For a long moment, none of them moved.

  The forest was still again, the night calm returned, but the tension clung to Althea’s skin like cold fog. The corrupted scout was gone… but not defeated. Not saved. Not understood.

  Keal finally exhaled. “It shouldn’t be able to retreat like that. Not with that much corruption.”

  Lyssa rubbed her arms, shivering. “It looked like something was dragging it. Or… pulling it away.”

  Althea hugged her knees to steady her shaking. “The silver light. Do you think it was helping us?”

  Keal frowned. “If it wanted to help, it would’ve destroyed the scout.”

  “But what if it couldn’t?” Althea asked quietly.

  Lyssa looked at her. “Why wouldn’t it be able to?”

  Althea didn’t know.

  But the question settled heavily in her chest.

  Keal scanned the treeline, alert. “Either way, we shouldn’t stay here. The scout might come back.”

  Lyssa nodded. “Agreed. Let’s move before it starts phasing again.”

  Keal offered a hand to Althea, lifting her gently.

  Her legs wobbled, but she steadied herself.

  They began walking through the tall reeds toward the safety of a rocky overhang. The moonlight lit their path softly, but Althea could feel all their hearts still racing.

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  Lyssa broke the silence first.

  “What did it mean when it said… run?”

  Keal shook his head. “Corrupted scouts don’t speak. They barely think. For it to say that—”

  “—means some part of the original scout is still inside,” Lyssa finished.

  Althea swallowed. “Alive?”

  “Maybe. But trapped,” Keal said.

  Lyssa’s face tightened. “That’s a horrible way to exist.”

  Althea felt a rush of guilt.

  “I wish I could help it…”

  Keal placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  “You already did. Your barrier saved us from its worst state.”

  Lyssa nodded. “If we’d hesitated, we’d be gone right now.”

  But Althea didn’t feel heroic.

  She felt… overwhelmed.

  The corrupted scout wasn’t a monster.

  It was a warning.

  A victim.

  A message she didn’t understand yet.

  And that made it even scarier.

  They reached the rocky overhang, and Keal quickly checked for threats before motioning for them to sit.

  Althea sank down with a sigh, her palms still tingling from the barrier’s explosion.

  Lyssa sat beside her. “You should rest. Your magic’s unstable when you’re tired.”

  “I know,” Althea said softly. “I just… wish I understood this world better.”

  Keal crouched in front of them.

  “That’s exactly why we stick together. We figure it out piece by piece.”

  “Piece by terrifying piece,” Lyssa muttered.

  Althea smiled faintly.

  But peace didn’t last long.

  Keal suddenly stiffened, eyes narrowing.

  “Lyssa… do you hear that?”

  Lyssa froze, listening.

  Althea’s heart jumped. “Is it back?”

  “No,” Lyssa whispered. “It’s something else.”

  A faint sound drifted through the forest —

  not the snapping of corruption,

  not the flutter of watcher light,

  but something entirely different.

  A rhythmic thumping.

  Slow.

  Measured.

  Coming closer.

  Keal stood, muscles tense.

  “That’s footsteps. Heavy ones.”

  Lyssa’s hand went to her dagger.

  “And coming from the wrong direction. The scout fled east.”

  Meaning—

  whatever was approaching

  wasn’t the corrupted scout.

  Althea felt her pulse quicken.

  Keal took a defensive stance. “Lyssa. Protect Althea.”

  Lyssa shifted immediately, placing herself at Althea’s side. “Understood.”

  The thumping grew louder.

  Steady.

  Intentional.

  Althea whispered, “Who is that?”

  Keal didn’t answer.

  Whatever was approaching wasn’t trying to hide.

  And that meant one thing—

  Whoever it was

  wanted to be found.