Chapter 13: The Twisted Reflection

The air was heavy with tension as Cormag took another step forward, his twisted limbs moving with an unnatural gait. Sith's eyes were fixed on the crystal formation, his gaze seeming to grow more and more entranced with every passing moment. The Echo's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent light as she sensed Sith's resolve weakening. Cormag knew he had to act fast, to try and snap Sith out of his trance-like state. He reached out with his mind, trying to connect with his friend, to reassure him that he was still in control. But as he touched Sith's thoughts, he was met with a wall of resistance. The Slough's power was strong in Sith, and it was fighting to consume him. The crystal formation began to pulse with an intense, blue-white light, and Sith's eyes seemed to be drawn into its depths. Cormag could feel his friend's mind being pulled apart, stretched to its limits as the Slough's power sought to claim him. He knew he had to act, to try and save Sith from the clutches of the Echo. With a surge of adrenaline, Cormag lunged forward, his twisted limbs propelling him across the chamber. He reached out with his clawed hand, grabbing Sith's arm and pulling him back from the crystal formation. Sith's eyes snapped back into focus, and he looked at Cormag with a mixture of confusion and fear. "What...what's happening to me?" Sith stammered, his voice shaking with uncertainty. Cormag's grip on Sith's arm tightened, his claws digging deep into his friend's flesh. "You're not going to give in," he said, his voice low and urgent. "You're not going to let the Slough consume you." Sith's eyes flicked to the Echo, who was watching them with a cold, calculating gaze. "I don't know if I can resist," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The Echo's smile grew wider, her eyes flashing with anger. "You can't resist," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "The Slough's power is too strong. It will consume you, Sith. And once it does, you'll be one of us." Cormag felt a surge of anger at the Echo's words, and he tightened his grip on Sith's arm. "No," he said, his voice firm. "I won't let that happen. I won't let you take him." The Echo's laughter was like a cold wind, sending shivers down Cormag's spine. "You're no match for the Slough's power," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "You're just a twisted creature, a monster forged from the forest's dark magic." Cormag's eyes flashed with anger, and he took a step forward, his twisted limbs propelling him towards the Echo. But as he moved, he caught a glimpse of himself in a nearby pool of water. And what he saw made his blood run cold. His reflection stared back at him, a twisted, monstrous creature with glowing green eyes and mottled grey skin. And for a moment, Cormag wondered if he was still human, or if he was just a creature of the Slough, a monster forged from the forest's dark magic. The Echo's laughter seemed to grow louder, echoing off the walls of the chamber. And Cormag knew that he had to make a choice, to decide where his loyalties lay. Was he a creature of the Slough, or was he still a friend to Sith? The answer, he realized, was not as clear-cut as he had thought.