Chapter 56: Escaping the Blackwoods
Lucian stood in the clearing, the cool air filling his lungs as he regained his composure. The trials of the Blackwood had pushed him to his limits—mentally, emotionally, and physically. But he had survived. He had resisted Desire, rejected Power, and conquered the fears that had haunted his mind. Now, all that remained was the path forward, a path that would lead him and his companions out of the cursed forest.
As he looked around the clearing, the dense trees of the Blackwood loomed ominously, their twisted branches seeming to reach out like skeletal hands. The darkness of the forest felt alive, pulsing with ancient magic, as though it resented their intrusion and wanted nothing more than to consume them whole. But Lucian knew they had to keep moving; staying here would only give the forest more chances to prey on their weaknesses.