Shadow Bound Fate

Shadows in the Light

Lira's POV

I don't remember falling asleep last night. But somehow, despite my fear, I did. After the attack, my nerves had been on edge, every crackle in the forest or gust of wind sending a fresh wave of anxiety through me. It wasn't that I didn't think Caius could handle whatever came, but the thought of waking up to another ambush gnawed at me.

When I stirred, the camp was already in motion. Caius was busy packing up his things. His movements were swift and efficient, as if this was second nature to him. His dark black hair, tousled from sleep or perhaps from the battle the night before, fell over his eyes as he worked, hiding the intensity that always seemed to flicker behind them. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. For a moment, our gazes met. His piercing stare, still as unreadable as ever, held mine before he shifted his attention back to his task, muscles flexing as he tightened the straps on his bag.

I forced myself to move, shaking off the remnants of sleep and starting to pack my own gear. The silence between us stretched out, not uncomfortable, but charged.

"We're still a bit far from the camp," Caius finally said, breaking the quiet as he slung his pack over his broad shoulders. "If we move fast, we might make it by nightfall."

I nodded, tightening the straps of my pack and checking that my knife was secure at my side. Caius knelt beside the fire, snuffing out the remaining embers until the campfire was nothing more than a faint memory of warmth. And then, without another word, we set off into the forest once more.

As we walked, the sunlight began to filter through the thick canopy overhead, dappling the ground with patches of light. The deeper we went, the denser the forest became, with trees towering high above, their branches interlocking like skeletal fingers, blocking out the morning sun. I tried to focus on the path, but my thoughts kept circling back to the attack.

Two attacks in one day. Two separate ambushes, both clearly aimed at me. My mind was buzzing with questions. How did word spread so quickly? How did they even know where to find me in the first place? It wasn't like I'd been broadcasting my presence. Could they be tracking my magic? That seemed impossible, but then again, I knew very little about the extent of my powers.

The morning dragged on, the quiet between Caius and I stretching longer, but it wasn't tense—more like a silent understanding. We both needed to conserve energy for whatever was coming. The breeze was warm, and despite everything, the forest had a calming presence. The only sounds around us were the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds.

"Let's take a quick break up ahead," Caius announced after what felt like hours of walking. "Just ten minutes. We're making good time."

I nodded, grateful for the chance to rest, and dropped my pack to the ground. We each grabbed our canteens, the water cool and refreshing as I gulped it down. The silence settled again, though my mind was far from calm. I couldn't shake the questions spinning in my head, and I knew I wouldn't be able to relax until I got some answers.

"So, I've been thinking about last night," I said, my voice cutting through the stillness.

Caius glanced at me from where he sat, wiping his brow. He didn't respond, just gave me that look that said he was listening.

"Two attacks in one day," I continued, my voice laced with frustration and confusion. "How is that even possible? How do they know where I am? How are they finding us so easily?"

Caius sighed, running a hand through his hair as he looked down at his boots. For a moment, I thought he wasn't going to answer. He seemed almost as lost in thought as I was.