Bound by the Elements |Kratos x OC|

Chapter 5: The Path Forward

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The air outside the grove was colder, the warmth and magic that had once enveloped them were now a distant memory. The trees grew denser, their twisted branches blocking out most of the light as Kratos, Atreus, and Elowen pressed forward in silence. The tension hung heavy between them, each lost in their thoughts after the chaos of the grove's heart.

Elowen trailed a few steps behind, her body aching from the strain of the magic that had overwhelmed her. The weight of her failure pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating. She could still feel the pulse of the elements beneath her skin, a constant reminder of the power she had tried—and failed—to control.

Kratos hadn't spoken to her since they left. His silence was more oppressive than his words, the unspoken judgment lingering in every step. Atreus had tried to ask her if she was okay, but even his words felt distant now. The weight of her unresolved powers loomed over them, a threat that could resurface at any moment.

"I'll prove myself," Elowen whispered under her breath, though she wasn't sure if the words were meant to convince herself or Kratos.

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The Burden of Power
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They reached a narrow mountain pass, where the path curved sharply around a sheer cliff face. The wind howled through the rocky terrain, sending loose stones tumbling into the abyss below. Elowen shivered, pulling her earth-toned cloak tighter around her shoulders as the cold bit at her skin.

Atreus was the first to break the silence. "Father, where are we going next?"

Kratos paused, his gaze sweeping over the cliffside as he considered their next move. "The Mountain lies ahead," he said gruffly. "But this path is treacherous. We'll need to find a way around."

Atreus frowned, his eyes darting toward Elowen. "Do you think you can help?"

Elowen looked up, surprised by the question. Atreus's faith in her had never wavered, even after everything that had happened. She glanced at Kratos, but his face remained impassive, his focus on the path ahead.

"I... I can try," Elowen said softly, though the doubt in her voice betrayed her. She still wasn't sure if she could trust herself, especially after what had happened at the heart of the grove.

She stepped forward, closing her eyes as she reached out with her senses, trying to feel the earth beneath her feet. The rock was cold and solid, unyielding, but there was a faint tremor deep within—something she could grasp if she focused.

The wind whipped around them, and Elowen's fingers trembled as she extended her hands, drawing on the power within the stone. Slowly, the ground beneath them began to shift, the rocky terrain reshaping itself into a more stable path.

Atreus watched with wide eyes, his voice full of awe. "You're doing it!"

But just as the path began to form, Elowen felt the magic slip from her control. The earth shuddered, and a section of the cliff crumbled away, sending rocks tumbling down into the chasm below. She gasped, stumbling back as the ground shifted beneath her feet.

Kratos reacted instantly, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the edge before the ground gave way completely.

"Control it," he growled, his grip firm as he steadied her.

"I'm trying!" Elowen snapped, frustration bubbling up inside her. She yanked her arm free from his grasp, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. "I don't want to fail, but I don't know how to—"