The night deepened as Valerius, Orion, and Elysia huddled together at the corner table, their voices a mere murmur beneath the din of the inn. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across their faces, but the warmth did little to dispel the chill that had settled over their conversation.
Elysia's green eyes were intense as she spoke, her voice laced with urgency. "I've been tracking the darkness for years, following its traces through the realms. What you encountered in the dungeon was just a fragment—a piece of something much larger. It's been gathering strength, slowly, silently, and it's spreading its influence across Terros."
Valerius leaned back in his chair, absorbing her words. He had known Elysia in the days before the Fall, when they had fought side by side against forces that threatened the balance between realms. She had been a skilled sorceress, her power rivaling his own, and her loyalty had been unwavering. But the years had changed them both, and the woman who sat before him now was hardened by experience and the weight of knowledge.
"What do you know about its origin?" Orion asked, his tone measured, but Valerius could hear the concern beneath it.
Elysia's gaze shifted to Orion, and she nodded, acknowledging his question. "The darkness… it's not just an entity or a single source. It's ancient, born from the chaos that existed before the realms were formed. It was sealed away by the first celestial beings, but that seal has weakened over time. What we've faced so far are merely the shadows it casts—echoes of its true power."
Valerius felt a shiver run down his spine at her words. He had encountered many forms of darkness in his time, but something primordial, something that predated even the realms themselves, was a threat unlike any other. "Why now?" he asked. "Why is it resurfacing?"
Elysia's expression darkened. "Because the realms are out of balance. The Fall fractured the connections between them, weakened the barriers that kept this darkness at bay. Every time a seal breaks or a realm destabilizes, it gains strength. And now, it's searching for a way to fully manifest."
Orion's eyes narrowed. "So, it's trying to breach into Terros. And it's using the ruins and dungeons as gateways."
Elysia nodded. "Exactly. It's no coincidence that you found the dungeon in such a state. The darkness was using it to spread its influence, drawing in those who could further its goals—like Malakar."
At the mention of the demon, Valerius unconsciously flexed his hand, feeling the residual power that still pulsed within him. The encounter with Malakar had left him changed, and he knew that the darkness was now a part of him. But whether that would be a strength or a weakness remained to be seen.
"We can't let it succeed," Valerius said firmly. "If it fully manifests, it could consume Terros and spread to the other realms."
"Agreed," Elysia said, her eyes locking onto his with a determination that matched his own. "But to stop it, we need to understand it better. There's a place—a temple hidden deep within the northern mountains. It was once a sanctuary for those who guarded the balance between the realms. If there's any knowledge left about the darkness, it will be there."
Orion's brow furrowed. "The northern mountains are treacherous. The terrain is difficult, and the region is known for its harsh conditions and the creatures that dwell there."
"We don't have a choice," Valerius said. "If that temple holds the answers we need, then we must find it. But we can't go in unprepared."
Elysia nodded in agreement. "We'll need supplies, information, and allies. This town may be small, but there are always those willing to join a cause if the reward is worth the risk."
Valerius looked at Orion, who gave a slight nod. They had faced impossible odds before, and while the path ahead was fraught with danger, they had never shied away from a challenge. The stakes were higher now, the enemy more insidious, but they were not alone.
"Tomorrow," Valerius said, "we start gathering what we need. We've sealed away the darkness for now, but we must be ready for what comes next."
Elysia's eyes softened slightly, a hint of the warmth he remembered from their past shining through. "It's good to fight alongside you again, Valerius. I never thought our paths would cross like this."
Valerius allowed himself a small smile. "Neither did I, but I'm glad they have."
As the night wore on, the inn's patrons began to retire, leaving the common room quiet and dimly lit. Valerius, Orion, and Elysia remained at their table, discussing plans, strategies, and the possible threats they might face in the northern mountains.
But as they talked, Valerius couldn't shake the feeling that the darkness they had encountered was watching, waiting for them to make a mistake. The shadows that lingered at the edges of the room seemed deeper somehow, as if the light itself was retreating.
He pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. The darkness might be powerful, but it was not unbeatable. Together, they had the strength to push back the shadows, to reclaim the balance that had been lost.
And with old allies by his side, Valerius felt that the impossible might just be within reach.
As the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows, the three of them rose from the table, their course set. The journey ahead would be long and perilous, but the fate of the realms depended on their success.
And Valerius was determined to see it through.