Chapter 77: Awakening Power

The sound of footsteps echoed through the silent halls of the Thornhill estate as Marcus, Clara, and Elara hurried toward the western perimeter. The urgency in their movements was palpable—this threat was unlike anything they had dealt with before. Though they had battled strange creatures and dark forces, the creatures creeping ever closer to their home carried an aura of dread that Marcus couldn't shake.

As they reached the outer courtyard, Marcus glanced up at the looming trees of the forest that bordered the estate. The moonlight shimmered through the branches, casting eerie shadows that only heightened the tension. The guards stood ready, their hands gripping their weapons tightly as they scanned the treeline.

Clara stepped closer to Marcus, her voice low. "Do you think they're drawn to the artifact? Is that why they're coming here?"

Marcus frowned, his eyes never leaving the dark forest. "I don't know. But whatever their reason, they're after something. And I don't intend to let them get it."

Elara, standing beside them, gestured toward the lead guard. "Have the scouts reported anything?"

The guard nodded, his expression tense. "We've spotted several of them moving through the trees. They're not attacking, just… watching. It's as if they're waiting for something."

Marcus' brow furrowed. "Waiting for what?"

Before the guard could respond, a rustle in the bushes nearby caught their attention. Every head turned, weapons raised, but no one moved. The air grew thick with tension as the rustling grew louder, more deliberate. Marcus could feel the presence of something—something dark and unnatural, lurking just beyond the treeline.

Then, without warning, a figure burst through the underbrush. But it wasn't a creature. It was Kael.

"Kael!" Clara's voice was a mixture of shock and fear as she rushed forward. "What are you doing out here?"

Kael, panting and wide-eyed, skidded to a halt in front of his parents. "I… I had to come," he stammered, glancing behind him as though expecting to be followed. "I felt something. I couldn't explain it, but it pulled me here."

Marcus knelt down, gripping Kael's shoulders tightly. "Kael, this is dangerous. You shouldn't be here."

Kael shook his head, his expression firm despite the fear in his eyes. "No, Dad, you don't understand. I felt it, too—something inside me. It's connected to the artifact, I know it. And those things… they're coming for it."

Clara and Marcus exchanged a look. Kael had always been perceptive, but this was different. There was a raw intensity in his words, as if he was speaking from some deep instinct that neither of them fully understood.

Elara, her eyes narrowing, stepped forward. "Kael, what exactly did you feel?"

Kael took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "It's like… there's something inside me, something that's been dormant. But now, with the artifact… I think it's waking up. I can sense them—the creatures. They're drawn to the artifact's power, and they won't stop until they get it."

A chill ran down Marcus' spine. He had always known the artifact was dangerous, but if Kael's awakening power was tied to it, things had become far more complicated.

Clara pulled Kael into a tight embrace, her voice trembling slightly. "We'll protect you, Kael. Whatever happens, we'll figure this out."

Marcus rose to his feet, his gaze hardening as he turned to the treeline. "We need to end this before they get any closer. If Kael's right, and these things are after the artifact, we can't let them breach the estate."

Elara nodded in agreement, but her gaze lingered on Kael, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her face. "The boy's power is growing, Marcus. We need to be careful. If he's connected to the artifact, there could be consequences."

Marcus' jaw tightened. "We'll deal with that later. Right now, we have to protect our home."

As they prepared for the impending confrontation, Kael stood beside his parents, his fists clenched. He could feel it again—that strange, thrumming energy coursing through him. The darkness was closing in, but for the first time, he wasn't afraid.

Something was awakening within him, and whatever it was, it was ready to fight.