The sun crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the battlefield. Kael stayed by Eiran's side, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on his skin, a stark contrast to the cold grip of fear still lingering in his chest. Eiran was unconscious, his body utterly spent after containing the relic's power. His breathing was steady now, but Kael could see the toll the encounter had taken on him.
Kael gently brushed a hand over Eiran's cheek, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. "You're stronger than you know," Kael whispered, echoing his words from earlier. But as strong as Eiran was, Kael couldn't help but wonder—how much more could he take before the relic broke him?
The quiet moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Kael tensed, his hand immediately moving to the hilt of his sword, but then he recognized the figure emerging from the forest.
"Varya," he called out, relief washing over him as their companion stepped into view.
Varya's usually cool demeanor was marred by dirt and fatigue, her hair disheveled and her armor streaked with battle scars. Despite her appearance, her gaze was sharp as ever, scanning the area for threats. Her eyes landed on Eiran, and for a moment, her expression softened.
"I see you both made it," she said, coming to kneel beside them. She glanced at Eiran, her brow furrowing with concern. "What happened?"
Kael exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "He almost lost control of the relic. It was… close. Too close."
Varya's jaw tightened, her gaze shifting to the now-dim relic still pulsing faintly in Eiran's pack. "I told you this thing was dangerous," she muttered. "He shouldn't be carrying it. It's going to destroy him."
"I know," Kael admitted, his voice low. "But he's the only one who can handle it. At least for now."
Varya shook her head. "For how long, Kael? The relic's power is corrupting him, whether he admits it or not. You saw it. That wasn't Eiran back there—it was the relic controlling him."
Kael swallowed hard, the truth of her words stinging more than he wanted to admit. He had seen it—the moment when Eiran had become something else, something darker. The power had nearly consumed him, and even now, Kael wasn't sure how Eiran had pulled back from the brink.
"We have to find another way," Varya continued, her voice resolute. "Before it's too late."
Kael looked down at Eiran, his heart aching. "I know. But we can't just leave him to face this alone. If we take the relic from him now, it might break him. He feels like he has to do this."
Varya frowned, but she didn't argue. Instead, she placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "I'm not saying we abandon him. I'm saying we protect him—from the relic, from himself. You've always been his anchor, Kael. If anyone can keep him grounded, it's you."
Kael's grip tightened around Eiran's hand, a sense of determination settling over him. "I won't let him fall. Not while I'm still breathing."
Varya gave him a firm nod. "Then we need to move. The Raven Order won't be gone for long. They'll regroup, and when they do, they'll come back for the relic."
Kael nodded, carefully lifting Eiran into his arms. "We'll head for the safehouse at the northern ridge. It's the closest place we can rest and regroup."
Varya stood, her eyes scanning the treeline for any sign of movement. "I'll keep watch. Let's move quickly."
As they made their way through the forest, Kael kept his eyes on the path ahead, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about the power Eiran had unleashed, how it had almost consumed him. The battle with the Raven Order had shown just how dangerous the relic was becoming—and how much it was changing Eiran.
But beneath the fear, there was something else—something that Kael didn't want to admit, even to himself. The power that Eiran had wielded had been immense, terrifying even. And yet, a part of Kael had been in awe of it. He had seen Eiran stand against the Raven Order and emerge victorious, albeit at a great cost. That kind of power could change the course of the war against the Shadowborn.
But at what cost to Eiran?
The question haunted him as they continued their journey, the forest around them growing denser as they neared the northern ridge. Varya led the way, her sharp eyes and keen senses keeping them safe from any lurking threats. Kael followed closely, his arms never loosening their protective hold on Eiran.
After what felt like hours, they finally reached the safehouse—a small, abandoned structure nestled within the trees. It was old and weather-worn, but it would serve their purposes for now.
Varya pushed open the door, her expression tense as she scanned the interior. "It's empty. We're clear."
Kael nodded and carried Eiran inside, laying him gently on the floor. He knelt beside him, watching as Eiran's chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. The exhaustion was written across his features, but at least he was safe—for now.
"We need to talk about what comes next," Varya said quietly, coming to stand beside Kael.
Kael looked up at her, his expression grim. "You think we should destroy the relic."
Varya didn't hesitate. "Yes. It's too dangerous. If we keep it, the Raven Order will keep coming, and eventually, they'll succeed. And if that happens, Eiran won't just be carrying the relic—he'll be a weapon in their hands."
Kael's heart clenched at the thought. The image of Eiran, consumed by the relic's power and used by the Raven Order, flashed in his mind. He couldn't let that happen.
"But we can't destroy it without knowing how," Kael replied, his voice filled with uncertainty. "And even if we could… we don't know what kind of fallout it might have. The Shadowborn are tied to this thing. If we destroy it, it might trigger something worse."
Varya crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "So, what's the plan? Wait until the relic consumes him entirely? Hope we find another way before it's too late?"
Kael shook his head, standing up and facing her. "No. The plan is to keep fighting. To protect Eiran and find a way to sever his connection to the relic. There's got to be another way."
Varya exhaled slowly, her eyes softening. "I hope you're right, Kael. But we're running out of time."
Kael turned back to Eiran, his resolve hardening. He wasn't going to lose him—not to the relic, not to the Raven Order, not to anything.
As he knelt beside Eiran once more, he whispered a silent vow.
"We'll figure this out. I promise."