The morning air was brisk, the faint scent of pine and damp earth mingling with the soft rustle of leaves in the forest canopy. Caden adjusted the strap of his pack, the weight of the shard now less oppressive but ever present in the back of his mind. The clearing behind them was quiet, and the trail ahead wound deeper into the dense woods.
Garrick led the way, his staff tapping softly against the ground with each step. His injured arm hung close to his side, but his movements were steady, his presence commanding. Kael walked a few paces behind, her eyes scanning the trees, her dagger spinning idly in her hand.
Caden followed in silence, his thoughts tangled. The fragment's energy had stabilized the chaos within him, but the memory of the shard's whispers lingered, a dark echo he couldn't shake.
"Something's bothering you," Garrick said without turning.
Caden blinked, startled. "How do you know?"
"You're quiet," Garrick replied. "Quieter than usual. And you've been gripping that shard like it's trying to escape."
Caden loosened his grip on the shard in his pocket, though he didn't let go completely. "I'm fine."
"Fine is the last thing you are," Kael interjected with a smirk. "The question is, are you going to deal with it, or are we waiting for another breakdown?"
Caden scowled but didn't respond.
The trail eventually opened into a wide expanse of rolling hills. The forest thinned here, and the morning light spread across the grass in golden waves. In the distance, the faint outline of a town came into view, its wooden walls weathered but sturdy. Smoke rose lazily from chimneys, and the sound of distant bells carried on the wind.
"There it is," Garrick said, pausing at the crest of a hill. "Arden's Hollow. It's not much, but it's safe enough for now."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Safe? You're sure about that? The last 'safe' place we stopped nearly got us killed."
"It's safer than the port," Garrick said evenly.
As they approached the town, the dirt path became more defined, flanked by weathered wooden fences and grazing livestock. A pair of guards stood by the gates, their spears crossed casually in front of them.
"Halt," one of them said, his voice gruff but not hostile. "What brings you to Arden's Hollow?"
"Travelers," Garrick replied, his tone calm. "Looking for rest and information."
The guard eyed the group, his gaze lingering on Kael's dagger and the faintly glowing shard that Caden hadn't fully tucked away. "Keep your weapons sheathed, and don't cause trouble. We've had enough of that lately."
"Understood," Garrick said, leading the group through the gates.
Inside the town, the streets were narrow and uneven, lined with wooden buildings that leaned slightly from years of weathering. The people moved about their business with quiet efficiency, though their eyes occasionally darted toward the newcomers with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"This place feels... tense," Caden said, his voice low.
"Something's got them spooked," Kael observed, her sharp gaze scanning the crowd.
Garrick nodded. "We'll find out soon enough. First, we need a place to stay."
They found an inn near the center of town, its faded sign swinging creakily in the breeze. Inside, the air was warm, filled with the scent of roasted meat and stale ale. A stout woman behind the counter looked up as they entered, her eyes narrowing briefly before softening.
"Travelers?" she asked.
"Three rooms," Garrick said, sliding a small pouch of coins across the counter. "And information, if you have it."
The woman pocketed the coins and motioned toward the stairs. "Rooms are upstairs. Information depends on what you're looking for."
"Trouble," Kael said bluntly. "The kind that leaves people watching the gates like hawks."
The woman hesitated, then sighed. "Reclaimers. They passed through here a few days ago. Didn't stay long, but they were asking questions. About fragments, from what I heard."
Caden's stomach tightened. "Did they say where they were headed?"
"East," the woman said. "Toward the forest ruins. If you're smart, you'll steer clear. Those people don't leave survivors."
"We'll keep that in mind," Garrick said, his tone neutral.
Upstairs, the group gathered in Caden's room. The space was small but clean, with a single window overlooking the town square.
"So, the Reclaimers are heading for the ruins," Kael said, leaning against the wall. "What's the plan?"
"We stay here for a day," Garrick said. "Rest, resupply, and gather what information we can. Then we move."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Toward the ruins?"
"Eventually," Garrick said. "But not before we're ready. We can't afford to rush into another trap."
Caden sat on the edge of the bed, his gaze distant. The thought of the Reclaimers, the fragments, and the growing weight of the System churned in his mind.
"What if we're too late?" he asked quietly.
"We won't be," Garrick said firmly. "But even if they reach the ruins first, fragments are dangerous. If they're not careful, they'll end up facing the same dangers we have."
"Or worse," Kael added.
As night fell over Arden's Hollow, Caden found himself staring out the window, the faint glow of the shard reflecting in the glass. The town was quiet, its streets bathed in the soft glow of lanterns.
For the first time in days, the shard's whispers were silent, but the weight of its presence remained. The road ahead was uncertain, and the dangers were growing with each step.
But Caden clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He would face whatever lay ahead. The fragments, the Reclaimers, the System itself—none of it would break him.
Not again.