CHAPTER 90 THE ILLUSION WITH GAIUS

Dominic The forest loomed around us, a dense tangle of trees and bushes that seemed to close in with each passing moment. The moonlight barely passed through the trees, casting shadows dancing in my vision's corners. I could still hear the faint echoes of our footsteps, Minerva's and mine, as we fled from the witches' den. The memory of the gruesome sight we'd encountered still clung to my mind, threatening to pull me back into that horror. But we had to keep moving. "Dominic, are you alright? "Minerva's voice was steady, though I could sense the underlying worry. She was always the calm one, even when things went south. "I'm fine," I lied, my voice gruff with exhaustion. "Just keep going." We pushed deeper into the woods; each step heavier than the last. My senses were on high alert, and every rustle and whisper in the trees put me on edge. But then, something changed. The forest seemed to shift, the air growing thicker, more oppressive. I stopped, trying to shake off the fee