Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Shadows on the Bridge

Months passed, a comfortable routine settling over Aethel. The villagers, no longer burdened by the fear of the encroaching darkness, thrived. The connection between Aethel and Xylos, though tenuous, pulsed with a faint emerald light, a constant reminder of their newfound bond.

Evie, Liam, and Xal'dar, hailed as heroes, continued their studies. Yet, a shadow of unease lingered beneath the surface. The whispers of the ancient texts echoed in their minds – warnings of parasitic entities that could bridge dimensional rifts, feeding on negative emotions and manipulating them for their own gain.

One starless night, as Evie poured over a weathered scroll by flickering candlelight, a tremor ran through the ground, a sensation unlike any earthquake. Rushing outside, she found Liam and Xal'dar staring at the Wellspring, their faces etched with dread.

The emerald glow that had become a symbol of hope had taken on a sickly, pulsating green hue. Whispers, faint a