chapter 44

The Dark Forest

I slowly opened my eyes, my head pounding with a dull ache. I was lying on the forest floor, surrounded by the dark, twisted trees. Riven was nowhere to be seen.

As I sat up, I realized that I was alone. The forest was silent, except for the distant howling of wolves. I shivered, feeling a sense of unease.

Where was Riven? Had he abandoned me?

I looked around, trying to get my bearings. The trees seemed to loom over me, their branches like skeletal fingers reaching out to grab me. I knew that I had to get out of there, but where was I supposed to go?

As I stood up, I saw something in the distance. It was a figure, tall and imposing, walking towards me. Its face was deathly pale, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. Who was this? And what did it want from me?

The figure stopped in front of me, its eyes burning with an intensity that made me shiver. "Welcome, Lila," it said in a voice that sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to speak, but my voice was frozen in my throat.

"I have been waiting for you," the figure continued. "You have been chosen for a great purpose."

Chosen? What did that mean? And what purpose?

The figure reached out and touched my forehead, and suddenly I was flooded with visions of the past. I saw ancient civilizations, and great wars fought for power and glory. I saw the rise and fall of empires, and the struggles of ordinary people just trying to survive.

And then, suddenly, the visions stopped.

"You have seen the past," the figure said. "Now you must face your fears."

I felt a sense of dread wash over me. What did it mean to face my fears? And what lay ahead?

The figure turned and walked away, leaving me standing alone in the dark forest.