Crown of Thorns and Roses

The forest had changed.

Elena could feel it with every step she took. The trees, once twisted and lifeless, now loomed taller and closer together, their bark etched with strange symbols that pulsed faintly in the dim light. A fine mist clung to the ground, curling around her ankles like cold fingers. Every breath she took tasted of damp earth and secrets best left buried.

Cassian walked ahead, his movements precise, every step calculated. His silver eyes scanned the shadows, as if expecting the forest to lunge at them at any moment.

"This place feels… wrong," Elena muttered, clutching her cloak tighter around her shoulders.

"It should," Cassian replied without looking back. "The Whispering Woods are alive, and they don't welcome intruders."

Elena frowned. "Alive?"

Cassian stopped suddenly, holding up a gloved hand to silence her. Elena froze, her pulse quickening. For a moment, the only sound was the wind, carrying faint whispers that seemed to come from nowhere.

And then the trees began to move.

Elena watched in horror as the branches above creaked and twisted, their gnarled limbs shifting unnaturally. Shadows slithered between the trunks, curling and writhing like serpents. The whispers grew louder, overlapping into a cacophony that buzzed in her ears.

"Do you hear that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Cassian's grip tightened on his sword hilt. "Ignore them. Don't listen."

But it was too late. The whispers wormed their way into her mind, a thousand voices speaking at once—soft, cold, insidious.

"Elena… you're not strong enough…"

"Turn back now… before it's too late…"

"You will fail them again…"

Elena's breath came faster, her heart pounding in her chest. "Stop," she whispered, clutching at her head. "Stop it…"

"Elena!" Cassian's voice cut through the noise, sharp as a blade. She blinked, looking up to find him standing in front of her, his silver eyes blazing. "They're trying to break you. Don't let them in."

"They're… in my head," Elena gasped, stumbling back a step. The whispers clawed at her thoughts, filling every corner of her mind.

Cassian reached for her, grabbing her by the shoulders and forcing her to look at him. "Focus on my voice. Look at me, only me. Do you understand?"

Elena nodded shakily, forcing herself to meet his gaze. The whispers receded slightly, though they still slithered at the edges of her consciousness.

"Good." Cassian released her, turning to face the path ahead. "We need to keep moving. The longer we stay, the stronger the whispers become."

Elena took a deep breath, steadying herself before following him. The whispers hissed and murmured all around her, but she pushed them back, focusing on the sound of her footsteps and the gleam of Cassian's silver blade.

They walked for what felt like hours, the forest growing darker and more oppressive with every step. The mist thickened, rising up to her knees, and the whispers became a constant presence, clawing at her mind like hungry insects.

Cassian led her to a small clearing where the ground was dry and the mist seemed to halt, as if afraid to enter. He stopped and turned to face her.

"We rest here," he said curtly. "The trees won't touch this place."

Elena sank to the ground, her legs trembling from exhaustion. "What are those whispers? How do they know so much about me?"

"The woods draw on what's already inside you," Cassian said, crouching beside her. "Your fears. Your guilt. They'll use whatever they can to break you."

Elena looked down at her hands, still stained with ash from the trial at the gate. "How do you block them out?"

Cassian's expression hardened, and for a moment, he didn't answer. Then he said, quietly, "You don't. You learn to endure them."

She frowned, studying him. "Have you been through this before?"

Cassian's gaze flicked to hers, and something dark passed through his silver eyes. "I've walked this path before, yes. But it's not the same for everyone."

Elena opened her mouth to press further, but a sound froze her in place.

The whispers had stopped.

The forest was silent.

"Why did it stop?" Elena breathed, her skin prickling with unease.

Cassian rose to his feet, his hand already on his sword. "Because something's coming."

From the shadows beyond the clearing, a low growl echoed, deep and guttural. Elena scrambled to her feet, drawing her dagger as her heart hammered in her chest.

A shape emerged from the mist—a hulking figure that moved like liquid shadow, its form shifting as if it couldn't decide what it was. Its eyes burned red, and as it stepped forward, Elena realized it wasn't one creature but many, twisted together into a grotesque form.

"What is that?" Elena whispered.

Cassian's sword glowed faintly as he stepped between her and the creature. "A shadow wraith," he said grimly. "Born of fear. Don't let it touch you."

The wraith lunged.

Cassian moved first, his blade slicing through the air in a streak of silver light. The wraith screamed as his sword struck, but it reformed instantly, its body rippling like smoke.

Elena backed away, her dagger feeling useless in her shaking hand. The wraith turned toward her, its glowing eyes locking onto hers.

It knows, she thought. It knows I'm afraid.

The wraith surged forward, faster than she could react. Cassian shouted something, but the words were lost as the creature slammed into her, its icy form searing through her skin.

Elena screamed, the world tilting as darkness flooded her vision. Her knees hit the ground, the wraith's voice filling her head like a thousand knives.

"You are nothing."

"You will fail."

"You will die."

"No!" Elena gasped, tears streaking down her face as she fought against the overwhelming cold. "You're lying!"

From somewhere deep inside, the light stirred again—a flicker of warmth in the darkness.

Fight, a voice whispered. You are not weak. You are not nothing.

Elena gritted her teeth, forcing herself to focus on that warmth. She reached for it, pulling it forward, letting it flow through her. Light flared from her hands, blinding and brilliant, cutting through the darkness like a blade.

The wraith screamed, its form disintegrating into ash as the light consumed it.

When the glow finally faded, Elena was kneeling in the clearing, her hands still shimmering faintly. The forest was silent once more.

Cassian approached, his sword lowered, his expression unreadable. "You fought back."

Elena looked up at him, her chest heaving. "I… I didn't think I could."

"You can," Cassian said, offering her his hand. "And you will. That light inside you is the only thing the darkness fears."

Elena took his hand and stood, her legs unsteady but her resolve stronger than before. She glanced at the ashes where the wraith had fallen, then at the forest beyond the clearing.

The trials will only get harder, she thought. But I'm still standing.

She met Cassian's gaze, determination burning in her chest. "Let's keep going."

Cassian gave a faint nod, and together they stepped back into the forest, the shadows closing behind them.