Chapter 155: The Journey to Aelmir

Lilith and Elian set off early the next morning, their horses carrying them swiftly north toward Aelmir. The forest surrounding Eldoria gradually thinned, giving way to a darker, denser wood as they approached the northern territories. The trees here were older, their trunks thick and gnarled, and their canopy blocked out much of the sunlight, leaving the path dim and cool.

The air itself seemed heavier, as if the land held secrets it didn't want to share. The quiet stretched between them as they rode, but it wasn't the kind of silence that came from peace—it was a silence filled with anticipation, a quiet before a storm. Lilith could feel the tension in the atmosphere, the same uneasy energy that had accompanied them in Greystone and Keldan. There was something strange about the land they were riding through, and Lilith knew it wasn't just her imagination.

After several hours of riding in near silence, Elian finally spoke.

"These woods are different," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"They feel... alive."

Lilith nodded, gripping the reins of her horse tightly.

"I feel it too. It's like the land itself is watching us."

Elian glanced around, his eyes narrowing as he studied the trees.

"We've been traveling through forests our whole lives, but I've never felt anything like this. There's something about this place—it's almost as if it's holding onto something ancient, something powerful."

Lilith's gaze lingered on the darkened undergrowth, where shadows seemed to shift and dance even in the stillness of the day. "It's the same feeling we had in Greystone and Keldan," she murmured.

"There's something old here. I just don't know if it's dangerous, or if it's waiting for something."

They continued riding, both of them on edge as they made their way deeper into the woods. The further they traveled, the more oppressive the atmosphere became, as if the trees themselves were closing in around them. But Lilith knew they couldn't turn back. The answers they sought were somewhere beyond this forest, and the scholar Oryn might be the only one who could help them understand the ancient forces they had encountered.

As the hours passed and the daylight began to fade, they spotted a faint glow in the distance—a soft, flickering light that stood out against the encroaching darkness. Lilith and Elian exchanged a glance, both of them silently agreeing to approach cautiously. The path widened as they drew closer, and soon they found themselves at the edge of a small village, nestled deep within the northern woods.

Aelmir.

The village was quiet, though not abandoned. Smoke curled from the chimneys of the few homes that dotted the clearing, and the scent of burning wood hung in the air. A few villagers moved about, their movements slow and deliberate, as though they were weighed down by the passage of time itself.

"This place feels... forgotten," Elian whispered, scanning the village with a frown. "Like it's been untouched for years."

Lilith nodded, dismounting her horse and leading it toward a nearby post. "Let's find Oryn. The sooner we speak with him, the sooner we can learn what we need."

They walked through the village, receiving little more than wary glances from the few villagers they passed. Lilith felt the weight of their stares, but none of them approached or spoke. It was as if they were used to strangers passing through but had learned not to interfere.

Finally, they reached a small, weathered cottage at the far edge of the village. The cottage was old, its roof sagging slightly, and vines had begun to creep up the sides of the walls. But the door was solid, and a faint light flickered through the windows, indicating that someone was inside.

Lilith knocked, the sound echoing faintly in the quiet village. For a moment, there was only silence, but then the door creaked open, revealing a man who could only be described as ancient. Oryn's face was lined with deep wrinkles, his hair a wild tangle of white, and his eyes were sharp and clear despite his age.

He studied Lilith and Elian for a long moment before speaking. "You've come for answers," he said, his voice raspy but certain.

Lilith blinked in surprise. "Yes, we—"

"You've seen it," Oryn interrupted, stepping aside and motioning for them to enter. "The ancient forces. The dark power beneath the land. I knew it would come to this."

Without waiting for further explanation, Lilith and Elian stepped inside. The interior of the cottage was cluttered with books, scrolls, and strange objects that Lilith couldn't begin to identify. The air smelled of dust and ink, as though the place hadn't been disturbed in years. Oryn gestured for them to sit at a small table near the fire, where a pot of tea was already brewing.

"How did you know we'd come?" Elian asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Oryn lowered himself into a chair opposite them, his movements slow but deliberate. "Because I've been waiting. The land has been whispering to me for years, telling me that its secrets would no longer stay hidden. And now you've found those secrets, haven't you?"

Lilith nodded. "We've encountered something—an ancient power buried beneath the land. It's not just the shadows we've been dealing with. There's something older, something tied to the land itself. We don't know what it is, but we need to understand it before it spreads."

Oryn's eyes gleamed with a strange light. "You're right to be concerned. The forces you've encountered are as old as the land itself—older, perhaps. They were once sealed away, long before any of our villages were founded. But over time, as the land changed and people forgot the old ways, the seals began to weaken."

Elian leaned forward, his expression serious. "And now those forces are waking up?"

"Yes," Oryn said quietly. "But it's not just random chance. Something—or someone—is disturbing the ancient seals. The forces beneath the land are tied to the balance of the natural world, and when that balance is upset, the seals weaken."

Lilith's heart raced as she listened. "Do you know how we can stop it? How we can prevent the seals from breaking completely?"

Oryn sighed, leaning back in his chair. "That is the question, isn't it? There is a way, but it's dangerous, and the knowledge is fragmented. What remains of the ancient records is scattered across the land, hidden in ruins and forgotten places. You'll need to seek out those records and piece together the truth if you want any chance of restoring the balance."

Lilith's mind was already spinning with possibilities. The journey they had started was only growing more complex, but she knew they had no choice. If they didn't stop the ancient forces from awakening, the darkness they had encountered in Greystone and Keldan would be nothing compared to what was coming.

"We'll do it," she said firmly. "Tell us where to start."

Oryn's eyes sparkled with a mixture of admiration and warning. "Then prepare yourselves, because the path ahead will take you deep into the heart of the land's forgotten history. You must be ready to face whatever lies beneath."

With that, the old scholar began to tell them of the ancient ruins where their journey would take them next.

And as Lilith listened, she knew their quest had only just begun.