The Last Veil

The aftermath of the skirmish hung heavily in the air. The clearing that had moments ago been alive with the sound of clashing weapons and desperate cries was now eerily silent. The bodies of the cloaked attackers littered the ground, their dark forms blending with the shadows of the surrounding forest. The group stood in the center, their breaths ragged, their bodies tense.

Aric wiped the blood from his blade, his mind racing. The attack had been precise, almost calculated. These weren't mere mercenaries—they were trained, their movements too synchronized to be anything but professionals. And yet, it felt like they were holding back, testing them rather than aiming to kill.

Jonar leaned against a tree, clutching a deep cut on his arm. "That was close," he muttered, his voice strained. "Too close."

"Closer than it should've been," Aeris replied, glaring at Seris. "Care to explain why they were so focused on you?"

Seris remained calm, their silver eyes flickering to each of them in turn. "They weren't focused on me. They were after all of us."

"Convenient answer," Kael said sharply, her hand still gripping her weapon. "But it doesn't explain how they knew exactly where to find us."

Aric stepped forward, his gaze locking onto Seris. "You knew this would happen, didn't you?"

Seris tilted their head slightly, a faint smile playing on their lips. "I knew they were following us. It's why I brought you here. The terrain gave us the advantage."

"That wasn't an advantage!" Aeris snapped. "That was an ambush!"

"Ambushes work both ways," Seris said smoothly. "And you're still alive, aren't you?"

Jonar shook his head. "You've got a funny way of earning trust, Seris."

As the tension hung in the air, a low groan came from one of the fallen attackers. Aeris moved quickly, her blade at the ready, but Aric raised a hand to stop her.

"Wait," he said. "We need answers."

The attacker writhed on the ground, their hood slipping back to reveal a young face, pale and contorted with pain. Blood seeped from a gash on their side, their breaths shallow. Aric knelt beside them, keeping a firm grip on his weapon.

"Who sent you?" he demanded.

The attacker's eyes flicked to him, filled with a mix of fear and defiance. "You… don't know what you're part of," they rasped. "You're all… already dead."

"Not if we keep fighting," Aric replied, his voice cold. "Answer the question. Who sent you?"

The attacker coughed, blood staining their lips. "You're chasing shadows… fighting a battle you can't win. She's already… found you."

Before Aric could press further, the attacker's body convulsed violently. A dark energy began to emanate from their chest, pulsing and spreading outward. Seris stepped forward, their expression unreadable.

"Get back!" Seris shouted.

Aric jumped away as the dark energy erupted, consuming the attacker's body in a blinding flash. When the light faded, all that remained was a charred mark on the ground.

"What the hell was that?" Jonar asked, his voice filled with alarm.

"A failsafe," Seris replied. "Whoever sent them didn't want us learning anything."

"That's convenient," Kael muttered, crossing her arms. "Too convenient."

Aeris sheathed her blade, her eyes narrowing. "This is getting out of hand. We need to regroup and figure out what's really going on. No more surprises."

As the group gathered their belongings and prepared to move, Aric couldn't shake the unease growing in his chest. The attacker's words echoed in his mind. She's already found you. Who was "she"? And what did it mean for their journey?

Seris walked beside him as they left the clearing, their presence both reassuring and unsettling. "You're troubled," they said quietly.

"You think?" Aric replied, his tone sharper than he intended. "We were ambushed, nearly killed, and now we're no closer to understanding what's happening."

Seris glanced at him, their silver eyes thoughtful. "Understanding comes with time. Rushing it will only lead to mistakes."

"And trusting you isn't a mistake?" Aric shot back.

Seris smiled faintly. "That depends on what you value more—answers or survival."

Aric clenched his fists, resisting the urge to argue further. He didn't have the energy, and he knew it wouldn't lead anywhere. Instead, he focused on the path ahead, the forest stretching endlessly before them.

By nightfall, they reached another safehouse—a small, abandoned cabin hidden deep within the woods. The group settled in, their exhaustion evident. Aeris took first watch, her gaze fixed on the surrounding trees, while Jonar tended to his wound with Kael's help.

Aric sat by the window, staring out at the darkened forest. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more troubling than the last. He couldn't ignore the feeling that they were being manipulated, pushed toward some unknown goal.

Seris approached him, their movements silent. "You should rest," they said softly.

"I can't," Aric replied. "Not until I know what we're up against."

"You already know," Seris said, their tone cryptic. "You just don't want to face it."

Aric turned to look at them, his frustration boiling over. "Enough with the riddles, Seris. If you know something, just say it."

Seris met his gaze, their expression serious. "The truth isn't something I can give you, Aric. It's something you have to uncover for yourself. And when you do, you'll understand why I can't explain it now."

Aric shook his head, his patience wearing thin. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are," Seris said with a faint smile before walking away.

As the night deepened, Aric's thoughts drifted to the people they'd left behind—the lives they'd abandoned in pursuit of safety. He couldn't help but wonder if they were doing the right thing, if their choices would lead to salvation or destruction.

In the distance, the sound of an owl echoed through the forest, a haunting reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows. Aric closed his eyes, forcing himself to push the doubts aside. He didn't have the luxury of hesitation. Not anymore.

They were running out of time.