Edrin had decided something very important.
He did not like narrow paths.
"I feel like this is a bad idea," he whispered as they moved deeper into the rocky pass.
"You've said that before," Ronan replied.
"Yes," Edrin said. "But this time I mean it more."
Kael walked ahead, his steps precise, controlled, silent. Lyra followed just behind him, her attention fixed forward.
Edrin stayed close.
Very close.
"You're doing it again," Lyra said without turning.
"I'm adjusting my survival distance."
"You're stepping on my heel."
"I feel safer here."
"You won't if I trip because of you."
Edrin paused. "…That would be ironic."
"Move back," she said.
Edrin moved back.
Reluctantly.
The pass narrowed further as they continued, the rocky walls rising higher on either side. The light from behind them faded with every step, replaced by shadows that seemed just a little too thick.
Edrin noticed.
"…It's darker than it should be," he said quietly.
"It is," Lyra replied.
"That's not reassuring."
Kael raised a hand.
Everyone stopped.
Instantly.
Edrin froze mid-step.
"…I didn't even almost fall," he whispered.
"No one cares," Ronan muttered.
Kael crouched slightly, his gaze fixed on the ground ahead.
"Tracks," he said.
Edrin blinked. "…Of course there are."
"Multiple," Kael continued. "They slowed here."
Lyra stepped closer, examining the marks. "They hesitated."
Edrin frowned. "…Why would they hesitate?"
No one answered immediately.
Which meant—
"…Something worse is ahead," he said.
"Yes," Kael replied.
Edrin sighed. "I'm getting really good at predicting bad news."
Ronan smirked. "That's growth."
"I don't like growth."
Kael stood.
"They're not just moving," he said. "They're waiting."
Edrin stiffened. "…Waiting for what?"
Kael glanced back at him.
"For us."
Silence.
Edrin nodded slowly.
"…Of course they are."
A faint sound echoed through the pass.
Not loud.
Not clear.
But there.
Edrin turned his head slightly.
"…Did you hear that?"
"Yes," Lyra said.
"I didn't like it."
"You don't like anything," Ronan replied.
"That one felt personal."
The air grew colder.
Not naturally.
Not gradually.
Just suddenly.
Edrin felt it settle around them like something unseen had just taken a breath.
"…It's here," he whispered.
Kael didn't deny it.
"Stay sharp," he said.
Edrin tightened his grip on his sword.
"…I am sharp," he said quietly. "I'm extremely sharp."
"You are not sharp," Ronan said.
"I feel sharp."
"That's different."
The path curved slightly ahead, disappearing into deeper shadow.
Kael moved first.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Lyra followed.
Ronan stepped in after them.
Edrin hesitated—
Just for a second.
"…This is where things go wrong," he muttered.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And immediately—
The ground beneath them shifted.
Not collapsing.
Not breaking.
Just… moving.
Edrin froze.
"…That's new."
The walls of the pass seemed to hum, a low vibration spreading through the stone itself.
Lyra's voice was sharp. "This isn't natural."
"That's been the theme," Edrin said.
Then—
The shadows ahead moved.
Not like creatures.
Not like forms.
But like something folding in on itself.
Edrin stared.
"…I don't understand what I'm looking at."
"You don't need to," Kael said. "You just need to react."
"I preferred understanding!"
The darkness surged.
Not forward.
Not outward.
But inward—
Condensing into a shape.
Tall.
Still.
Watching.
Edrin felt it immediately.
That same pressure.
But heavier.
Focused.
Different.
"…That's not like the others," he whispered.
"No," Lyra said. "It's not."
The figure stepped forward.
No sound.
No wasted movement.
Just presence.
Edrin swallowed.
"…It walks like him," he said, glancing at Kael.
Kael didn't respond.
But his grip tightened.
Ronan stepped forward slightly, a grin forming despite the tension.
"Well," he said, "this looks interesting."
Edrin blinked. "…This does not look interesting. This looks like a mistake."
The figure stopped.
And then—
Its head tilted.
Just slightly.
As if studying them.
As if recognizing something.
Edrin felt it.
That attention.
Focused.
Direct.
On him.
"…It's always me," he said.
The figure moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
Edrin's body reacted instantly—
He stepped back—
Clean.
No stumble.
No hesitation.
The attack missed him by inches.
The ground behind him cracked from the force.
"…That was fast," he said.
"Faster than before," Lyra added.
Ronan laughed softly. "Good. I was getting bored."
Edrin stared at him. "You say that every time we're about to die."
Kael stepped forward, placing himself between the creature and the group.
"This one is different," he said.
Edrin nodded. "…Yes. I noticed."
The creature didn't attack again.
It watched.
Waiting.
Learning.
Edrin felt a chill run through him.
"…It's not rushing," he said.
"No," Lyra replied. "It's observing."
Edrin exhaled slowly.
"…I don't like that."
The creature shifted its stance.
Mirroring.
Adjusting.
Adapting.
Edrin tightened his grip on his sword.
"…It's learning already, isn't it?"
"Yes," Kael said.
Edrin nodded.
"…Alright."
A pause.
"…New rule."
"What rule?" Ronan asked.
Edrin took a small step forward.
"…I don't fall first."
Lyra blinked.
Ronan grinned.
Kael didn't move.
The creature tilted its head again—
As if curious.
As if waiting to see what he would do next.
Edrin swallowed.
"…I regret saying that already."
And then—
The creature moved again.