their movements efficient and practiced. The green-eyed figure—whose name Zeryn still didn’t know—kept an eye on the horizon, their sharp gaze never wavering.

"Are you ready for what's next?" the green-eyed figure asked, glancing at Zeryn.

Zeryn met their gaze. "I have no choice."

"You think you have no choice," the figure muttered. "But trust me, you'll have to make a lot of choices soon enough."

Zeryn couldn't help but wonder what they meant. The weight of the leader’s warning about the Hunters gnawed at her. She had never fully understood the extent of their power, but now, the reality was sinking in.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the dark sky, the group set off, moving swiftly along narrow mountain paths. The air grew colder as they ascended further, and Zeryn’s thoughts drifted back to her trial.

I faced my fears. But can I control the darkness that stirs inside me?