As the last echoes of the battle faded and the grove began to heal, Kael suddenly staggered, his breath hitching in his throat. His limbs trembled, and before anyone could react, he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. From the center of his chest, black tendrils of void energy began to snake out, spreading rapidly across his skin like dark veins. His expression twisted with pain as the corruption invaded his body, sinking deeper into his flesh.
The verdant magic that had entangled the monstrosity had drawn its vitality to rejuvenate the party, healing wounds and restoring their strength in the heat of battle. But there had been a terrible cost. As the magic wove through the corrupted creatures, it absorbed not only their life force but the essence of the void that had tainted them. And as the focal point of that magic, Kael had taken the brunt of the corruption. The darkness that had plagued the monstrosity now seeped into him, sinking into his bones, tainting his spirit.
"Kael!" Lireal cried, rushing to his side. She could see the shadows coursing through his veins, a sickly darkness spreading beneath his skin. She reached out, but a sharp wave of void energy surged from him, forcing her back.
Aldric stepped forward, his hammer still glowing with residual holy light. "Hold on, Kael!" He raised his hand, summoning the Light to cleanse the corruption from his friend. Divine energy poured into Kael's form, but the tendrils of darkness writhed in defiance, pushing back against the purifying magic. It was as if the void within him had taken root, resisting the light with a stubborn malevolence.
Nyxara, still weary from channeling the storm, knelt beside Kael, her brow furrowed with concern.
Nyxara, still weary from channeling the storm, knelt beside Kael, her brow furrowed with concern. As she reached out with her senses, she began to understand the grim reality of what had happened. Her vast knowledge of magic, built from years of study and practice, allowed her to perceive the energies coursing through him more clearly than anyone else.
"The nature magic you were using," she began, her voice edged with urgency, "it didn't just draw on the life force of the creatures—it also absorbed the essence of their corruption. The void that tainted those monstrosities has flooded into you, Kael."
Lireal's expression was stricken as she looked down at her fallen friend. "Then we have to get it out of him," she said, her voice wavering with fear and determination. "Can you cleanse it, Nyxara? Can we—"
"I'm not sure if it's that simple," Nyxara interrupted, frustration flickering across her features. "This isn't just a poison we can purge; it's an invasive magic. It's woven itself into his very being, latching onto his spirit like a parasite."
Aldric gripped his hammer tightly, his gaze flicking between Kael and Nyxara. "Then we have no choice but to burn it out," he said resolutely. He raised his hand again, summoning a radiant glow that seemed to grow in intensity. "If the Light can't cleanse this darkness, then nothing can."
Nyxara shook her head quickly. "No, wait! If you overwhelm him with too much holy energy, it could damage his spirit just as much as the void is." Her mind raced as she considered their options. "We need to counterbalance the void, not simply burn it away. The magic that healed us... it's still inside Kael, intertwined with the corruption. If we can amplify the restorative energies, we might be able to force the darkness out."
Lireal's eyes sparked with renewed hope. "Then we use the grove's vitality. The land has started to heal after the abomination's defeat—it might just have the strength to help Kael."
Aldric lowered his hand reluctantly. "If that's the path we must take, then let us begin," he said, casting a glance at Nyxara. "But how do we draw on the grove's magic?"
Aldric lowered his hand reluctantly. "If that's the path we must take, then let us begin," he said, casting a glance at Nyxara. "But how do we draw on the grove's magic?"
Before anyone could respond, a pulse of energy emanated from the totem in the center of the clearing. It sent a ripple through the air, causing the nearby foliage to stir as if awakening from a deep slumber. The totem, carved with various animal figures, now radiated a vibrant green glow. At its top, something new began to take shape, the wooden features shifting and twisting as if coming to life.
The figure that emerged was unlike any animal they had seen before. It wasn't a bear, stag, or owl, nor did it resemble the creatures of the forest that had always guarded these groves. Instead, a face took form—ancient, wise, and carved from the wood itself. The wooden visage had deep-set eyes that seemed to peer straight through to their souls, its expression solemn and commanding, as though the very essence of the grove was manifesting to answer their need.
The figure exuded a sense of ancient power, something that resonated with the life force of the grove itself. It was as though the grove had been waiting for this very moment, when its magic would be called upon to heal a great wound. The radiant energy from the totem intensified, pouring into Kael's limp form, enveloping him in a cocoon of light and life.
But even as the revitalizing energy surrounded him, Kael's body began to convulse. His skin darkened in patches, shadows curling from his veins like black smoke. His breathing became ragged, and his limbs twitched as the corruption fought back against the cleansing magic. The life-giving energy of the grove clashed with the void's taint, creating an unstable blend of forces within him.
The wooden face atop the totem seemed to react, its gaze narrowing as if focusing its power more intently. From its wooden lips, a low hum resonated throughout the clearing, a deep and melodic chant that vibrated through the ground beneath their feet. The grove's magic intensified, the light surrounding Kael pulsing in rhythm with the chant, each pulse pushing deeper into the darkness that stained his spirit.
Kael's vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges. He could no longer stay conscious; the conflicting energies overwhelmed his senses, dragging him into a state of deep unconsciousness. As his awareness faded, he felt something else stirring within him—a presence, ancient and whispering, lurking just beyond the veil of his mind.