AI The moment Aurora stepped through the Veil, the air turned thick and warm in her lungs, as though she’d walked into a room filled with incense. She blinked against the sudden shift in light, the amber sky casting everything in a golden haze. The ground beneath her boots was soft, yielding like freshly tilled soil, yet it didn’t shift or crumble. Behind her, Silas groaned, his voice low and wary.
“This… this doesn’t feel right.”
Nyx materialized beside her, their shadowy form flickering as if the air here resisted their presence. “Dymas,” they murmured, their whisper-like voice carrying an edge of unease. “A realm of indulgence, but not without its teeth.”
Aurora glanced down at the Heartstone pendant hanging around her neck. It pulsed faintly, the crimson gemstone warm against her skin. She touched it, the steady rhythm grounding her. “Where do we start?”
Silas stepped forward, his boots sinking slightly into the spongy ground. “We don’t have much of a choice. Forward’s the only way out.”
The path ahead was lined with towering vines, their leaves shimmering like polished copper. The vines twisted upward, forming natural arches that led deeper into the grove. The air was heavy with the scent of ripe fruit and spices, mingling in a way that made Aurora’s mouth water. She could hear the faint hum of insects, their metallic wings catching the amber light as they darted through the air.
As they walked, the grove opened up into a sprawling orchard. Trees stretched as far as the eye could see, their branches laden with fruits Aurora couldn’t name. Some were the size of melons, their skins striped in vibrant hues of purple and gold. Others dangled like delicate lanterns, glowing softly from within. The ground was carpeted with moss, its emerald green vividly contrasting the warm amber sky.
“Don’t touch anything,” Nyx warned, their violet eyes scanning the trees. “This place thrives on temptation. Everything here is designed to lure you in.”
Silas reached for a low-hanging fruit, hesitating as Nyx’s words sank in. He withdrew his hand, shaking it as if he’d been burned . “What happens if we do?”
“You’ll find out,” Nyx replied cryptically.
Aurora kept her hands at her sides, resisting the urge to pluck one of the glowing lantern-fruits. The air grew warmer the farther they went, the humidity clinging to her skin. She wiped a bead of sweat from her temple, her eyes darting to the movement in the canopy above. Shapes flitted between the branches, too quick to make out clearly.
“Something’s watching us,” she murmured.
Nyx tilted their head, their shadowy form flickering. “Stay close.”
The path narrowed, the vines thickening and twisting into dense walls on either side. The hum of insects grew louder, accompanied by the faint rustle of leaves. Aurora’s pulse quickened as the air shifted, the scent of spices intensifying. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone—or something—following them.
The vines parted abruptly, revealing a clearing bathed in golden light. At its center stood a massive tree, its trunk as wide as a house and its branches stretching impossibly high. The tree’s bark shimmered like molten gold, its leaves glinting like polished coins. Beneath it, a table was set with an extravagant feast: platters piled high with exotic fruits, steaming dishes of meat and vegetables, and goblets filled with dark, swirling liquid.
“Well, that’s ominous,” Silas muttered.
Aurora’s stomach growled despite herself. The scent was intoxicating, beckoning her closer. She took a step forward, then stopped herself, clenching her fists. “This is a trap.”
“Obviously,” Nyx said, their voice low and tense . “But traps can be useful if you know how to spring them.”
The table shimmered , the dishes shifting and rearranging themselves as if alive. The goblets clinked softly , the sound echoing unnaturally. Aurora’s pendant pulsed faster, its warmth almost uncomfortable. She glanced down, noticing the faint glow of the Heartstone seemed brighter here .
“We should move,” Silas urged, his eyes darting around the clearing . “This place makes my skin crawl.”
Before they could retreat, a voice echoed through the clearing, smooth and honeyed. “Leaving so soon? After I’ve gone to such trouble to prepare a feast for my guests?”
The ground beneath them rippled, and Aurora stumbled, catching herself on a nearby vine. The tree’s bark shifted, forming a face: sharp cheekbones, a pointed chin, and eyes that glowed like molten gold. The face smiled, revealing teeth that gleamed like polished ivory.
“Prince Belphegor,” Nyx said, their voice steady but tinged with caution .
“Ah, the Shadow remembers me,” the tree purred, its voice reverberating through the clearing . “And such esteemed company you’ve brought. A mortal, a shade, and… ah, the bearer of the Heartstone. How delightful.”
Aurora straightened, her hand instinctively going to the pendant. “We’re not here to dine.”
Belphegor chuckled, the sound resonating deep in Aurora’s chest. “No? But surely you’ve traveled far. A taste of my hospitality wouldn’t hurt.”
Silas stepped forward, his jaw set. “We’re not interested in your tricks.”
The prince’s golden eyes narrowed , his smile turning sharp. “Tricks? Such harsh words. I merely wish to welcome you to Dymas. Though… I suppose you’ve already been partaking of its pleasures, haven’t you?”
Aurora frowned. “What do you mean?”
Belphegor’s gaze shifted to her wrist, where the crescent-shaped scar stood out against her skin. “Your little accident. A childhood slip, wasn’t it? Or was it something more?”
Her breath hitched. “You don’t know anything about me.”
The tree laughed, the sound echoing eerily. “Oh, child, I know more than you realize. But enough talk. Why don’t you—”
Nyx stepped forward, their shadowy form solidifying as they raised a hand. “Enough.”
Belphegor’s eyes flickered , his smile faltering for a moment. “Ah, the Shadow speaks. What do you propose, then?”
“We’re not here for your games,” Nyx said, their voice cold and sharp . “Let us pass.”
The prince’s face twisted into a scowl, the bark creaking as his features shifted. “Very well. But remember, you’re in my realm now. And here, indulgence is unavoidable.”
The clearing darkened, the golden light fading to a deep amber. The table disappeared, the feast vanishing as though it had never been there. The tree’s face dissolved back into the bark, leaving only the massive trunk shimmering faintly.
Silas exhaled sharply , running a hand through his hair. “That could’ve gone worse.”
Aurora’s heart was still racing , her wrist tingling where Belphegor had focused his gaze. She glanced at Nyx, their violet eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “What now?”
“We keep moving,” Nyx said, their shadowy form flickering again . “Stay close. And whatever you do, don’t accept anything from this place.”
The path ahead was darker now, the vines closing in around them. The air grew heavier, the scent of spices replaced by something sharper, almost acrid. Aurora tightened her grip on the Fae-Forged Blade at her side, its cold metal a stark contrast to the warmth of the pendant.
As they moved deeper, the grove began to change. The trees grew twisted, their branches gnarled and reaching like claws. The ground beneath them became uneven, the moss replaced by cracked earth. The amber sky seemed to dim, the light fading into a murky twilight.
Silas muttered something under his breath, his voice tense. “This place feels… wrong.”
Aurora nodded silently, her senses on high alert. The pendant pulsed steadily, its warmth now a constant reminder of their proximity to danger. She glanced at Nyx, their shadowy form flickering more frequently now, as if the air here was working against them.
“Stay focused,” Nyx whispered, their voice barely audible . “We’re not alone.”
Ahead, the path widened into another clearing, this one darker and more foreboding . The trees here were blackened , their bark charred and cracked. At the center stood a single tree, its branches bare and twisted. Hanging from its limbs were strange, bulbous fruits, their surfaces smooth and reflecting the dim light.
Aurora’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what they were—eyes. Each fruit was a perfect replica of a human eye, their irises glowing faintly. The gazes locked onto her, unblinking and unnerving.
Silas cursed under his breath. “What the hell is this?”
Nyx’s form flickered violently, their voice strained. “A warning. We’re being watched .”
The eyes blinked in unison, their gaze shifting to follow the group’s movements. The air grew colder, the warmth of the pendant the only thing keeping Aurora grounded. She tightened her grip on the Fae-Forged Blade, its faint luminescence casting a pale light in the clearing.
“Keep moving,” Nyx urged, their shadowy form flickering rapidly now . “Don’t look back.”
Aurora stepped forward, her boots crunching on the cracked earth. The eyes tracked her every movement, their gazes piercing through her. She forced herself to look away, focusing on the path ahead.
The grove seemed to close in around them, the trees twisting and contorting as if alive. The air grew heavier, the scent of decay mingling with the sharp, acrid smell. Aurora’s heart pounded in her chest , her senses overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere.
As they reached the edge of the clearing, the path opened up into a wider, more open space. The trees here were less twisted, their branches reaching upward as if seeking the amber sky . The ground beneath them was soft again, the moss returning to its emerald green.
Aurora exhaled sharply , her grip on the blade loosening slightly . “What was that?”
Nyx’s form stabilized slightly , their voice low and tense. “A test. And one we passed—barely.”
Silas rubbed his face, his hands trembling slightly . “This place is messing with my head.”
“Stay focused,” Nyx said, their violet eyes glowing faintly . “We’re not out yet.”
The path ahead was brighter now, the amber light casting the trees in a warm glow. The air smelled faintly of honey and cinnamon, the oppressive atmosphere lifting slightly . Aurora glanced down at the pendant, its pulse steady but insistent.
She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. “Let’s keep moving.”
The trio pressed on, the grove shifting around them as they ventured deeper into Dymas. The path twisted and turned, the trees growing taller and more imposing . The air was alive with the hum of insects and the faint rustle of leaves, but there was an underlying tension , a sense of being watched that made Aurora’s skin crawl.
As they walked, the grove began to change again. The trees were no longer uniform; some twisted into unnatural shapes, their branches reaching like claws. Others shimmered with an otherworldly light, their leaves glowing softly . The ground beneath their feet alternated between soft moss and cracked earth, as though the realm itself couldn’t decide what form it wanted to take.
Silas muttered something under his breath, his voice tense. “This place feels… wrong.”
Aurora nodded silently, her senses on high alert. The pendant pulsed steadily, its warmth now a constant reminder of their proximity to danger. She glanced at Nyx, their shadowy form flickering more frequently now, as if the air here was working against them.
“Stay focused,” Nyx whispered, their voice barely audible . “We’re not alone.”
Ahead, the path widened into another clearing, this one darker and more foreboding . The trees here were blackened , their bark charred and cracked. At the center stood a single tree, its branches bare and twisted. Hanging from its limbs were strange, bulbous fruits, their surfaces smooth and reflecting the dim light.
Aurora’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what they were—eyes. Each fruit was a perfect replica of a human eye, their irises glowing faintly. The gazes locked onto her, unblinking and unnerving.
Silas cursed under his breath. “What the hell is this?”
Nyx’s form flickered violently, their voice strained. “A warning. We’re being watched .”
The eyes blinked in unison, their gaze shifting to follow the group’s movements. The air grew colder, the warmth of the pendant the only thing keeping Aurora grounded. She tightened her grip on the Fae-Forged Blade, its faint luminescence casting a pale light in the clearing.
“Keep moving,” Nyx urged, their shadowy form flickering rapidly now . “Don’t look back.”
Aurora stepped forward, her boots crunching on the cracked earth. The eyes tracked her every movement, their gazes piercing through her. She forced herself to look away, focusing on the path ahead.
The grove seemed to close in around them, the trees twisting and contorting as if alive. The air grew heavier, the scent of decay mingling with the sharp, acrid smell. Aurora’s heart pounded in her chest , her senses overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere.
As they reached the edge of the clearing, the path opened up into a wider, more open space. The trees here were less twisted, their branches reaching upward as if seeking the amber sky . The ground beneath them was soft again, the moss returning to its emerald green.
Aurora exhaled sharply , her grip on the blade loosening slightly . “What was that?”
Nyx’s form stabilized slightly , their voice low and tense. “A test. And one we passed—barely.”
Silas rubbed his face, his hands trembling slightly . “This place is messing with my head.”
“Stay focused,” Nyx said, their violet eyes glowing faintly . “We’re not out yet.”
The path ahead was brighter now, the amber light casting the trees in a warm glow. The air smelled faintly of honey and cinnamon, the oppressive atmosphere lifting slightly . Aurora glanced down at the pendant, its pulse steady but insistent.
She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. “Let’s keep moving.”