一秒记住【笔趣阁】xbiquge365，更新快，无弹窗！

“嗡嗡嗡??嗡嗡嗡??”前方空中的变异子蚨迅疾振翅飞窜，一口气钻进了隧道内，朝着前面掠去，在此之前，它们就分出几个同伴追赶那些逃窜的邪兽，此时只要和同伴会合，便会知道那些家伙的下落了。“关爷，您瞧，子...

AsIgazedatAethera‘sreflection,mymindreeledwithquestions.WhatdidthemarkoftheShadowmean?WhyhadInevernoticeditbefore?Andwhatdiditsayaboutourconnection?

IturnedtoAethera,searchingforanswersinhereyes.Buttheyseemedtoholdasecret,aknowledgethatshewaswillingtokeepfromme.

“Tellme,“Isaid,myvoicefirmbutgentle.“WhatdoesthemarkoftheShadowmean?“

Aethera‘sgazefalteredforamoment,andIthoughtIsawaflashofuncertaintyinhereyes.Butthen,herexpressionhardened,andshelookedaway.

“Idon‘tknowwhatitmeans,“shesaidfinally,hervoicedevoidofemotion.“Ijustknowthatit‘sapartofme,apartofus.“

Ifeltapangofdisappointment,butIknewbetterthantopushtheissue.Notyet,atleast.

Instead,Iturnedbacktomyownreflection,studyingthesymboletchedintomyforehead.Itseemedtopulsewithadarkenergy,asifitwasaliveandwatchingme.

“Whatdoesitmean?“Iwhispered,myvoicebarelyaudibleoverthepoundingofmyheart.

Ididn‘tknowifanyonecouldanswerthatquestionforme.ButasIlookedatAethera‘sreflection,Iknewthatwewereinthistogether,nomatterwhatlayahead.

Together,wewoulduncoverthesecretsoftheShadow,andfacewhateverhorrorsorwondersithadinstoreforus.Becauseintheend,itwasnotjustaboutfightingagainstanancientevil-itwasaboutunderstandingourselves,andthepowerthatlaywithinus.

AsIstoodthere,frozenincontemplation,Aethera‘shandreachedoutandtouchedmyshoulder.Itwasagentletouch,butitsentshiversdownmyspine.

“I‘mhereforyou,“shesaid,hervoicelowandsteady.“Nomatterwhathappens.“

Iturnedtoher,searchingforanswersinhereyes.Andthistime,Isawsomethingthatgavemehope.

Inthosemoments,IknewthatwewerenotjustfightingagainsttheShadoerefightingtogether,astwohalvesofawhole.

Andwiththatrealization,Ifeltasurgeofdeterminationcoursethroughmyveins.Wewouldfacewhateverlayahead,nomatterwhathorrorsorwondersithadinstoreforus.Becausetogether,wewereunstoppable.

AsIlookedatAethera‘sreflectiononelasttime,IknewthatthemarkoftheShadowwasmorethanjustasymbol-itwasareminderofourconnection,andthepowerthatlaywithinus.

Andwiththatknowledge,Ifeltasenseofpeacewashoverme.Wewouldfacewhateverlayahead,together.

Butaswestoodthere,frozenincontemplation,afaintwhisperseemedtoechothroughtheforest.Itwasasoft,raspyvoice,anditsentshiversdownmyspine.

“Welcome,children,“itsaid.“TheShadowiscomingforyou.“

IturnedtoAethera,searchingforanswersinhereyes.Andthistime,Isawaglimmeroffearintheirdepths.

“Whatdoesitmean?“Iwhispered,myvoicebarelyaudibleoverthepoundingofmyheart.

Aethera‘sgazefaltered,andshetookastepback.Hereyeswerefixedonsomethingbehindme,somethingthatmadeherexpressiontwistwithhorror.

Iturnedtoseewhathadcaughtherattention.AndasIdid,Isawittoo-adarkfigureloomingintheshadows,itspresenceseemingtodrawtheverylightoutoftheforest.

TheShadowwascomingforus,andwewerenotready.