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The sun had long since set as the group made their way out of the Forgotten Depths. Their steps echoed through the dimly lit corridors of the ancient temple, and Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him. The Forgotten Lord was gone, yes, but something lingered in the air, like a whisper from the past, just out of reach.
Kaelen ran a hand through his hair, trying to push away the gnawing feeling in his chest. "We did what we came for," he muttered to himself, though he knew something wasn't right.
"Kaelen," Seraphine's voice cut through his thoughts, her tone steady but tinged with concern. "Are you alright?"
He glanced over at her, noticing the fatigue in her eyes despite her usual calm demeanor. The battle had taken a toll on all of them. Lira walked slightly ahead, eyes sharp as ever, but even she couldn't hide the exhaustion that hung over her like a cloak.
"I'm fine," Kaelen replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking."
Seraphine raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You've been thinking a lot lately. Ever since the storm… the one inside you, I mean." Her eyes studied him closely, and Kaelen couldn't help but feel as if she could see straight through him. "What's going on, Kaelen? You're different."
He stopped walking, his eyes narrowing as he looked into the darkness ahead. "I know," he admitted. "I feel it too. The storm… it's not just a power anymore. It's something more." He clenched his fists, feeling the energy flare within him like a restless beast. "It's… like it's alive."
Seraphine didn't say anything at first. She simply studied him with a mixture of concern and curiosity. After a moment, she spoke quietly, "You're not the only one who's changed."
Kaelen blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"
Seraphine's eyes darkened as she glanced back toward the depths they had just emerged from. "There's more to this place. More to the Forgotten Lord's awakening than just a powerful being seeking freedom." She took a breath, steadying herself. "The magic here—it's ancient, Kaelen. It's tied to something deeper, something older than even this temple."
Kaelen felt a cold chill creep down his spine. The storm within him swirled restlessly at the thought, as if eager to reach out and grasp the unknown. "And what does that have to do with me?"
Seraphine hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know, but I have a feeling it's tied to your powers. You were chosen, Kaelen. You didn't just stumble upon this storm. It's connected to the world in a way you don't understand yet."
Kaelen's mind raced as he tried to process her words. He had always known there was something different about his powers, but the truth of it, the sheer weight of it, was starting to settle in. The storm, the rage, the darkness—it had been growing inside him since the moment he first awakened the system.
"Chosen?" he muttered under his breath. "What do you mean by that?"
Before Seraphine could answer, Garak's voice rang out from the front of the group. "Oi, are we going to stand around all day, or are we going to get out of here before something else tries to kill us?"
Kaelen smiled grimly at Garak's usual bravado. He had always admired Garak's ability to keep things light in the face of danger. But right now, Kaelen wasn't sure if humor would be enough to get them out of what they had just unleashed.
"We're going," Kaelen called back. "Let's move."
The group continued through the ancient corridors, their steps quickening as the oppressive darkness seemed to press in on them from all sides. The further they walked, the more Kaelen felt the weight of the Forgotten Lord's presence looming behind them, like a shadow they couldn't escape.
As they neared the exit, Lira paused, her head tilted as if she were listening for something. "Do you hear that?" she asked, her voice low.
Kaelen paused and listened carefully. At first, he heard nothing. But then, like a whisper carried on the wind, a faint voice reached his ears. It was barely audible, but he recognized the tone—it was the Forgotten Lord's voice.
"You cannot escape me," it echoed, the words crawling into Kaelen's mind like a creeping disease. "I am the beginning and the end. I was born of the chaos before time, and I shall return. You cannot outrun your fate."
Kaelen felt his breath catch in his throat, the voice reverberating in his skull. It was like a distant memory, one he couldn't quite grasp.
Seraphine's eyes widened as she too heard the voice. "It's in your head," she said urgently. "The Lord's influence—it's not over. He's still—"
Before she could finish, the ground beneath them trembled once again. A low rumble echoed through the passage, and the stone walls groaned in protest.
"We need to go. Now," Kaelen said, a sense of urgency flooding through him. "Whatever this is, we can't stay here."
The group broke into a run, racing toward the exit. The dark magic swirling behind them seemed to chase them down, but they pushed forward, driven by the need to escape whatever force was now haunting them.
As they burst through the entrance to the temple, the fresh night air hit them like a wall. They had made it—barely—but Kaelen's heart still pounded in his chest.
Lira glanced back at the temple, her eyes narrowed. "I don't like this," she muttered. "That voice… it's not just a threat. It feels like a promise."
Kaelen stood silently, staring at the darkened temple in the distance. The storm inside him still raged, twisting and turning, its power churning like a deep well. There was no escape from it—not now, not ever. The Forgotten Lord had awakened something within him, something far darker than he had ever realized.
"We can't let our guard down," Kaelen said, his voice firm. "This isn't over. Whatever we've unleashed, it's just the beginning."
Seraphine nodded, her expression serious. "The storm inside you… it's not just a weapon, Kaelen. It's a curse. And unless we figure out how to control it, we're all going to be consumed by it."
Kaelen looked into the distance, where the dark sky stretched endlessly before them. The weight of what he had unleashed pressed on him, but he had no choice now. They had to press on, to uncover the secrets of his powers, the curse within him, and whatever the Forgotten Lord's true intentions were.
But as the wind howled in the distance, Kaelen couldn't shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come.
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