The dawn crept in quietly through the high windows of Eldoria's fortress, bathing the stone halls in a soft golden light. Kael stood in front of the shard — the last fragment of the Void's heart — which pulsed faintly on the altar. He hadn't slept, his mind occupied with the weight of the journey ahead.
"We'll have to move soon," Kael muttered, running his hand through his hair. The others had dispersed for the night, exhausted from the weeks of preparation, but there was no rest for him.
The door to the chamber creaked open, and Elara stepped inside. Her eyes were weary, but there was a fierce determination in them. "You're thinking too much," she said, her voice soft but pointed.
Kael gave her a sidelong glance, lips curling into a brief smile. "Thinking is what we have to do now. We've fought enough to know that we can't act without a plan."
Elara approached the shard, eyeing its dark glow. "This thing... it still scares me. It's so small now, but it carries such a deep evil. Do you think we can really destroy it?"
Kael hesitated. "Kiros believes there's a way, but it won't be easy."
She nodded, her hand brushing against his arm. "Nothing worth doing ever is. But you can't shoulder this alone."
Kael sighed, meeting her gaze. "I don't have a choice. If the Void returns, it won't just be Eldoria that's at risk. It'll be every realm, every world we've ever known. I have to make sure that doesn't happen."
"Not alone," she repeated firmly. "You have allies, Kael. Don't forget that."
---
The council convened again at dawn, their faces grim as they discussed the next steps. Kiros stood at the head of the table, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden surface.
"We'll need to gather supplies for the journey," Kiros began. "The Forgotten Realms are not a place where one ventures lightly. There are few records of them, but what we do know is that they are perilous, filled with magic far older and more powerful than anything we've seen."
Lady Arabella folded her hands in her lap, her brow furrowed. "Do we know how to even reach these realms? Or are we marching blindly into the unknown?"
Kael leaned forward. "We have to trust Kiros on this. He's studied these things for centuries. If anyone can guide us, it's him."
Kiros inclined his head slightly. "There is a way — an ancient portal hidden deep within the Whispering Woods. It hasn't been used in millennia, but it should still function if we can activate it. From there, we'll be able to enter the realms."
Thalion, who had remained quiet for most of the meeting, suddenly spoke up. "I don't like the sound of this. Forgotten Realms, ancient portals... This is starting to feel more like a suicide mission than anything."
Elara shot him a sharp look. "Do you have a better idea? Because the alternative is sitting here, waiting for the Void to regain its strength and come for us again."
Thalion's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't argue further.
---
Preparations began immediately. Supplies were gathered, weapons enchanted, and defensive wards strengthened around Eldoria in case they encountered delays. Kael oversaw every aspect of the plan, his attention to detail bordering on obsessive. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes — not now, not when so much was at stake.
As the group stood at the gates of Eldoria, ready to set off for the Whispering Woods, a cold wind swept through the city. Kael turned to his companions — Elara, Thalion, Kiros, and a handful of seasoned warriors who had volunteered to accompany them.
"Once we leave," Kael said, his voice steady, "there's no turning back. We don't know what we'll face, but we've been through worse. We're not just fighting for Eldoria anymore. We're fighting for every realm touched by the Void."
Elara stepped forward, her eyes shining with determination. "We'll finish this, Kael. Together."
Thalion grunted, resting his sword on his shoulder. "If we die out there, I want it on record that I warned you all."
Elara smirked. "Noted."
With that, they set off, the gates of Eldoria closing behind them. The journey through the Whispering Woods was long and arduous. The dense forest canopy blocked out most of the sunlight, and the air grew colder as they ventured deeper. Strange whispers echoed through the trees, but when Kael turned to investigate, there was no one there. Only shadows danced in the corners of his vision.
The group traveled in silence for hours, their senses on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every crack of a twig had them reaching for their weapons, but nothing materialized from the darkness.
"We're getting close," Kiros said, breaking the silence. He pointed ahead, where the trees began to thin, revealing a stone structure half-hidden by vines. "The portal is just beyond that clearing."
Kael's heart quickened. This was it — the path to the Forgotten Realms, the final piece of their journey. But as they approached the stone structure, a chill ran down his spine. Something was wrong.
"Wait," Kael said, holding up a hand to stop the group. His eyes scanned the area, searching for the source of the unease gnawing at his gut.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and from the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in darkness. Its voice was a harsh whisper, like the wind through dead leaves.
"You think you can stop what has already begun?" the figure hissed. "The Void is eternal. It will consume all."
Kael drew his sword, the blade glowing with a faint light. "We stopped you once. We'll do it again."
The figure laughed, a hollow, echoing sound. "Foolish mortals. You have only delayed the inevitable. The Void's return is assured. And you... you will never reach the Forgotten Realms."
With a wave of its hand, the figure summoned a swirling vortex of shadows, and the ground cracked open beneath Kael's feet.