The group had barely escaped the capital's clutches. The adrenaline from the library battle still coursed through Kael's veins as they crouched in a hidden alley, catching their breaths. Shadows of patrolling soldiers danced on the cobblestone walls, their proximity too close for comfort. Ren leaned against the damp stone, wiping blood off his blade while Lys clutched the artifact and the leather-bound book tightly against her chest.
Kael peered out into the main street, his heart pounding. "We need to move. They'll start combing the area soon."
Lys nodded, her face pale but resolute. "There's a safe house nearby. The elders mentioned it in case of emergencies. It should be empty."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Should be? I love those odds."
"Unless you have a better idea, Ren, shut up and follow me" Lys snapped.
Kael held up a hand, silencing the argument before it could escalate. "No time for this. Let's go."
They moved quickly and silently through the maze of backstreets. The city felt more oppressive than ever, its tall buildings casting looming shadows that seemed to close in around them. The artifact's faint glow was hidden beneath a layer of cloth, but Kael could still feel its presence, like an unspoken weight pressing on them all.
The safe house turned out to be a crumbling building at the edge of the old quarter. Lys pushed open the creaky wooden door, revealing a small, dusty room with scattered furniture. It smelled of mildew and abandonment, but it was a refuge.
Ren dropped onto a tattered chair, groaning. "Home sweet home. Love what they've done with the place."
Lys ignored him, placing the book and artifact on the table. "We can't stay long. Once the soldiers realize we're gone, they'll search the outskirts."
Kael sat across from her, his eyes fixed on the artifact. "We need to understand this." He turned to Lys. "That book you found… what else does it say?"
Lys opened the tome, her fingers tracing the faded text. "The artifacts… they're pieces of a greater whole, as I said. Together, they're supposed to unlock a power the ancients sealed away. But it's unclear what that power is. The text is fragmented, and some sections are too damaged to read."
"Let me guess" Ren said. "It's something catastrophic. Otherwise, why hide it?"
Lys glared at him. "We don't know that."
"We don't know anything" Ren countered. "Except that this thing has half the city hunting us and Kael glowing like a damn beacon."
Kael's jaw tightened. "You think I want this?"
Ren stood, his frustration boiling over. "I think you don't understand what's happening to you! That crystal—it's changing you. Every time you use it, you're less… you."
The room fell into a tense silence. Kael's fists clenched, the warmth of the crystal a bitter reminder of the power coursing through him. "I'm still me" he said quietly. "And we don't have a choice. If we don't figure this out, more people will die."
Lys stepped between them, her voice firm. "Enough. Fighting each other won't solve anything. Ren, you're right to be cautious, but Kael's right too. We can't stop now."
Ren exhaled sharply, sitting back down. "Fine. But if this goes south, don't say I didn't warn you."
Kael didn't respond, his focus returning to the artifact. Its faint pulsing seemed almost alive, each beat resonating in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was waiting for something—or someone.
The night deepened, the safe house bathed in shadows. Lys continued poring over the book, her frustration growing as she struggled to decipher its cryptic text. Ren dozed in the corner, his sword resting within arm's reach. Kael sat by the window, his gaze on the city beyond.
A faint noise broke the silence. Kael tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the crystal. He motioned to the others, his voice a whisper. "Someone's outside."
Ren was instantly awake, his blade in hand. Lys extinguished the lantern, plunging the room into darkness. They waited, the tension palpable.
The door creaked open, and a figure slipped inside. Kael's grip on the crystal tightened, its light beginning to glow faintly. Before he could act, the figure raised their hands.
"Wait! I'm not here to fight!" the intruder whispered urgently.
Kael's eyes adjusted to the dim light, revealing a young woman clad in simple but travel-worn clothing. Her eyes darted nervously between them.
Ren stepped forward, his sword level with her throat. "Start talking. Who are you?"
"My name's Eira" she said, her voice steady despite the blade inches from her neck. "I'm here to help."
Lys stepped forward, her gaze skeptical. "Help? Why should we trust you?"
Eira hesitated, then reached into her satchel, pulling out a small, glowing shard. It pulsed faintly, its light resonating with the artifact on the table.
Kael's breath caught. "That's…"
"A piece of the same power you're carrying" Eira finished. "I've been tracking the artifacts for months. When I saw the commotion at the library, I knew you had one."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Convenient. How do we know this isn't a trap?"
Eira's expression hardened. "Because I'm risking my life being here. The people hunting you? They're hunting me too. We're on the same side."
Lys studied her for a long moment, then glanced at Kael. "What do you think?"
Kael met Eira's gaze, the crystal's warmth steadying him. He could sense the shard's connection to the artifact, its energy familiar yet distinct. "She's telling the truth" he said finally. "At least about the shard."
Ren muttered something under his breath but lowered his sword. "Fine. But one wrong move…"
Eira nodded. "Understood."
With Eira's arrival, the pieces of the puzzle began to take shape. She explained what she knew: the artifacts were scattered centuries ago to keep them from falling into the hands of a group known as the Crimson Order. The Order sought to use the artifacts to break an ancient seal, unleashing a power that could reshape the world.
"What kind of power?" Lys asked, her voice tinged with unease.
Eira hesitated. "The texts call it the Abyssal Flame. It's said to grant unimaginable strength… but at a cost. The ancients believed it would corrupt anyone who wielded it, turning them into a force of destruction."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine. "And the Order wants to unleash this?"
Eira nodded. "They believe they can control it. But if they're wrong…" She didn't finish the thought.
Ren let out a low whistle. "Great. So we're fighting a fanatical group with ancient superweapons. No pressure."
"It gets worse" Eira said. "The Order has already found two of the artifacts. If they get all five…"
"Then we can't let that happen" Kael said firmly. He looked at the artifact on the table, its glow a constant reminder of the stakes. "We need to find the other pieces first."
Eira gave a faint smile. "Good. Because I know where the next one is."
As dawn broke, the group prepared to leave the safe house. The city was still on high alert, and their journey would only grow more perilous. But for the first time, Kael felt a sense of purpose. The road ahead was uncertain, but with the artifact's power and their growing alliance, they had a chance.
Eira's shard pulsed faintly as she tucked it away, her eyes meeting Kael's. "Ready?"
Kael nodded, the crystal's warmth steadying him. "Let's go."
Together, they slipped into the streets, their shadows merging with the city's labyrinthine darkness. The fight against the Crimson Order had only just begun.