The group left the ruins of the Erythian Spire under a sky tinged with pale gray, the morning sun struggling to pierce through the lingering mist. Lynx's legs ached from the battle with the guardian, but the shard now nestled alongside its twin in his satchel weighed heavier than any fatigue.
Kael led the way down the uneven path, her movements brisk despite the tension that clung to them like a second skin. Vera followed close behind, her hand never straying far from her dagger. Veryl, bringing up the rear, tried to mask his unease with his usual smirk, though the lines of tension in his face betrayed him.
"Two down," Veryl said, his voice cutting through the silence. "How many more to go?"
"Five," Kael replied without turning. "If Malrik's knowledge holds."
"Wonderful," Veryl muttered. "Just enough to keep things interesting."
Lynx tightened his grip on the satchel as the shard inside pulsed faintly. Its hum had become a constant presence, a thread of energy that connected it to him in ways he couldn't fully understand. He exchanged a glance with Vera, whose expression mirrored his unease.
"We need to talk about the shards," Vera said, her voice low. "What happens if we actually manage to gather them all?"
Kael stopped abruptly, turning to face the group. "That's not a concern for now. Our focus is keeping them out of the queen's hands. Anything beyond that is a problem for another day."
"But it will be a problem," Vera pressed. "We've seen what even a single shard can do. If they're reunited—"
Kael's gaze hardened. "Then we ensure they're destroyed. That's the only way to neutralize their power."
Lynx hesitated, his mismatched eyes fixed on the satchel. "What if we can't destroy them?"
Kael didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned and resumed walking, her silence heavier than any words she could have spoken.
By midday, they reached a narrow valley bordered by jagged cliffs. The air grew warmer as the mist cleared, revealing a winding river that cut through the rocky terrain. The group stopped to rest near the water's edge, their horses drinking eagerly from the cool stream.
Lynx sat on a smooth boulder, staring at the shard as it rested in his hand. The faint glow of its runes seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. It felt alive, as if it were watching him as much as he was studying it.
"You shouldn't keep it out like that," Kael said, approaching him. Her tone was sharp, but there was an undercurrent of concern. "The shard's energy is dangerous, even to those who think they can control it."
Lynx slipped the shard back into the satchel, his jaw tightening. "I wasn't trying to control it. I just… needed to see it."
Kael's gaze softened slightly. "I get it. The shards have a way of pulling at you. That's why we have to stay vigilant. They thrive on weakness."
"Is that what happened to the founders?" Lynx asked. "Did the shards corrupt them?"
Kael hesitated before nodding. "In part. The Amplifier was meant to unify their power, to create something greater than the sum of its parts. But they underestimated its influence. The shards fed on their ambition, their fears, their doubts. It turned them against each other."
Lynx swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling over him like a shroud. "Then why are we even trying to find them? Why not leave them buried?"
"Because the queen won't," Kael said simply. "If we don't act, she will. And she won't make the same mistakes the founders did. She'll wield the shards with purpose, and she'll use them to cement her rule forever."
The group set out again as the sun dipped lower in the sky, its golden light casting long shadows across the valley. The trail grew steeper as they climbed, the terrain shifting from rocky outcroppings to dense forest. The shard's hum remained constant, a steady rhythm that seemed to grow louder with each passing hour.
As night fell, they made camp in a small clearing surrounded by towering pines. The fire crackled softly, its warmth a welcome comfort against the cool night air. Vera sat sharpening her dagger, her eyes darting to the shadows beyond the firelight. Veryl leaned against a tree, his gaze fixed on the stars above.
"Do you think it's worth it?" Vera asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the quiet.
Lynx looked at her, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
"All of this," she said, gesturing vaguely. "The shards, the danger, the uncertainty. Do you think it's worth risking everything?"
Lynx hesitated, the weight of her question pressing down on him. Finally, he spoke, his voice quiet but firm. "I don't know if it's worth it. But I know we can't do nothing. If we don't try, then the queen wins. And I can't live with that."
Vera nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I just hope we're strong enough to see this through."
"We are," Veryl said, his voice unusually serious. "We have to be."
The fire crackled softly as the group fell into a contemplative silence. The shard's hum continued to resonate in the background, a constant reminder of the path they had chosen and the price they might have to pay.
As Lynx stared into the flames, he couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was only beginning—and that the true test of their resolve lay ahead.