Chapter 5 - Chapter 5 – Shadows Within

Night fell fast, and the streets of Durnfall became a labyrinth of black shapes. Liora moved carefully, every shadow flicker setting her nerves on edge. Kael walked beside her silently, the air thick with tension.They reached a narrow bridge spanning the river of ash. Suddenly, the shadows rose like a tide, forming humanoid shapes with glowing red eyes. Liora's violet eye flared, and she summoned her energy to repel them, but the shadows reacted instantly, splitting and attacking from multiple directions.Kael shouted, "Split up! Use the alleys!"Liora darted into a dark alley, barely escaping. The shadows pursued relentlessly, whispering her name with voices that were not human. She felt a pull from the fortress again—it wasn't just calling, it was demanding.At the end of the alley, she stumbled upon a cracked mural of a long-forgotten war, depicting shadows consuming warriors. Her heart raced. Was this a warning… or a prophecy?The red eyes blinked in unison. The shadows were learning. And tonight, Liora understood the terrifying truth: she wasn't just fighting them… she was becoming one of them.