The air was thick with tension as Lumumba, Amara, Jon, Solann, and a small group of soldiers made their way toward the fissure's source. The energy in the atmosphere grew heavier the closer they got, the ground beneath them pulsing faintly as if the earth itself was reacting to the dark magic. They had little time before the fissures would spread even further, threatening to consume not just the Western Kingdom, but the entire realm.
Solann walked silently ahead of the group, her eyes fixed on the path in front of her, though her expression was distant. She had reluctantly agreed to lead them to the central fissure, the one that was feeding all the others. But the closer they got, the more withdrawn she became, her body tense with an unspoken fear.
Jon stayed close to her side, his gaze flicking between Solann and Amara, who kept a careful distance behind them. He could sense the growing divide between Amara and himself, the tension that had been simmering since Solann had joined their group. It was becoming harder to ignore.
Lumumba, ever the observer, took note of the strained atmosphere. He wasn't one for deep emotional conversations, but even he could feel the storm brewing. The cracks within their group were widening, and with the battle against the Sovereign looming, those cracks were becoming dangerous.
They reached the edge of a dark, twisted forest, the trees gnarled and corrupted by the energy of the fissures. In the distance, a faint glow flickered, pulsing with dark magic. It was the heart of the fissure, the source they had been searching for.
Amara stopped, her eyes narrowing as she studied the unnatural light. "That's it. The central fissure." Her voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable edge of urgency. "If we destroy that, we can sever the Sovereign's connection to the rest of the kingdom."
Jon nodded, but his attention was focused on Solann. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her body rigid, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. He could see the fear in her eyes, the memories of everything the fissures had taken from her. But he also saw something else—a deep, growing anger.
"Are you alright?" Jon asked quietly, stepping closer to her.
Solann didn't respond at first, her gaze fixed on the dark glow ahead. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and strained. "It's stronger than I thought. I can feel it… calling to me."
Jon placed a hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "You don't have to listen to it. You're stronger than that."
Solann glanced at him, her expression conflicted. "What if I'm not?"
Before Jon could respond, Amara stepped forward, her voice sharp with impatience. "We need to move. The longer we wait, the more time the Sovereign has to strengthen the fissures. Solann, can you lead us through?"
Solann tensed at Amara's words, her eyes darkening. "I know the way. But once we get there, it's up to you to destroy it."
Amara nodded, though her gaze lingered on Solann for a moment longer than necessary. There was caution in her eyes, a flicker of doubt that Jon didn't miss.
As they moved deeper into the forest, the ground beneath them began to shift, the energy from the fissure pulsing stronger with each step. The trees around them twisted further, their branches clawing at the sky like grasping hands. Lumumba's hand rested on the hilt of one of his sabers, his senses alert. He didn't trust this place, and the dark magic swirling in the air made his skin crawl.
"So, any chance we could just blow this thing up from a distance and call it a day?" Lumumba asked, his tone light, though his grip on his weapons tightened.
Amara shot him a look. "It's not that simple. The fissures are woven into the land itself. We need to destroy the heart of it from the inside."
Lumumba sighed, his usual grin returning. "Figures. Always the hard way."
As they neared the central fissure, the dark glow grew brighter, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. The energy here was palpable, thick and suffocating, as if the very air was tainted by the Sovereign's magic.
Solann stopped at the edge of a massive, swirling vortex of dark energy. The fissure pulsed before them, its edges crackling with chaotic magic, feeding off the land around it.
"This is it," Solann said, her voice tight. "The heart of the fissure."
Amara stepped forward, her hand already glowing with the beginnings of a spell. "We need to sever the connection before it spreads further."
But as she raised her hand, Solann flinched, her body trembling as the energy from the fissure seemed to pull at her, drawing her in. The connection between her and the fissures wasn't fully broken, and now, standing so close to the source, it was stronger than ever.
"Solann," Jon said urgently, stepping in front of her. "You don't have to do this. We can destroy it without you getting involved."
But Solann shook her head, her eyes glowing faintly with the remnants of the dark magic. "I'm the only one who can weaken it from the inside. You need me."
Amara hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she studied Solann. "We can't risk it. If the fissure pulls you in, we lose everything."
Jon's expression hardened, his voice sharp. "We don't have a choice. Solann's the only one who knows how to weaken it."
The tension between Jon and Amara flared, the unspoken conflict bubbling to the surface. Lumumba watched silently, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on all of them. If they let Solann approach the fissure, they risked losing her to the Sovereign's control. But without her, they might not have the power to stop it.
Solann stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the heart of the fissure. "I have to do this. I won't let the Sovereign win."
Amara opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, Solann raised her hand, dark magic swirling around her fingers. The fissure responded immediately, the energy crackling as it latched onto her magic, pulling her closer.
Jon's eyes widened in alarm. "Solann, wait—"
But it was too late. Solann stepped into the heart of the fissure, her body surrounded by the chaotic energy, her face twisted with concentration. She could feel the pull of the Sovereign's magic, the dark whispers that called to her, but she fought against it, pushing her own magic into the fissure, trying to sever the connection.
Amara stepped forward, her hands glowing with light as she prepared to cast her spell. "We need to act now. Jon, Lumumba—be ready."
Lumumba drew his sabers, his eyes locked on the swirling vortex of magic. "Let's end this."
As Amara began her incantation, the fissure pulsed violently, the energy within it growing unstable. Solann's magic clashed with the fissure's power, the two forces battling for control. But the longer she stayed inside, the stronger the pull of the fissure became.
Jon's heart pounded in his chest as he watched Solann struggle, her body trembling with the effort of holding back the dark magic. "Solann, you need to get out of there!"
Solann's voice was strained, her words barely audible over the roar of the fissure. "I… I can't… It's too strong—"
Before anyone could react, the fissure erupted in a violent explosion of energy, sending a shockwave through the clearing. Jon and Lumumba were thrown back, the force of the blast knocking them off their feet.
Amara staggered but held her ground, her magic still glowing as she fought to control the unstable energy. "We need to close it now!"
Jon scrambled to his feet, his eyes wild with panic as he searched for Solann. "Solann! Where is she?!"
Lumumba, dazed but still standing, scanned the clearing, his heart sinking as he saw the figure lying motionless near the edge of the fissure.
"Jon, she's over there!" Lumumba shouted, rushing toward Solann's limp form.
Jon reached her first, his hands shaking as he knelt beside her. "Solann… please, no…"
Her eyes fluttered open, weak and filled with pain. "I… I tried… I couldn't… stop it."
Jon's chest tightened, his voice breaking. "You did enough. We're going to get you out of here, okay? Just hold on."
But Solann shook her head, her breath shallow. "I can't… it's too late."
Amara approached, her expression filled with guilt and sorrow. "The fissure… it's still active. We need to close it now, or it will spread even further."
Jon glared at Amara, his voice filled with fury. "This is your fault! You pushed her into this!"
Amara flinched, but she didn't respond. There was nothing she could say that would make this right.
Solann's hand weakly reached for Jon's, her voice barely a whisper. "It wasn't… her fault. I made the choice. I just… I'm sorry."
Tears blurred Jon's vision as he held her hand, his heart shattering. "Don't leave me, Solann. Please. I can't lose you."
But Solann's eyes were already closing, her body growing still as the last of her strength faded away.