The descent from the ruins of Arithral was slow and tense. The valley, once an eerie and ancient graveyard of forgotten power, now felt even more oppressive.
The weight of the relic pulsed in the air, like a heartbeat growing louder with each step they took. Kael kept a tight hold on Eiran, who was still weakened from the magical exertion of containing the relic.
Varya scouted ahead, her movements swift and silent as she checked for any signs of danger. Her eyes darted to the sky, then back to the path before them.
"We're being followed," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for only Kael to hear.Kael's grip tightened on his sword. "Shadowborn?"
"Maybe. Or worse," Varya replied. "Their magic is different. I can feel it in the air. We need to move faster."
Eiran lifted his head, though exhaustion was etched across his face. "The relic's power… it's acting like a beacon. It's drawing them in."Kael's brows furrowed in concern.
"How long until it becomes unstable?"Eiran shook his head. "It's hard to say. Hours, maybe. Days if we're lucky."
Kael's jaw clenched. "We can't afford to stay here any longer. We need to find shelter, a place where we can regroup and figure out our next move."
The sky above them began to darken, not from nightfall, but from storm clouds gathering unnaturally fast. A deep rumble echoed in the distance, followed by the crackle of magic in the air. Kael's senses went on high alert.Varya stopped abruptly, holding up a hand.
"We're not alone."
Kael's eyes scanned the surroundings, and then he saw it—a figure moving through the mist, its form barely visible in the growing shadows. Tall, cloaked, and silent, the figure radiated an aura of malevolence.
It wasn't a Shadowborn, but something darker, more ancient."It's here for the relic," Eiran whispered, his voice hoarse.
"It's a Revenant."Varya cursed under her breath. "I thought those things were just legends."
"Legends have a way of finding us," Kael muttered, pulling Eiran behind him as the figure approached.
The Revenant stepped into view, its hooded face shrouded in shadow, but its eyes glowed with an unholy light. Its presence made the air feel colder, heavier. The relic, still contained within Eiran's magic, began to pulse in response, its glow intensifying as if it recognized the Revenant's power.
"Give it to me," the Revenant rasped, its voice a twisted echo of something once human. "You cannot contain what belongs to the darkness."
Kael's grip on his sword tightened, and he stepped forward. "We're not handing anything over to you."The Revenant didn't respond, but the air around it began to hum with dark magic. Shadows coiled at its feet, twisting and writhing as if alive. Its glowing eyes flickered, and the ground trembled as its power surged.Varya moved in an instant, drawing her daggers and leaping toward the Revenant with lightning speed.
But before she could strike, the shadows lashed out, blocking her path with a wall of impenetrable darkness.Kael rushed forward, swinging his sword with all his strength. The blade met resistance as it collided with the shadows, but he pressed on, determined to break through.
The Revenant raised its hand, and the shadows shifted, turning into jagged spikes aimed directly at Kael.Kael dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the attack. He landed beside Varya, breathing heavily as the shadows continued to swirl around them.
"It's too powerful!" Varya hissed, frustration etched in her face.Eiran staggered forward, his staff glowing faintly.
"We have to weaken it. It's tied to the relic's energy. If we disrupt the flow of magic, we can drive it back."
"Disrupt the magic?" Kael asked, glancing at Eiran. "How?"
"I can use the relic's energy to create a shockwave," Eiran explained, his voice strained. "But I'll need time to channel it. You have to keep it busy."Varya flashed a wicked grin.
"Keep it busy? I can do that."Before Kael could respond, Varya darted toward the Revenant again, her movements fluid as she dodged the shadows and struck at its defenses.
The Revenant countered, but Varya was quick, her daggers flashing in the dim light as she kept the creature's attention focused on her.Kael followed suit, charging in to assist.
He swung his sword at the Revenant's side, but the shadows blocked his blow. Still, he pressed on, moving in tandem with Varya as they worked to keep the Revenant distracted.
Meanwhile, Eiran knelt on the ground, his staff glowing brighter as he concentrated on the relic. The pulsing energy within it began to surge, responding to his magic. His face twisted in pain as he struggled to control the power, but he didn't falter.
The air around them crackled with tension, the storm clouds above swirling violently. The Revenant let out a guttural growl, sensing the growing threat. It turned its glowing eyes toward Eiran, its shadowy form rippling as it prepared to strike.
"Not so fast," Kael growled, leaping in front of the Revenant's path. He swung his sword with all his might, aiming for the creature's core. The blade connected, and for a brief moment, the shadows around the Revenant flickered and weakened.
Varya seized the opportunity, lunging at the Revenant's side and sinking her dagger deep into its form. The creature let out an unearthly scream, its body convulsing as the shadows recoiled in pain.
"Eiran! Now!" Kael shouted.Eiran's eyes snapped open, and with a final burst of energy, he released the magic.
A shockwave of blue light erupted from the relic, spreading outward and engulfing the entire area. The Revenant let out a horrific shriek as the light pierced through its shadowy form, tearing it apart.For a moment, the world was filled with blinding light.When the light faded, the Revenant was gone, its dark presence scattered to the wind.
The storm clouds above slowly began to dissipate, and the air around them grew still once more.Kael stood in the silence, his sword still raised as he took in the aftermath. Varya sheathed her daggers, her breathing heavy but steady.
Eiran collapsed to his knees, the last of his energy spent. Kael rushed to his side, catching him before he could fall any further.
"You did it," Kael said softly, his voice filled with relief.Eiran nodded weakly, his eyes closing as exhaustion overtook him.
"For now…"Varya approached, her expression grim. "We need to move. That thing won't be the last. And the relic's energy… it's only going to draw more attention."
Kael looked down at Eiran, his heart heavy with concern. "He's too weak to keep going. We need to find a safe place for him to rest."Varya glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the landscape.
"There's a cave nearby, not far from here. We can regroup there. But we can't stay for long."Kael nodded, lifting Eiran carefully in his arms.
"Lead the way."
As they made their way toward the cave, the weight of the relic hung over them like a dark shadow.
The battle with the Revenant had been a warning—a reminder that they were far from safe. And with the relic in their possession, the worst was yet to come.