The Forest Pact

between them, as if the pall that had hovered between them for so long had been lifted by the doppelg

ter day, walking through paths they knew well, but feeling alien all the same. Silas was on the outskirts, and Aurora kept her distance as if she were on the edges and they were a new expansion of his camp,

on. Aurora froze, goosebumps breaking out along the back of her neck. Here, the air weighed he

arily with his golden eyes. "We shouldn't be here," h

with a furrowed bro

d Aurora. "It's a crossroads, an entwined embroidered path

d. "And you never menti

"I've avoided it for years. The forest... you see,

e?" she said, her vo

las said, as he stepped to the very edge of

ir resilience, and their trust in one another. But this place reminded him of something di

g her bearings. "Then let

n golden eyes growing soft with a

're in this together, Silas. Whateve

pted, letting his warmth seep into her palm, anchoring her to the uncer

, and the world went quiet. The trees around the clearing leaned in nearer, watchin

e with the light of the moon. Her silver hair fell long down her back l

ft and melodic, as if the leaves were rustlin

them saying nothing while the woman app

n's voice was steady, if su

ligence danced through her eyes. "I am the Keeper of the Threads. The

ine. "The Keeper of Fate? Bu

w. No matter how well we fray the edges, the threads of fate weave through every moment, every being, ev

atures sharpening. "Wh

rs through the air as if to outline the stitch of an unseen tapestry. "I want nothing from you, Silas. But the

gut, Aurora took a step closer, her vo

ly examine your bond, to expose the things you have stowed away under the surface." But this trial, the Trial of

she said, frownin

yourself now and in the future. You will encounter your worst fears, your most profound regrets, and every s

everything came to a standstill. The Keeper's words settled he

sked, barely able to keep

up against each other's darkness. And you will dish it out if yo

d door key. Silas instinctively took a step back, squeezing Aurora's hands tight

las said, his voice tough but

oice. You might fail, but you might succeed

h Silas. Yuzhin whispered not enough and gripped her like

am here with you. We've faced the struggles t

d for a moment she glimpsed the weight he carried. It was as though the walls surrounding him splintered for but a moment, pr

he nodded slow

eeper approved of. "Then let t

they were yanked down into the shadow. Aurora could sense herself being drawn in both directions towards the

m gone from beside her. A furtive figure r

alled out, her

ed enough to show him. But it wasn't Silas. It was a warped reflection of

shadow hissed, voice a rasp. "

settling in her chest. "No," she whispe

lies you told yourself, all the things

ar of never being enough, of losing Silas. But deep inside her was something str

" she said, her voice gaining strength. "

g into the air like smoke. The darkness ar

her, is Silas, r

her. "You passed the test," he said softly. "Yo

ime replaced fear with something stronger. They had face

waiting to see how the next challenge a