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The deeper they ventured into the glade, the more the forest shifted. What had once been vibrant, verdant life now took on a strange, brittle stillness. Trees stood too still, as if holding their breath. The ground cracked underfoot where roots used to be soft and lush. Something ancient, long-buried, stirred in response to Elira's presence.
She stopped at a wide clearing encircled by gnarled trees. Each one leaned inward as if bowing to a hidden center. In the middle stood a raised stone platform, barely visible beneath moss and time.
"This is it," Elira whispered. "The forest is guiding us here."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Convenient. I suppose next it'll offer us tea and cookies too?"
"Depends," Lumi replied, drawing a dagger. "Are you planning on insulting its furniture again?"
Kael held up both hands. "Hey, just saying—this place has serious *ritual site that ends in screaming* vibes."
"Great. You've jinxed us," Brann muttered, loading his crossbow.
Sieris appeared from the treeline with her usual silent grace. "You're all here. Good. Then we don't have to die alone."
Lumi gave her a side-eye. "Your optimism is as refreshing as ever."
Elira stepped forward, her hand reaching out to the stone platform. The moment her fingers brushed the surface, a pulse of energy burst through the ground. Vines recoiled. Dust lifted in a spiral. The platform began to glow with ancient runes—symbols of balance, spirit, and flame.
A deep hum thrummed through the air.
"Something's waking up," Elira said, eyes wide with wonder and fear. "And I think it knows my name."
Suddenly, the roots around the clearing twisted violently. From the earth emerged figures—skeletal remains clad in bark and armor of rotted metal. Their sockets glowed with sickly green light.
Kael's daggers were out in an instant. "I *really* don't like being right."
"They're guardians," Sieris said calmly, drawing a curved blade. "But they've been corrupted. Hollowed out."
Brann groaned. "Can't we just find a cursed *chair* one day instead of an army?"
Lumi lunged into the fray without hesitation. Her daggers flashed silver as she struck the first guardian, severing its arm. "Focus, Brann!"
The battle ignited with chaos.
Sieris moved like moonlight, ducking and weaving through the enemy line. Kael guarded Elira's flank, striking down a skeletal warden with surgical precision. Brann's bolts flew true, pinning one creature to a tree.
Elira's hands glowed with green light. "Purify!" she shouted, releasing a wave of spiritual force. The runes on the platform resonated, weakening several guardians instantly. Some fell to ash. Others hesitated, caught in the spell's grace.
But more emerged from the shadows.
Lumi ducked beside Elira, breathing hard. "This is going to get messy. Ideas?"
"I can try to awaken the seal," Elira said, panting. "But I'll need time."
"I'll give you time," Lumi replied. "You just focus."
Elira knelt and began chanting, placing both palms against the stone. The runes brightened, and faint whispers echoed in the air—voices of spirits long buried. The platform pulsed with raw energy.
One guardian broke through the defense and charged.
"Behind you!" Kael yelled.
But before it could strike, Lumi leapt and intercepted, slamming into the creature with both blades. The two tumbled and rolled. Lumi landed in a crouch, breathing heavily.
"Would it kill one of you to say *thank you* when I do something heroic?" she muttered.
Brann grinned mid-fight. "Thanks, Lumi!"
"Was that sarcasm?"
"Definitely!"
With one final surge of power, the runes flashed pure white. The ground split slightly, revealing an ancient stairwell descending into darkness beneath the platform.
Elira collapsed, the glow fading from her eyes. "I did it…"
Lumi helped her up, offering a tired smile. "Looks like we've found the next stage."
"More stairs," Brann grunted. "Of course. Why not just build a terrifying sky-bridge for once?"
Sieris peered down the stairs, her expression unreadable. "Whatever's down there… the corruption starts with it."
"And ends with us," Elira whispered.
The group descended, the air growing colder with every step. Above them, the forest held its breath once more, watching, waiting.
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