Into the Shadows
The floating islands fade, and the mist retreats as if trying to repel you. Zayara flickers one last time. “You have outwitted me,” she says, her gaze caught somewhere between pride and offended sparkle. “But the shadows ahead lie in wait with an endlessly patient, ominous presence.”
Tinker beeps nervously. “Patient? That sounds like… a waste of time.”
Willow snorts. “Yeah, let’s walk into the next trap. Sounds like a solid plan.” A narrow path of darkness appears before you, its edges blurring as if melting into the void.
“That’s the Fortress of Shadows,” Tinker beeps and projects a blurry silhouette of a fortress bearing the strange name Umbracastellum. “Bastet mentioned it. It belongs to Umbra, the shadow warrior.” Suddenly, the corridors ahead shift, as if they had minds of their own.
“I hate when architecture suddenly decides to be alive,” Willow mutters, eyes rolling. A whispering voice, soft as a breeze, pierces the dark. “Welcome to my domain. I am everywhere – and nowhere.”
“That’s not remotely reassuring,” Tinker murmurs. “Do you at least have a map?” “Maps are for lovers of light,” the voice whispers. “Here, shadows rule. And only those who understand their illusion will ever reach me.”
A cold laugh echoes before fading into nothingness. The path to the fortress is a web of darkness and deceptive shadows that shift in shape and direction with each step. And with every step, one truth becomes clear: The shadows are not the danger. It is the light that could betray you.