THE BLACK THORN CODEX
Episode 36 — The Shadow That Follows
November 16, 2023 — 8:25 PM
And as they left the room of the third altar, the echo of their passage resonated through the catacombs, like a warning to those who would one day follow in their footsteps.
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The exit from the catacombs was quieter than they had imagined. The night wind of Paris, laden with humidity and ancient scents, seemed almost gentle after the oppression of the underground passages. Yet a tension persisted: the Guardian had not left them. His red eyes, invisible but palpable, followed them through the shadows of the city.
"We're outside... finally," Clarisse murmured.
"Yes... but he's still here," Léandre replied. "I can feel it."
The streets seemed different. Passersby stared at them, some curiously, others with a slight shiver, as if sensing the energy emanating from them. The Codex vibrated faintly in Leander's hands, its pages turning on their own, revealing snippets of rituals and prophecies linked to the altars and the Guardian.
"Every choice we've made has left a trace..." Leander said.
"A trace... that anyone could feel," Clarisse added worriedly.
They took a narrow passage to avoid the main streets. The Guardian's shadow sometimes stretched before them, an intangible but heavy presence. Each step in the darkness reminded them that crossing the altar hadn't neutralized his vigilance.
"He'll test us again," said the old man, who had joined them at the entrance. "Even out in the open, he's watching."
"What do we want to do?" Clarisse asked. —Watch… and understand. The Codex will guide us, but the Guardian… he never forgets.
Leander opened the Codex. A new page appeared: "The shadow follows those who touch the heart of the third altar. But only vigilance combined with courage can contain it. And the outside world will mirror your choices."
Clarisse felt the entity within her shudder, ready to manifest itself at the slightest threat. She tightened her focus.
"We must learn to live with this presence… not just fight it," she murmured.
They finally reached a deserted street, out of sight. The Codex calmed down, but a shudder ran through the walls of the buildings. A dark figure appeared on top of a roof, barely discernible in the darkness: the Guardian, still watching them, silent and impassive.
"Even here… he won't let us go," Leander said. "Then we will have to learn to move forward in spite of him," replied Clarisse.
The old man handed them an ancient map, marked with symbols invisible to ordinary eyes.
"This is where the energies of the altars converge," he said. "Each place is a point of balance… or rupture. Your choice at the third altar has changed many things, but it is not over."
Clarisse and Léandre exchanged a glance. The night was no longer just dark: it was full of promise and danger, ancient secrets and invisible threats. The Guardian continued to follow them, and the Codex, now more than a book, was becoming a living guide to their destiny.
"Let's go," said Léandre. "The world awaits our steps… and it will watch each one."
"Yes," replied Clarisse. "Together."
And as they walked away through the streets, the Guardian's shadow melted into the city lights, ready to appear at the slightest mistake.