The fortress was quiet in the dead of night, the only sounds coming from the distant crashing of the ocean waves against the cliffs. Serena lay awake on the cold stone floor, staring up at the crumbling ceiling above. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on her, sleep was elusive. Her mind raced, running through the events of the past days—retrieving the weapon, barely escaping the stone guardians, and now, the looming threat of the Syndicate.
The weapon they had taken from the temple sat nearby, glowing faintly in the dim light of the dying fire. It was their only hope for destroying the Lumen Corvus, but as Alaric had said, its power could also unleash forces they barely understood. They had no choice but to move forward with the plan, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at Serena, keeping her on edge.
She rolled onto her side and glanced at Rebecca, who was also awake, sitting against one of the pillars with her arms crossed. Rebecca's eyes were sharp, constantly scanning their surroundings even though the fortress seemed empty. Serena appreciated her vigilance, but she could see the fatigue in her friend's eyes. They were all running on fumes at this point, and the pressure of what they had to do was taking its toll.
"You should get some sleep," Serena whispered. "We'll need you at full strength tomorrow."
Rebecca shrugged, her gaze never leaving the shadows at the edge of the room. "I'll sleep when I'm sure we're not about to be ambushed in our sleep. Someone's got to stay alert."
Serena sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. Rebecca was right to be cautious. They were too close to the coast now, and too close to the Syndicate's reach. They had left a trail of destruction behind them—rockslides, temple traps, the remnants of their battles—and the Syndicate wasn't far behind. It was only a matter of time before they were found.
Across the room, Alaric stirred from where he had been sitting in quiet meditation. His eyes opened slowly, and he looked over at Serena and Rebecca with a calm expression, as if he hadn't just been leading them on the run from one of the most dangerous organizations in the world.
"We'll need to move at first light," Alaric said quietly, his voice cutting through the silence. "The place I told you about is close, but if the Syndicate catches up before we get there, we'll lose our chance."
Serena sat up, her muscles protesting after the long day of travel. "What exactly are we walking into, Alaric? You've been vague about this 'place of power,' but we need to know what to expect. If it's as dangerous as you say, we can't afford to be blindsided."
Alaric stood, stretching slightly as he moved to sit closer to the fire. His face was shadowed, but Serena could see the seriousness in his eyes. "The place I'm leading you to is an ancient site, much like the temple where we found the weapon. But unlike the temple, this site has a direct connection to the other realms, places where the barriers between worlds are thin. It's one of the few places where destroying the Lumen Corvus won't cause catastrophic damage to this world."
Serena frowned. "Other realms? You mean like different dimensions?"
Alaric nodded. "Yes. The Lumen Corvus was never meant to exist purely in this world. It's a bridge, a link to realms that we can't fully comprehend. If we destroy it in the wrong place, we risk opening rifts, tearing holes in the fabric of reality. The site we're heading to has the energy needed to contain that power, to destroy the artifact without breaking the balance."
Rebecca scoffed from her spot against the pillar. "So, basically, we're walking into another death trap. Great."
Alaric's expression didn't change, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, perhaps. "It won't be easy. The site is protected, just like the temple, and there are dangers we haven't faced yet. But it's our best chance. The Syndicate knows this as well. That's why they're after us."
Serena's stomach twisted at the thought of what awaited them. They had barely escaped the temple with their lives, and now they were heading into another ancient site with even more risks. But they didn't have a choice. The Lumen Corvus had to be destroyed, and if this was the only way to do it, then they had to see it through.
"We'll be ready," Serena said, her voice firm. "But if the Syndicate catches up with us before we get there…"
Alaric's gaze darkened. "Then we fight. There's no other option."
Rebecca smirked, though there was no humor in it. "I've been waiting for a good fight. Let's hope they don't make it easy on us."
Serena shot Rebecca a weary smile, but her thoughts were already on the coming battle. The Syndicate wasn't like the Covenant or the Seekers. They were more dangerous, more relentless. And they wouldn't stop until they had the Lumen Corvus in their hands.
The hours passed slowly as they waited for dawn. The fortress remained quiet, the sound of the ocean in the distance the only noise to break the silence. Serena tried to rest, but her mind refused to let her sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the faces of the people who had fallen in the fight for the Lumen Corvus. She saw the weight of the choices she had made, the sacrifices that had brought them to this point.
When the first light of dawn finally broke over the horizon, Serena was already on her feet, her heart pounding with anticipation. Rebecca and Alaric were ready as well, their faces set with grim determination. They had one chance to get to the ancient site before the Syndicate caught up with them. One chance to end this.
They gathered their things quickly, moving silently through the crumbling halls of the fortress. As they emerged into the cool morning air, Serena scanned the horizon, her nerves on edge. The coast was visible in the distance, the cliffs rising sharply above the ocean, but there was no sign of the Syndicate—yet.
"We need to move fast," Alaric said, his eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the cliffs. "The site is just beyond the ridge. If we hurry, we can make it before they find us."
Serena nodded, her hand instinctively going to the weapon in her pack. The crystalline structure was warm to the touch, its energy humming faintly beneath her fingers. It was a powerful tool, but it wouldn't be enough if they were ambushed.
They set off at a brisk pace, moving through the rugged terrain with practiced ease. The path was narrow, winding along the edge of the cliffs, but the urgency of the situation pushed them forward. Every step brought them closer to the site, and closer to the final confrontation with the Syndicate.
Serena's heart raced as they climbed the last ridge, the sound of the ocean roaring in her ears. The ancient site was just ahead, hidden among the cliffs, but the sense of danger was palpable. The air was thick with tension, the weight of their mission pressing down on all of them.
As they crested the ridge, Serena's breath caught in her throat.
The site was there, a massive stone circle carved into the cliffside, its runes glowing faintly in the morning light. It was ancient, powerful, and filled with the energy of the otherworldly realms Alaric had spoken of.
But they weren't alone.
Standing at the edge of the stone circle, silhouetted against the rising sun, was a group of dark figures.
The Syndicate had arrived.