After what felt like hours of walking, the dense forest finally gave way to an open clearing. In the middle of it stood an ancient structure, half-buried in the earth. The air around it felt strange—thick with magic, almost suffocating. You could feel the Shard pulsing against your chest as if it recognized this place.
"This must be it," Kael said, wiping the sweat from his brow. His eyes scanned the structure warily. "The first of the ruins."
The ruin was massive, with crumbling stone walls and broken columns covered in moss and vines. Despite its age, there was an undeniable sense of power radiating from it. Symbols that you couldn't recognize were carved into the stone, glowing faintly under the blood-red sky. The place felt ancient, older than anything you had ever seen, and yet it still held a mysterious energy that buzzed in the air.
"We need to be careful," Selene warned, her voice low. She was eyeing the entrance with caution. "Places like this are usually filled with traps, and worse."
You took a step forward, the weight of the Shard feeling heavier with every step. "I can sense it… The power of the guardian is inside. It's close."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "Let's get this over with."
The three of you approached the entrance, a gaping hole in the side of the ruin that led into darkness. The air inside was cool, but there was a faint hum that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. As you stepped inside, the dim light from outside barely illuminated the interior, casting long shadows across the stone walls.
The further you went, the darker it became, until you were forced to light a torch. The flame flickered, casting a dim orange glow over the narrow corridor. Ancient murals covered the walls, depicting scenes of battle, magic, and creatures that looked half-human, half-beast. Some of the figures resembled the guardians the elder had spoken of.
"I don't like this," Selene muttered. "There's something wrong here."
You could feel it too—the oppressive weight of magic thickening the air. The Shard pulsed in rhythm with the strange energy of the ruin, almost as if it was calling to something deeper inside.
Suddenly, Kael stopped in his tracks, holding up his hand. "Wait."
The sound of grinding stone echoed through the hallway, followed by the unmistakable click of a mechanism activating. Before you could react, the floor beneath you shifted.
"Trap!" Kael yelled, leaping backward just as the floor collapsed into a pit. You and Selene scrambled to avoid falling in, barely managing to stay on solid ground.
Selene cursed under her breath. "This place is trying to kill us."
"This is only the beginning," Kael said grimly. "We need to stay sharp."
You looked down into the pit, your heart pounding. Sharp spikes lined the bottom—death would have been swift if you had fallen. Shaking off the fear, you pressed on, moving deeper into the ruin.
After what seemed like an eternity, you reached a large chamber. The ceiling stretched high above, with more of the glowing symbols lining the walls. In the center of the room was a pedestal, and sitting on top of it was a stone tablet, engraved with ancient runes.
"This must be it," Selene whispered, her eyes wide. "The tablet that leads to the guardian."
Kael approached cautiously, his sword drawn. "Stay back. We don't know what could happen if we touch it."
But the Shard in your chest was practically screaming now, its energy thrumming through your veins. You knew you had to be the one to approach. The tablet was calling to you—just like the Shard had.
Ignoring Kael's warning, you stepped forward, placing your hand on the cold stone of the tablet. The moment your fingers touched it, the room erupted in light. The runes on the walls flared to life, bathing the entire chamber in a brilliant glow.
The ground shook violently, and a loud, inhuman roar echoed through the ruin. The air became thick with power, and suddenly, the light coalesced in the center of the room, taking form.
A massive figure appeared before you, towering at least ten feet tall. It was humanoid, but its body was made entirely of stone, its eyes glowing with the same strange light that filled the chamber.
"The first guardian," Kael muttered, stepping back, his eyes wide.
The guardian raised its stone fist and brought it crashing down toward you with terrifying speed.
You barely had time to react. The Shard flared up inside you, instinctively unleashing a shield of energy that deflected the blow. But the force of the impact sent you staggering back.
"It's too strong!" Selene yelled, drawing her dagger.
Kael charged forward, his sword aimed at the guardian's exposed chest. His blade struck stone, but it barely made a dent. The guardian roared again, swinging its arm toward Kael, who barely dodged in time.
"This thing won't go down easily!" Kael growled.
You clenched your fists, feeling the Shard's power surging inside you. You had to control it—use it to defeat the guardian. But the more you tapped into it, the harder it became to keep yourself grounded.
The guardian moved toward you, its glowing eyes locked onto your form. You could feel its power radiating off of it, ancient and overwhelming. But there was something else too—something deep within the guardian that resonated with the Shard.
You took a deep breath, steadying yourself. This was it. You had to use the Shard's power, but you had to control it. Slowly, you reached inside, pulling at the energy of the Shard, letting it flow through you.
The air around you crackled with energy as the Shard's power erupted, enveloping you in a bright aura. The guardian hesitated, its glowing eyes flickering as if it recognized the power within you.
With a shout, you unleashed the energy toward the guardian. The blast of power struck its chest, and this time, the stone cracked. The guardian let out a roar of pain, stumbling back as pieces of its body crumbled away.
Kael and Selene took advantage of the opening. Kael's sword struck true, slicing through the weakened stone, while Selene's dagger found its mark, piercing the guardian's core.
With one final roar, the guardian collapsed, its body shattering into pieces.
The chamber fell silent.
You stood there, panting, your body trembling from the exertion of using the Shard's power. The guardian was defeated, but you could feel the toll it had taken on you. The power of the Shard was growing stronger, and controlling it was becoming harder.
Kael approached, placing a hand on your shoulder. "You did it."
Selene smiled faintly, though her eyes were filled with concern. "That was just the first one. There are still more guardians out there."
You nodded, the weight of your task settling heavily on your shoulders. The journey was far from over, and each step brought you closer to unlocking the full power of the Shard—and the dangers that came with it.
But for now, you had defeated the first guardian. And the path to the next ruin lay ahead.