chapter 10

The Whispering Voices:

I follow Riven deeper into the forest, my heart pounding with excitement and fear. The whispering voices grow louder, and I can make out a few words. "Come...come...follow us..."

Riven leads us to a clearing, and in the center of it, I see a glowing pool of water. The whispering voices seem to be coming from it, and I can see ripples on the surface as if something is moving beneath.

Suddenly, the water starts to churn and bubble, and a figure begins to emerge. It's a woman, tall and statuesque, with long hair that flows like the wind. Her eyes are fixed on me, and I can feel her gaze like a cold breeze.

"Who are you?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

The woman's eyes flash with anger. "You have been summoned," she says. "You have been chosen for a great task."

Riven steps forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "What task?" he asks.

The woman's gaze shifts to him. "You will be given a choice," she says. "A choice between two paths. Which path will you choose?"

I feel a sense of confusion and uncertainty. What paths? What choice?

Riven's eyes narrow. "What are the paths?" he asks.

The woman's smile is cold and calculating. "One path leads to knowledge and power," she says. "The other path leads to danger and uncertainty."

I feel a shiver run down my spine. What kind of knowledge and power? And what kind of danger and uncertainty?

Riven's eyes lock onto mine, and I can see the calculation in his gaze. He's weighing his options, trying to decide which path to take.

Do I go with Riven's instincts?

To be continued...