Night had fallen by the time Eiran stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, and he groaned softly as he shifted, his body still aching from the overwhelming strain of containing the relic's power.
For a moment, he was disoriented, staring up at the wooden beams of the safehouse ceiling, unsure of where he was.Then he felt Kael's presence beside him, strong and steady. Eiran turned his head, and there he was—Kael, sitting close, his blue eyes filled with a mixture of concern and relief.
"Kael..." Eiran's voice was weak, but his heart surged with comfort at the sight of him. He tried to sit up, but Kael placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down."Don't move too fast," Kael said softly.
"You've been out for hours. You need to rest."Eiran sighed, sinking back into the makeshift bed. His mind raced with memories of the battle—how the relic had nearly overwhelmed him, how he had almost lost control.
His gaze flickered down to his hands, feeling the phantom echoes of the power that had coursed through him."I... I didn't mean for it to happen," Eiran whispered, his voice filled with guilt. "I thought I could control it, but it was too much. I almost—"
"Don't," Kael interrupted, his voice firm yet gentle. "You didn't lose yourself. You're still here, and that's all that matters."
Eiran's eyes softened, but the weight of what had happened still hung over him. "But I could have hurt you, Kael. I nearly did."Kael shook his head.
"You didn't. I trust you, Eiran. More than anyone."The sincerity in Kael's voice sent warmth flooding through Eiran's chest, but it didn't ease the fear gnawing at him.
The power of the relic was too great, too wild. He had felt it pulling him in, like a dark abyss he couldn't escape from. And next time, he might not be so lucky.
Before he could voice those concerns, Varya entered the room, her expression unreadable as she looked between them. "You're awake," she said, her voice steady, but Eiran could sense the tension beneath her calm exterior.Eiran nodded weakly.
"Yeah. Barely."Varya crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. "We need to talk about the relic. About what happened back there."Eiran winced, his hand instinctively moving toward the pack where the relic was stored, its presence always lingering in the back of his mind like a shadow.
"I know. I... I couldn't stop it. It's getting stronger, Varya. I'm losing control."Varya's expression hardened. "Then maybe it's time to reconsider keeping it. We should destroy it before it consumes you entirely."Eiran flinched at her words.
He knew she was right—part of him had known from the beginning that the relic's power was too dangerous, too volatile. But the thought of destroying it felt like giving up, like admitting that he wasn't strong enough."I can still control it," Eiran insisted, though his voice wavered. "I just need more time."
Kael's hand was still resting on his shoulder, a silent reassurance, but even he looked conflicted. "Eiran, I don't want to see you hurt by this. The power is changing you."Eiran's heart clenched, his gaze flicking between the two people he trusted most. They were right.
He knew it deep down, but the thought of surrendering the relic, of giving up the only weapon they had against the Shadowborn, terrified him.
"I... I can't," Eiran whispered, his voice cracking. "We need the relic if we're going to stand a chance. If I give it up, everything we've fought for—everything we've lost—will be for nothing."Varya's eyes flashed with frustration.
"It's not worth losing you, Eiran! You're not some tool to be used. We're your friends—we care about you. This relic isn't more important than your life."Silence hung heavy in the air, the weight of her words settling over them all. Eiran's mind was a whirlwind of doubt and fear.
He couldn't deny the truth of what she was saying, but the thought of destroying the relic felt like tearing a part of himself away.Kael, sensing the growing tension, stepped in. "We don't have to make a decision right now," he said gently, his eyes meeting Eiran's.
"Let's focus on getting stronger, on finding another way. We still have time."Eiran nodded, but deep down, he wasn't sure if time was on their side anymore.
As the days passed, the tension between the trio only grew. Eiran trained relentlessly, pushing his body to the limit, desperate to master the power of the relic. But no matter how hard he tried, the relic resisted him, its dark energy slipping through his control like sand through his fingers.
Kael watched him closely, always ready to step in, always offering quiet support. But even Kael couldn't ignore the changes. Eiran was more withdrawn, more irritable, as if the relic's power was starting to cloud his judgment.
There were moments when Eiran's eyes would glaze over, lost in the swirling currents of magic, and Kael would have to call him back to reality.Varya grew increasingly frustrated, her patience wearing thin as she watched Eiran struggle. She had made it clear from the start—she wanted the relic destroyed. And with each passing day, her stance hardened.
"We can't keep doing this," Varya said one evening, her voice tense as they gathered around the fire.
"Eiran, you're pushing yourself too hard. You're not the same anymore."Eiran didn't respond at first, his eyes focused on the fire, the flames casting shadows across his face.
"I'm fine," he muttered, though the exhaustion in his voice betrayed him.
"No, you're not," Varya said sharply. "And we can all see it. This relic is tearing you apart, and if you won't admit it, then I will. We need to destroy it before it's too late."
Eiran's jaw tightened, anger flaring in his chest. He looked up at her, his eyes blazing with a mixture of defiance and fear. "You don't understand," he snapped.
"This relic is the only thing keeping us from losing everything. If we destroy it, we'll be defenseless."Varya didn't back down.
"And if we keep it, you'll be the one we lose."The words hit Eiran like a blow, but instead of calming him, they only fueled his anger. He stood up abruptly, the force of his movement causing the flames to flicker.
"You think I'm weak? That I can't handle this?"Kael stood as well, placing a hand on Eiran's arm.
"Eiran, no one thinks that. We're just worried about you."Eiran shook him off, stepping back. "I'm not weak. I can control it. I just need more time."
"Eiran—" Kael started, but Eiran cut him off."No! I don't want to hear it." Eiran's voice cracked with frustration, his hands clenching into fists.
"You think I don't know what's happening to me? You think I don't feel it? I'm doing this for all of us. For you."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was nothing but the crackle of the fire and the distant sound of the wind.Kael's heart ached at the sight of Eiran, torn between his fear of the relic and his desperation to protect them.
"Eiran," he said softly, stepping closer.
"We don't want you to do this for us. We just want you to be safe."Eiran's gaze softened, but the fear remained.
"I don't know how to stop," he whispered, his voice barely audible.Kael reached out, gently cupping Eiran's face in his hands. "You're not alone. We'll figure it out. Together."
For a moment, Eiran leaned into his touch, his eyes closing as if seeking comfort. But then, as quickly as the moment had come, it passed.
Eiran pulled away, the walls he had built around himself rising once more."We don't have time to figure it out," he said, his voice hardening.
"We need to keep moving. The Raven Order won't stop."Varya stood, her eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and sadness.
"Then you're making a mistake."Eiran didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
And in that moment, Kael realized just how far Eiran had already drifted—how much the relic had changed him.
As the fire crackled between them, the bonds that had once held them together felt more fragile than ever.