Back in his room, Elysian unwrapped the shard carefully, setting it on a table before him. The Fragment of Shadow pulsed faintly, its dark energy filling the room with a strange, suffocating aura. He felt its pull, a deep, ancient power that seemed to whisper secrets just beyond his grasp.
"Aria," he called, his voice steady, "analyze the fragment's magical signature. I want to know everything about its composition and energy output."
Aria's light flickered as she responded. "The fragment contains highly concentrated dark magic, bound by intricate spells that link it to the Veil of Shadows. It is designed to amplify and channel dark energy, making it useful for powerful spells or as a mana source for summoning."
Elysian nodded, taking mental notes. The more he studied it, the more he realized that this fragment could be invaluable for understanding the demon lord's magic. But he couldn't ignore the risks; even holding it felt like stepping into a web of darkness, one that could easily trap the unprepared.
As he examined the fragment, memories from his time as the top player in the game resurfaced. This was an artifact that had only ever been rumored, a relic that granted unimaginable power. The shard was known to grant its user abilities beyond their limits, but with the risk of corrupting them with dark magic.
"Fascinating," he murmured, almost to himself. "This could be a powerful tool—or a deadly trap."
Just then, he heard a soft knock. Startled, he quickly covered the shard and opened the door. Kaela stood outside, looking unusually tense.
"We have a problem," she said, her voice low. "There's been another sighting of those creatures—the ones we saw in the forest. This time, they attacked a traveling merchant on the road."
Elysian frowned, his mind racing. These creatures were appearing too frequently, and now that he had the fragment, he had a sinking feeling that there was a connection.
"Did the merchant make it?" he asked, already reaching for his staff.
Kaela nodded. "He's injured, but he survived. Garroth is keeping him in the guild hall. He thought you might want to speak with him."
Elysian agreed, quickly wrapping the fragment and stowing it in his pack. He needed answers, and if these creatures were drawn to the shard, it was only a matter of time before something worse came for him.
At the guild hall, the merchant lay on a cot, his face pale and bruised. His clothes were torn, and his arm was bandaged where one of the creatures had bitten him. Garroth stood nearby, his expression grim.
"Elysian," Garroth greeted him with a nod. "This is Roderick, one of our frequent travelers. He says he was attacked on the main road just a few hours ago."
Elysian approached Roderick, who looked up with weary eyes. "Can you tell me what happened?" he asked gently.
Roderick shuddered, his hand trembling as he recalled the attack. "I was just walking, same as usual, when I heard this…this awful growling. When I turned, I saw them—those creatures, with the red eyes and scales. They came out of nowhere, like shadows come to life."
"Did they say or do anything unusual?" Elysian pressed. "Anything that seemed intelligent?"
Roderick shook his head. "No. They just attacked. They didn't even seem to care about my goods—they were only focused on… me."
Elysian glanced at Garroth, then back to Roderick. "Thank you, Roderick. Rest here for now."
Once they were out of earshot, Garroth turned to Elysian. "This is getting worse. We can't have travelers being attacked by creatures from the Veil of Shadows."
"I agree," Elysian replied. "There's a force behind these creatures. They're not acting on their own—they're being drawn by something." He paused, thinking of the shard. "I'll keep investigating. If this keeps happening, we'll need to consider stronger defenses for the village."
Back in his room, Elysian sat down with the fragment once more, determined to find a way to use it without succumbing to its influence. He couldn't afford to wait for answers—whatever power was behind the attacks was growing stronger, and it wouldn't be long before the village itself became a target.
"Aria," he called, his voice steady. "Give me a list of spells that would allow me to harness this fragment without risking corruption."
"Searching," Aria replied. After a moment, she said, "There are containment spells in the grimoire that could shield you from its influence, though they require significant mana to maintain. Additionally, I have located a purification spell that may reduce its dark influence temporarily."
"Perfect," he murmured, his eyes glinting with determination. "Let's try the containment spell."
He opened the grimoire and carefully drew the containment circle around the shard, focusing his mana into each symbol. The air around the fragment shimmered, creating a barrier that pulsed faintly with light. For a moment, he felt the oppressive darkness lessen, its influence no longer reaching him directly.
"Containment complete," Aria confirmed. "The fragment's dark energy should remain sealed within the barrier for the time being."
Elysian sighed in relief, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. With the containment in place, he could study the fragment safely, unraveling its secrets without risking his own soul.
Just as he was about to continue, however, he heard another knock at the door—this time, a soft, hesitant tapping. He opened the door to find Kaela standing there again, her face pale.
"Elysian," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "There's… someone at the village gate. They're asking for you by name."
He frowned. "Who is it?"
She shook her head, looking unsettled. "I don't know. They're cloaked, and they wouldn't give a name. But they said they've come to deliver a message."
His heart raced with a mixture of curiosity and caution. The timing was too perfect—just as he'd begun investigating the fragment, a mysterious figure appeared, claiming to have a message for him.
"Lead the way," he said, gripping his staff tightly.
At the village gate, a figure cloaked in black stood silently, their face obscured by the hood. The air around them felt heavy, filled with an unsettling presence that made Elysian's instincts scream in warning.
As he approached, the figure looked up, revealing eyes that glowed faintly beneath the hood. A shiver ran down Elysian's spine—those eyes were all too familiar, reminiscent of the creatures they'd encountered in the forest.
"You are Elysian, the sage," the figure spoke, their voice cold and hollow. "I bring a message from the one who lies beyond the Veil."
Elysian's grip on his staff tightened. "And what message is that?"
The figure extended a hand, palm upturned, revealing a small black crystal identical to the one in his room. "The shadows are stirring. The ancient seals are weakening. Return what you have taken, or suffer the wrath of the dark."
Elysian narrowed his eyes, not moving an inch. "Who are you? And why should I heed your threats?"
The figure let out a low, dark laugh. "I am but a messenger. You meddle in powers you cannot hope to understand, sage. The one beyond the Veil will reclaim what is his, no matter how many times he must tear it from your grasp."
With that, the figure dissolved into shadows, vanishing as if they'd never been there at all. Elysian stood there, his mind racing. Whoever—or whatever—was behind these attacks had been watching him closely, aware of his every move.
Kaela, who had been watching from a distance, approached cautiously. "Elysian… what does this mean?"
"It means," he replied, his voice low and resolute, "that we're dealing with more than just creatures or remnants of dark magic. There's a force behind this—one that wants the power of the demon lord restored."
He glanced back at her, determination in his gaze. "I'm going to find out who they are, Kaela. And I'm going to stop them before they bring that power back into this world."