CHAPTER 18 — The Summoning
313 Words
Night had fallen over Crescent Valley. The town’s lights flickered faintly in the distance, but here, at the edge of the forest, shadows stretched unnaturally. Nami and DJ stood together, hands tightly clasped, tether glowing faintly like a heartbeat.
The messenger spirit hovered silently above them, glowing faintly, its faceless form shimmering with starlight.
“It wants us to go,” Nami whispered, swallowing hard. “We have no choice.”
DJ tightened his grip on her hand. “Then we go together. Whatever happens, we face it as a team.”
Nami’s chest tightened at his words. She nodded, her heart thundering.
The messenger spirit drifted ahead. The forest path twisted, glowing faintly with its light. Every step deeper felt like walking into another world—one older than memory itself.
They came to a small clearing. The trees here were ancient, their bark etched with glowing runes. At the center of the clearing, a pool of silvery liquid shimmered, reflecting the moon like a sheet of glass.
The messenger spirit hovered above it.
“The Bound One awaits,” it whispered inside their minds. “Only through unity can the bond survive the trial.”
DJ’s eyes flicked to Nami. “Unity, huh? Guess that means we’re really stuck together.”
Nami gave a small, nervous laugh. “Yeah… no going back now.”
The water in the pool began to ripple violently, and the form of the spirit from the Binding Stone emerged. This time, it was fully formed—tall, humanoid, ethereal, with eyes like burning stars. The ground trembled as it stepped forward.
“You have awakened me,” it said, voice echoing like rolling thunder. “And now you will face the consequence.”
DJ tightened his hand around hers. “We’re ready,” he said firmly.
Nami glanced at him, heart swelling. “Ready… together.”
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