The Dragon's Chosen

The air grew heavy as Eira and her companions emerged from the trial chamber, the sixth medallion pulsing faintly in her grasp. The Duskwyld Forest seemed darker now as if something ancient had awakened.

Selya moved ahead, silent as a shadow. Despite her help, Eira couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

"We have the medallion," Kael muttered beside her. "Why do I feel like we're still trapped?"

"Because we are," Ryven said quietly, his gaze locked on Selya. "She's hiding something."

Before Eira could respond, Selya stopped at the edge of a clearing. In the center stood a stone altar, cracked with age. Strange black vines crept around its base.

"This wasn't here before," Selya said, tension sharpening her voice.

Valeria scoffed. "Convenient. Care to explain?"

Selya's jaw tightened. "I don't answer to you."

Eira stepped forward, magic tingling at her fingertips. "If there's something you know, tell us now."

For a moment, Selya hesitated then her mask cracked. "The forest's magic is old and cruel. It demands a price for every gift." Her eyes narrowed. "And you… you're disrupting the balance."

Before anyone could react, arrows rained from the trees.

"Ambush!" Kael shouted, drawing his sword.

Figures cloaked in green and black dropped from the branches Selya's hunters. Their eyes glowed faintly, twisted by dark magic.

"You led us into a trap?" Valeria growled, deflecting an arrow with her dagger.

Selya spun, loosing an arrow of her own but it struck near Eira's feet, forcing her back. "I warned you. The forest takes what it wants."

"You're working with Malgrin," Ryven spat, hurling a dagger that barely missed Selya's shoulder.

"I work for no one," Selya snapped. "But I won't let you destroy my home."

Magic crackled around Eira as she faced Selya, anger burning through her confusion. "You were never going to let us leave, were you?"

Selya's eyes softened but only for a moment. "I can't."

With a sharp whistle, she signaled her hunters to press forward.

Kael charged, his sword clashing against their spears. Ryven darted through the chaos, striking from the shadows. Valeria, a blur of fury, cut down anyone who dared approach.

Eira focused on Selya, magic surging through her veins. "You don't have to do this!"

"I do," Selya said softly, drawing her bow. "I can't lose anything else."

The words struck deep, but Eira couldn't hold back. A blast of blue fire erupted from her hands, forcing Selya to leap aside.

"You're not stopping me," Eira said, voice shaking with power.

Selya's expression hardened. "We'll see."

Their fight tore through the clearing arrow against flame, instinct against magic. But beneath her fury, Eira sensed something deeper Selya's fear.

A piercing shriek echoed through the forest as a new figure emerged from the altar's shadow. A twisted being of dark magic one of Malgrin's cursed wraiths.

Even Selya froze in horror. "No… he's already here."

The wraith lunged, and for the first time, Selya hesitated her loyalty and survival instincts at war.

Without thinking, Eira threw herself between Selya and the wraith, unleashing a burst of magic that shattered its form.

Selya stared, breathless, as Eira lowered her hand.

"You're not my enemy," Eira said, voice steady. "But if you stand against me, I will destroy you."

The battle slowed Selya's hunters falling back as the forest trembled under Malgrin's growing power.

For a long moment, Selya was silent. Then, with a bitter smile, she lowered her bow.

"You're more dangerous than I thought," she said. "Fine… I'll help you. But if you fail everything dies."

Eira nodded, heart pounding. She didn't trust Selya but with the forest turning against them, she couldn't afford to lose another ally.

And deep in the shadows, Malgrin watched his trap still unfolding.