The aftermath of the battle left the forest eerily silent, the ground littered with the twisted remnants of Abyssal creatures. The group stood in a loose circle, their weapons still drawn, breaths coming in short gasps.
“We can’t stay here,” Sylara said, her voice cutting through the stillness. “More will come. They always do.”
Alden crouched near one of the fallen creatures, his crimson mark glowing faintly as he examined it. “These weren’t ordinary Abyssal spawn. They were hunting us specifically.”
Elena knelt beside him, her golden mark illuminating the darkened ground. “Why now? What made them so sure of where we were?”
Alden hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he studied the creature’s unnatural form. “Because of me.”
Kael’s eyes snapped to him, suspicion evident in his gaze. “What
