The wind carried a faint chill as the group made their way along the forest trail, the dense canopy above filtering the late morning light into fragmented beams. The atmosphere was tense, each step forward punctuated by the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a branch underfoot.
Caden lagged slightly behind, his thoughts heavier than the supplies strapped to his back. The shard in his pocket pulsed faintly, a muted rhythm that felt less ominous but no less present. Every step felt like a reminder of its weight—both the physical and the metaphysical toll it had taken.
Garrick glanced back at him, his sharp gaze softening for a moment. "You're quiet."
Caden gave a weak shrug. "Just thinking."
"Dangerous habit," Kael chimed in from the front, her tone laced with sarcasm. She moved with practiced ease, her dagger glinting faintly as she spun it absently in her fingers. "Let me guess. You're wondering how many more times we'll have to run before we're cornered."
Caden frowned but didn't answer. She wasn't wrong.
Garrick sighed, his staff tapping against the dirt as they walked. "It's not just about running or fighting. The more fragments we find, the more visible we become. The Reclaimers don't take kindly to anyone interfering with their plans. And after what happened at the port, we're already on their radar."
"Then what's the plan?" Caden asked, frustration leaking into his voice. "Keep moving? Hope they stop chasing us?"
Kael snorted. "They won't. But running buys us time. Time we'll need if you want to figure out how to use that shiny piece of madness in your pocket without losing yourself."
"Kael's not wrong," Garrick admitted. "Every fragment we acquire puts us closer to understanding the System, but it also makes us a bigger target. We need to use that time wisely."
Caden glanced at Garrick. "And what's our next move?"
"There's another ruin," Garrick said. "One the Reclaimers are likely heading toward. It's older than the ones we've been to—tied to the System's early days. If there's a fragment there, it'll be significant."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "And you're sure about this?"
"No," Garrick said simply. "But I've seen maps, records. It's our best lead."
"Great," Kael muttered. "Another death trap waiting to happen."
The group stopped by a stream to rest, the sound of running water providing a rare moment of calm. Caden knelt by the bank, splashing cool water on his face as the shard's faint pulse thrummed in his pocket.
"Do you ever stop thinking about it?" Kael's voice startled him, and he turned to see her leaning against a nearby tree, her arms crossed.
"The shard?" he asked.
She nodded.
Caden hesitated. "It's always there. Like... a voice you can't quite hear but can't ignore, either."
Kael studied him, her expression unusually serious. "And how long do you think you can keep it that way before it stops whispering and starts shouting?"
He didn't answer, but the silence between them spoke volumes.
By late afternoon, the forest began to thin, the trail opening into a rolling expanse of hills. Garrick stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon.
"What is it?" Caden asked, his hand instinctively moving to his sword.
Garrick raised a hand for silence. "Something's wrong. There's a presence—several, actually."
Kael stepped forward, her movements quieter now. "Reclaimers?"
"Possibly," Garrick said. "But if it's them, they're not trying to hide."
As if in answer, the faint sound of voices carried on the wind. Garrick motioned for the group to move off the trail, leading them to a cluster of trees that provided cover. From their vantage point, they saw the source of the noise—a group of figures moving across the hills below.
"Reclaimers," Kael confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper. "A small patrol."
Caden's stomach twisted. There were five of them, their dark, hooded cloaks marking them unmistakably. Two carried weapons—swords strapped to their sides—while the others appeared to be unarmed.
"What are they doing out here?" Caden asked, keeping his voice low.
"Scouting," Garrick said. "Looking for us, most likely."
Kael smirked faintly. "Flattering, really. We've made quite the impression."
Caden glanced at Garrick. "Do we fight?"
"Not unless we have to," Garrick said firmly. "They're not heading toward the ruins. If we stay quiet, they might pass us by."
"And if they don't?"
"Then we make them regret it," Kael said, twirling her dagger.
The group remained hidden, watching as the patrol moved closer. The tension was palpable, every sound seeming louder in the stillness.
As the Reclaimers approached, one of them paused, turning sharply toward the trees. The others followed, their gazes sweeping the area with practiced precision.
"They know we're here," Garrick murmured, his grip on his staff tightening.
"Figures," Kael muttered. "They're always sniffing us out."
The lead Reclaimer raised a hand, signaling the others to spread out.
"They're going to flank us," Garrick said. "We need to move now."
Before they could act, one of the Reclaimers stepped forward, his voice carrying across the distance.
"There's no use hiding. We know you're here. Surrender the fragment, and we'll make this quick."
Kael laughed softly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Nice of them to offer, but I'm not a fan of their terms."
Caden felt the shard pulse sharply in his pocket, its energy surging in response to the Reclaimers' presence. He drew his sword, the weight of the weapon grounding him.
"No surrender," he said, his voice steady despite the fear coiling in his chest.
Garrick's eyes flashed with determination. "Then we fight. But we fight smart."
The battle began in a flash of movement, the Reclaimers closing the distance with unnerving speed. Garrick raised his staff, a shield of arcane light flaring to life as the first strike came.
Kael darted into the fray, her dagger a blur as she moved with deadly precision. Caden followed, his sword meeting the blade of a Reclaimer with a resounding clang.
The shard pulsed wildly as he fought, its energy coursing through him in sharp bursts. But he knew better than to push too far. The cost was always greater than it seemed.
"Caden!" Garrick shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Watch your left!"
Caden spun just in time to parry a strike, the force of the blow sending a jolt through his arms. The Reclaimer sneered, pressing the attack with relentless speed.
But Caden wasn't alone. Kael appeared behind the attacker, her dagger finding its mark. The Reclaimer crumpled, and Kael flashed Caden a quick smirk.
"Don't let your guard down, boy."
The battle was brief but brutal. When it was over, the Reclaimers lay motionless, their cloaks dark against the grass. Caden leaned heavily on his sword, his breaths ragged.
"They'll know we're here now," Garrick said, his tone grim. "We need to move. Quickly."
Caden nodded, his grip tightening on the shard. The Reclaimers had found them once, and they would find them again.
But for now, they had survived.
And survival was enough.