The black roots kept climbing.
One after another.
The ground shook beneath everyone’s feet.
Cracks spread across the clearing.
Golden leaves rained down from the Heartwood.
No one spoke.
Everyone watched the staircase.
Waiting.
Then…
Everything stopped.
The roots froze.
The shaking ended.
A deep laugh echoed from the darkness.
It wasn’t loud.
It was calm.
Almost friendly.
“After all these years…”
The voice echoed through the clearing.
“…the forest has found another Chosen.”
Elara felt a chill run down her spine.
She couldn’t see anyone.
Only darkness.
The Keeper stepped forward.
“You are not welcome here.”
The voice laughed again.
“I was here long before you.”
Silence followed.
Then a man slowly walked out of the shadows.
He looked no older than thirty.
He wore a long black coat.
His dark hair fell over his eyes.
There was nothing frightening about him.
He looked…
Normal.
Too normal.
Noah frowned.
“That’s the Forgotten King?”
Rose lowered her head.
“Don’t look into his eyes.”
The man smiled.
“So this is Noah.”
He looked at Adrian.
“And you’re still alive.”
Then his eyes stopped on Elara.
For a moment…
“You look just like her.”
Elara frowned.
“Like who?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked closer.
The Keeper immediately stood between them.
“One more step…”
“And I’ll stop you.”
The man sighed.
“You’ve been saying that for centuries.”
Golden roots rose from the ground.
They wrapped around the King’s feet.
But he didn’t move.
The roots slowly turned black.
Then they crumbled into dust.
The Keeper’s eyes widened.
“Impossible…”
The King smiled.
“The Heartwood is weak.”
“So are you.”
Noah quietly whispered,
“I officially don’t like this guy.”
Elara almost smiled.
Even now…
Noah was still Noah.
The King looked at Elara again.
“You’ve been told many stories.”
“Some are true.”
“Most are not.”
He reached into his pocket.
Then tossed something toward her.
Elara caught it.
It was…
Another crystal.
Exactly like hers.
Except this one glowed black instead of gold.
Everyone froze.
Adrian’s face turned pale.
“No…”
“The Shadow Crystal.”
The Keeper whispered,
“It should have been destroyed.”
“What is this?” Elara asked.
The King answered calmly.
“You carry the Heart’s light.”
“I carry its shadow.”
He looked at the Heartwood.
“You cannot have one without the other.”
Rose slowly stepped backward.
“The prophecy…”
She whispered.
“It’s happening.”
Elara turned toward her.
“What prophecy?”
Rose looked at the two crystals.
“When the Light and the Shadow meet…”
“…one forest will fall.”
“…and another will rise.”
The King’s eyes met Elara’s.
“I’m not here to fight you.”
“I’m here to give you a choice.”
“What choice?”
“You can save the Heartwood.”
Everyone stared at him.
Even the Keeper.
“But…”
The King continued.
“…you’ll have to destroy the forest first.”
Silence filled the clearing.
Noah blinked.
“I’m sorry…”
“Did he just say we have to destroy the forest to save it?”
No one answered.
Because no one knew if he was lying.
The King smiled one last time.
“You have three days.”
“After that…”
He looked up at the Heartwood.
“It will choose for you.”
The black crystal suddenly floated into the air.
It began moving toward Elara’s golden crystal.
The two lights grew brighter.
Brighter.
Brighter.
Then—
CRACK!
A thin black line appeared across Elara’s golden crystal.
The first crack had begun.