Aren's heart pounded as he turned and sprinted toward the old watchtower where they had left the Smiling Blade. He didn't say a word. The jungle whipped past him in a blur of dark shapes and rustling leaves.
Valerie called out, "Aren! Wait!" but he didn't stop.
He reached the tower, his breath heavy, and pushed the door open with a loud creak that echoed into the night. The room was dim and dusty, moonlight spilling through cracks in the walls. His eyes went straight to the sword, standing against the stone wall as if it had been waiting for him.
Aren grabbed it quickly, feeling its warm energy flow into his hand. He turned just as Valerie arrived, breathless and wide-eyed.
"Aren… what are you doing?" she gasped.
"We can't run without a plan," he said, gripping the sword tighter. "I think we can escape if we go west past the old dry ravine. We might lose him there."
Before Valerie could answer, the Smiling Blade started to glow softly. Its voice echoed in Aren's mind, calm and firm.
"No," it said. "I know a better way. Trust me and follow my lead."
Aren paused, then nodded slowly. He looked at Valerie and said, "The blade has a plan. We need to trust it."
Valerie hesitated, glancing back at the dark trees before finally nodding. "Alright… let's go."
The blade's blue glow grew brighter, lighting up the path like a ghostly lantern. They followed it quickly, weaving through narrow trails and thick vines. The jungle felt alive, almost moving around them as they passed.
They kept going in tense silence. Every crack of a branch made them jump. Every distant howl made them shiver.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the glowing sword led them to an old hut hidden deep in the trees. Vines covered most of it, and moss clung to the walls.
Aren stopped and turned to the sword. "Should we stay here or keep moving?"
The Smiling Blade pulsed gently. "We stay here for now. He won't find you here. You're safe."
Aren looked at Valerie. She was sweating and breathing hard but her eyes stayed sharp. He nodded, pushed open the old wooden door, and it groaned loudly.
Inside, the air was musty but strangely peaceful. There was a pile of dry hay in the corner, enough for them to rest on. Aren helped Valerie inside and closed the door behind them.
They sat down on the hay together. The sword lay beside them, its glow slowly fading. Valerie shivered a little and leaned closer to Aren. He put an arm around her shoulders, trying to steady her.
For a while, they just sat in silence, catching their breath.
Finally, Aren looked at her. His voice was low and tired. "You know… I can't beat the Warden of Silence right now. I'm not strong enough. I need to grow stronger, to learn more. Right now, I can't win."
Valerie turned her head toward him, her eyes serious. "We can't keep running forever," she said softly. "If I have to, I'll face him myself. We can't just keep hiding."
"No!" Aren shook his head quickly, his eyes sharp with worry. "Don't even think about that. He would kill you. I can't let that happen."
The Smiling Blade spoke, its voice calm but strong. "Valerie, you are powerful, but you still lack true focus. You need better concentration, stronger imagination, and more control over your magic. I can help you, but you must trust me completely."
Valerie looked down at her hands, her fingers curling into fists. After a moment, she gave a small nod.
The blade glowed a little brighter. "Rest now," it said. "Tomorrow, we start your training. You need to be ready if you want to survive and fight beside Aren."
Valerie shivered again, but Aren pulled her closer. The fear was still there, but a small spark of hope started to grow inside them.
They leaned back against the hay, their eyes heavy with exhaustion.
Outside, the jungle kept moving and whispering, danger waiting somewhere in the dark.
But inside that hut, for the first time in a long while, they felt a small moment of peace. A moment to gather their strength before facing what would come next.
They leaned back against the hay, the room finally still. Valerie's breathing steadied, her fingers still curled lightly around Aren's sleeve.
Aren exhaled slowly, trying to loosen the tight knot in his chest. For a moment, it felt like they might actually get some rest.
The Smiling Blade's glow faded down to a gentle pulse, like a sleeping heartbeat. The hut was quiet, safe, and hidden under a thick blanket of stars outside.
Valerie shifted closer, her voice low. "We can rest… just for tonight, right?"
Aren nodded, though his eyes flicked once more to the door. "Yeah. Just tonight."
Silence settled.
Then, just as sleep began to tug them under, a faint sound drifted from outside , a soft, repeated tapping, almost like fingertips on wood.Aren's eyes snapped open. He held his breath, listening. The sound stopped.
He turned to Valerie. She was wide awake now, her eyes wide and shining in the dim light.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Before he could answer, the tapping started again ; slow, deliberate, echoing off the hut's walls.Aren reached for the Smiling Blade. The sword gave off a quick, nervous flicker but stayed silent.
Valerie sat up, every muscle in her body tense. "It's… not the Warden," she whispered shakily. "I don't think it's human at all."
Aren felt a cold shiver climb up his spine. His hand tightened around the sword's hilt.
The tapping stopped once more, and for a breathless moment, there was nothing but the sound of their pounding hearts.
Then, a soft voice, almost like a child's whisper, came from the other side of the wall.
"Can I come in?"
Aren's blood turned to ice. Valerie's hand flew to her mouth to stifle a gasp.
They didn't move.
Outside, the voice spoke again, sweeter this time.
"I know you're in there."
Aren and Valerie held each other tighter, frozen.The blade's glow brightened faintly, as if bracing for something neither of them could see.
In that instant, every shadow in the hut seemed to lean closer.
And the night around them felt suddenly alive.
....
"It's the Whisperling " The blade said
.....