Lira's fingers trembled as they hovered over the missions board in the Ascendants Guild, her eyes scanning each quest with a desperation that had long since swallowed her whole. She had searched through every Rift-related mission for days now, praying that one of them would hold a clue—a sliver of hope that Kael might still be alive.
"Lira, it's been a week," Aleck said softly, his voice a mixture of concern and frustration. He had been standing beside her for hours, watching her scrutinize the board like her life depended on it. "You know what the Abyss does to those trapped inside. Two hours is all it takes. Any longer, and they're either dead or corrupted beyond saving."
Lira's eyes narrowed, her face pale but resolute. "He's still alive, Aleck. I know it." Her voice wavered as if she were convincing herself just as much as him.
Aleck sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Lira… you've been at this nonstop. This isn't your fault."
"Isn't it?" Lira snapped, her voice cracking under the weight of guilt. "I could've saved him, Aleck. He was inches from me—just inches—and I couldn't reach him in time." Tears welled up, but she wiped them away quickly, refusing to show any more weakness.
Before Aleck could respond, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the guild. "I'm going to train," she called over her shoulder. "Let me know if there's a mission involving Rifts."
Aleck watched her leave, a knot of helplessness tightening in his chest. He knew there was no stopping her. But this obsession, this unrelenting drive to find Kael—it would destroy her if she wasn't careful.
Deep Within the Abyss
Kael trudged through the endless gloom of the Abyss, his legs heavy with exhaustion. Beside him, Varin walked in silence, the weariness of their journey etched deeply into his face. They had been traveling for days, their path winding through twisted landscapes that seemed to warp reality itself.
"The next Eternal City is Aeloria, right?" Kael asked, breaking the silence. His voice was hoarse, but there was a glimmer of hope in his tone. "The City of Light."
Varin nodded, though his expression remained grim. "Protected by the Eternal of Lifebringer. If we can reach it, we'll have a chance to bathe in the Lifebringer's Light Essence. It's one of the last things we need to restore my Rebirth Core."
Kael glanced at him, concern flickering in his eyes. Varin's Rebirth Core had been deteriorating rapidly, and time was running out. The conditions to fix it were daunting: Rebirth Gems, Dark Essence, Eternal Aethlar Essence, and now the Lifebringer's Light. They had managed to collect a few Rebirth Gems, but the Dark Essence was proving more elusive than they had hoped.
"Is there any other way to get the Rebirth Gems?" Kael asked, already knowing the answer but hoping for some miracle.
Varin shook his head. "The only way is by killing Rift Lords. They're rare, but it's the only method I've found."
Kael clenched his fists. They had fought Rift Lords before, barely surviving the encounters, and with Varin's deteriorating condition, the prospect of another battle was grim. But before he could say anything, Varin spoke again, his voice soft and filled with resignation.
"Kael… it's okay if I don't make it. If I can't fix my Rebirth Core, then that's just how it is."
"No," Kael said firmly, cutting him off. "We will fix your Rebirth Core, Varin. Don't lose hope now." He forced a smile, trying to lift his mentor's spirits. "We've been through worse, haven't we? Miracles happen, especially in a place like Erendath."
Varin chuckled weakly, a rare smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It's strange, you know? You're the one encouraging me. It should be the other way around."
Kael grinned, though the weariness in his eyes betrayed him. "Guess it's time for the student to teach the master, huh?"
Their brief moment of levity was shattered when Kael's Abyssal Locator flared to lifenotifying him of nearby Abyssal threats. He stopped in his tracks, pulling up the status map and inspecting the screen.
"What is it?" Varin asked, his voice tense.
"The Locator's picking up something…" Kael muttered, eyes narrowing. He tapped the screen, and a map appeared, showing a small cluster of Darkspawns moving in their direction. "There's a pack of them nearby."
"How close?" Varin's hand drifted to the hilt of his sword, his tired body instantly ready for another fight.
Kael's heart sank as he checked the distance. "Too close."
Without another word, they broke into a run, heading east toward Aeloria. Their Abyss Protection Amulets—the only things keeping them safe from the Abyss' corrupting energy—were running out of power. They had a day, maybe less, before the Abyss would begin to tear at their souls.
For hours, they pressed on, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as the weight of the Abyss bore down on them. The twisted landscape seemed to mock their desperation, the very air thick with malice. But just as their energy began to wane, a glimmer appeared on the horizon.
"There," Kael said, his voice filled with relief. In the distance, beyond the endless gloom, a radiant light cut through the darkness, shimmering like a beacon of hope. The Eternal City of Aeloria, the City of Light.
"We're almost there," Varin muttered, though his voice was weak.
They quickened their pace, the shimmering shield of Aeloria growing larger with every step. But just as they neared the city's protective barrier, the Abyssal Locator flared again, this time with a warning.
"Darkspawns. Lots of them," Kael said, his tone grim as he checked the screen. "They're converging on us."
Varin cursed under his breath. "We need to reach the city. Now."
But before they could take another step, the ground beneath them shook violently. A tear in the fabric of reality itself split open, and from its depths, a massive Darkspawn Rift Lord emerged, its hulking form blocking their path. Behind it, a horde of smaller Darkspawns poured out, their grotesque shapes illuminated by the light of Aeloria's barrier.
"Damn it," Kael muttered, drawing his blade. "We don't have time for this."
"We don't have a choice," Varin said, his voice steely despite his exhaustion. He unsheathed his own weapon, the blade gleaming in the dim light. "We fight."
The Rift Lord let out a deafening roar, its massive claws tearing into the ground as it charged toward them. Kael and Varin leaped into action, their movements swift and precise despite their fatigue. Kael's sword flashed as he parried a blow from one of the smaller Darkspawns, spinning on his heel to deliver a killing strike to another.
Varin, though weakened, fought with the desperation of a man with nothing left to lose. His blade danced through the air, cutting down Darkspawn after Darkspawn with brutal efficiency. But the Rift Lord was relentless, its massive form barreling through the horde, its eyes locked on Kael.
"Kael, watch out!" Varin shouted, but it was too late.
The Rift Lord's massive claw swung toward Kael with bone-shattering force. Kael barely had time to raise his sword before the impact sent him flying, his body crashing into the ground with a sickening thud. Pain shot through him, his vision swimming as he struggled to regain his footing.
The Rift Lord loomed over him, its grotesque face twisted into a snarl. Kael's hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, but his body refused to move. He was spent, his energy drained from days of travel and constant battle.
Just as the Rift Lord raised its claw for the killing blow, a blinding light erupted from the city behind them. The barrier of Aeloria flared to life, its radiant energy surging outward and washing over the battlefield. The Darkspawns shrieked in agony as the light tore through them, their bodies disintegrating into ash.
Kael's eyes widened in disbelief as the Rift Lord stumbled backward, its form beginning to dissolve under the onslaught of the light. Within moments, the massive creature was reduced to nothing, its body consumed by the radiant energy of Aeloria's shield.
Kael collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Varin stumbled over to him, his face pale and sweat-drenched.
"We made it," Varin muttered, though his voice was filled with exhaustion.
Kael nodded weakly, his eyes drifting toward the shimmering barrier of Aeloria. They had survived—barely.
But as they lay there, battered and broken, Kael's Abyssal Locator flared to life once more. A new warning appeared on the screen, one that sent a chill down his spine.
"Unknown Entity Detected. Danger Level: Extreme."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the message, dread settling in his gut.
"What now?" Varin asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he looked toward the horizon, where a dark figure stood just beyond the light of Aeloria's barrier.