Aran's heart was pounding as the weight of Edward's revelation sank in. The Void's search for a vessel was a terrifying thought—one that could shift the balance of everything they had fought for. Their battle was no longer just about sealing the Nexuses, but about preventing a far greater catastrophe. If the Void found its vessel, it would be the end of the world as they knew it.
"We can't wait," Aran said, the urgency in his voice undeniable. "If the Void is growing impatient, it means we're running out of time. We need to act now."
Edward nodded, though his expression remained grave. "There's a way we might be able to track its movements—find out where it's focusing its efforts."
"How?" Lyssa asked, her brows furrowed. She stood behind Aran, her usual calm exterior cracking under the weight of the news.
Edward motioned toward the book he had been studying. "There are ancient spells—ones that can trace the Void's energy. They're dangerous and imprecise, but they might give us a lead."
"Dangerous how?" Seraphina asked, always the pragmatist.
Edward looked at her with a deep frown. "They require us to tap into the Void's power ourselves. Use it to trace its path. If we're not careful, it could consume us."
The room fell silent. Even the flickering of the fire seemed to still as the weight of Edward's words settled over the group. Aran could feel his pulse quicken. The idea of using the Void's energy, even for a good cause, was a terrifying gamble. But did they really have a choice?
Aran clenched his fist. "It's risky, but we don't have time to be cautious. If we can get even a hint of where the Void is focusing, we can strike first."
Lyssa glanced at him, her face etched with worry. "Aran, are you sure? Using the Void's power... it's not something we can take lightly."
He met her gaze, seeing the concern in her eyes. "I know it's dangerous. But this is bigger than us. If we don't act, the Void will find its vessel, and all of this will have been for nothing."
Edward took a deep breath and nodded, his old hands trembling slightly as he began flipping through the pages of the tome once more. "There is a ritual. One that should allow us to tap into the Void's energy without fully succumbing to it. But we'll need to prepare."
Aran watched as Edward scrawled symbols into the air with glowing fingers, the magic coming to life before his eyes. Ancient runes he had never seen before flickered in the air like embers, their shapes twisting and writhing as if alive.
"We'll need to gather a few things," Edward said, his voice tinged with both authority and caution. "The spell requires ingredients of considerable power—items linked to both light and darkness, to counterbalance the Void's influence."
Seraphina stood up, her eyes narrowed with determination. "What do we need?"
Edward closed the book and faced the group. "First, we need a fragment of a starstone—a rare mineral that's said to contain the essence of light itself. Then, we need the blood of a creature touched by the Void, something that has been tainted but not fully consumed."
"Where can we find a starstone?" Aran asked, already mentally preparing for their next move.
"There are rumors of a fragment deep within the Nightfall Caverns," Edward said. "It's a dangerous place, filled with creatures drawn to its dark magic. But if the rumors are true, the starstone has been there for centuries."
Lyssa frowned. "And the blood?"
Edward hesitated. "There are creatures that have been touched by the Void wandering the wastelands. But... there's another option."
"What option?" Seraphina pressed, her voice sharp.
Edward met Aran's eyes, his face pale. "You. You've already been marked by the Void, Aran. It's faint, but it's there."
Aran's blood ran cold. The mark... the dark energy he had felt pulsing through his veins during their previous battles. He had tried to suppress it, to ignore it. But now, it seemed that very mark could be the key to the ritual.
"I can't ask you to do that," Lyssa said, her voice thick with emotion. "It's too dangerous."
Aran shook his head. "We don't have a choice. If using my blood means stopping the Void, then that's what we'll do."
Edward nodded solemnly. "It should work. But be careful, Aran. The more we tap into the Void, the more it will try to pull you in. You'll need to fight it—resist it at all costs."
Aran's jaw tightened. He had fought the Void's influence before. He could do it again. "We'll leave for the Nightfall Caverns at dawn."
Seraphina nodded. "I'll prepare supplies."
Lyssa remained silent, her arms crossed as she looked at Aran, worry etched into every line of her face. But she knew, just as they all did, that this was the only way forward.
The night passed in uneasy silence, the group gathering what they could and preparing for the dangerous journey ahead. Aran spent the hours before dawn in quiet contemplation, his mind racing with thoughts of the Void's growing power and what it would mean if they failed.
By the time the sun began to rise, casting a pale light over the Sanctuary, they were ready. With Edward's guidance, they would find the starstone, gather the materials they needed, and perform the ritual. It was a dangerous plan, but it was the only one they had.
As they stepped through the portal Edward conjured, Aran felt a strange sense of finality settle over him. The Nightfall Caverns were just the first step. The real battle—the one against the Void's vessel—was still to come.
And this time, failure was not an option.