The first glimmer of dawn peeked through the twisted branches above, painting the forest floor in hues of gold and crimson. Kael led the group cautiously, his senses still on edge from the encounter with the wraiths. The air grew colder the farther they ventured, and an unnatural quiet had settled over the Wilds.
Kael's bond with Kaela hummed faintly, guiding him forward. They were close now. The waystone wasn't far.
Eryndra jogged up to him, her movements silent as a shadow. "I don't like this," she muttered. "The forest should be alive by now. Birds, insects—anything. This silence feels... wrong."
"It's not just the Wilds," Kael said. "The gods know we're coming. They're manipulating the land to funnel us toward something."
"Or someone," Eryndra said grimly, her hand brushing the bow at her back.
Thane brought up the rear, his expression a mixture of impatience and vigilance. "Whatever's waiting, we'll deal with it. Let's just get to that stone and see if it was worth all this trouble."
Kael didn't respond. His focus was ahead, where the faint glow of the waystone shimmered between the trees.
---
The Stone of Binding
The clearing came into view, and with it, the waystone. It stood taller than any Kael had seen before, its surface etched with ancient runes that pulsed with soft, blue light. The stone exuded a palpable energy, a mix of wild magic and something deeper—something older.
"It's beautiful," Eryndra whispered, her voice tinged with awe.
Thane grunted, hefting his axe. "It's a rock. Let's figure out what it does before we get all starry-eyed."
Kael approached cautiously, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. The waystone's magic seemed to react to him, the runes glowing brighter as he drew near.
Kaela's presence surged within him, her voice resonating in his mind. This is no ordinary waystone. It's a Stone of Binding.
"What does that mean?" Kael asked aloud, earning confused looks from Eryndra and Thane.
"It's a link," Kaela explained. A tether between the Wilds and the gods' realm. Destroy it, and you sever part of their control. But there's a cost.
Kael's blood ran cold. "What kind of cost?"
Kaela hesitated, her tone grave. The stone's magic will resist. It will fight back, and it will demand a sacrifice. If you're not strong enough, it could consume you.
Thane raised an eyebrow. "You're talking to the wolf again, aren't you? Care to share with the rest of us?"
Kael turned to his companions, his expression serious. "This waystone is tied to the gods' power. If we destroy it, we weaken their hold on the Wilds. But it won't be easy. The magic will fight back."
"Of course it will," Thane muttered. "Nothing's ever simple with you."
Eryndra stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the waystone. "How do we destroy it?"
Kael took a deep breath, his hand tightening around his dagger. "We channel the bond. Kaela and I will focus our energy into breaking the stone. But if something goes wrong..."
Eryndra's expression darkened. "You could die."
Kael nodded. "It's a risk we have to take."
---
The Ritual
Kael stepped closer to the waystone, his dagger glowing faintly in response to its magic. He could feel Kaela's energy surging within him, a steady rhythm that matched the pulsing runes.
Eryndra and Thane took up defensive positions around the clearing, their weapons at the ready. The refugees huddled together, their eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.
Kael placed his hand on the waystone. The surface was cold, but the magic within was alive, writhing like a caged beast.
Are you ready? Kaela asked.
Kael nodded. "Let's do this."
He closed his eyes, focusing on the bond. Kaela's energy flowed through him, mingling with his own. The runes on the waystone flared, and a low hum filled the air.
The resistance was immediate. The waystone's magic surged outward, pushing against Kael's efforts. He gritted his teeth, channeling more of Kaela's power into the stone.
The ground trembled, and the air grew heavy with pressure. Shadows began to swirl around the clearing, forming into indistinct shapes.
"They're coming!" Eryndra shouted, loosing an arrow at the nearest shadow.
Thane roared, his axe cleaving through another figure. "Whatever you're doing, Kael, do it faster!"
Kael ignored them, his focus entirely on the waystone. The runes were flickering now, their light alternating between blue and crimson. The stone's magic was fighting back harder, its energy searing through Kael like fire.
Don't stop, Kaela urged. We're almost there.
---
The Shattering
With a final surge of power, Kael drove his dagger into the heart of the waystone. The blade sank deep, and a blinding light erupted from the stone, illuminating the entire clearing.
The magic screamed, a deafening sound that echoed through the Wilds. Kael felt the energy recoil, shattering like glass beneath the weight of his and Kaela's combined will.
The waystone exploded, sending shards of glowing stone flying in all directions. Kael was thrown backward, his body hitting the ground hard.
For a moment, there was silence.
Eryndra was the first to reach him, kneeling by his side. "Kael! Are you okay?"
Kael groaned, his entire body aching. "I think... I think it worked."
Thane stood over them, his axe resting on his shoulder. "The stone's gone, and so are the shadows. You did it."
Kael sat up, his vision swimming. The clearing was quiet now, the oppressive energy replaced by a strange stillness.
But something was wrong.
Kaela's presence was faint, her voice barely a whisper. The bond... it's weakened. The magic... it took more than I expected.
Kael's heart sank. "Kaela?"
Her voice flickered like a dying flame. I'm still here. But we'll need time to recover.
Eryndra helped him to his feet, her expression a mix of relief and concern. "You destroyed the stone. That's a victory, right?"
Kael nodded, though his mind was heavy with doubt. The gods' power had been weakened, but at what cost?
As the group regrouped and prepared to move on, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The gods would retaliate, and the Wilds were far from tamed.
But for now, they had won. And that was enough.