The moon hung low, veiled by shifting clouds, as Calen's squad moved silently through the forest. The dense canopy swallowed their footsteps, each member attuned to the faintest rustle of leaves or crack of a twig. Calen's grip on his sword tightened as he scanned the terrain ahead. He felt the crystal's soft pulse through the fabric of his cloak—a reminder of its ever-present power, and its burden.
Behind him, Kira's hand flicked upward, signaling the group to halt. The Yaloran hunters melted into the shadows, their sharp eyes scanning the area ahead. Calen watched as Kira motioned to her team to proceed.
"Stay close," she whispered.
The group moved forward cautiously, but tension gripped the air. Calen couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
As they neared the edge of the forest, the first signs of Grathor appeared. Faint torchlights flickered on the horizon, and the unmistakable hum of magic wards vibrated in the air. Ronan, walking just behind Calen, muttered under his breath.
"Magical wards. More advanced than we've seen before. This isn't going to be simple."
Calen hesitated. He could feel the wards, a web of energy barring their path. It was intricate, meant to alert the garrison the moment someone crossed its threshold.
"We'll have to disarm it," Ronan added, kneeling to inspect the nearest node.
Before they could devise a plan, the crystal flared softly in Calen's hand, almost like it was responding to the barrier. He let out a frustrated sigh, knowing what he had to do.
"I'll handle it," Calen said, stepping forward.
"Wait," Seris interjected, her voice sharp but quiet. "Don't rely on the crystal unless you have no other choice. Use your magic first."
Calen nodded reluctantly. Closing his eyes, he summoned his own energy, weaving a spell to disrupt the ward's structure. For a moment, it seemed to work, but then the ward flared brighter, resisting his efforts.
With time running out, he finally tapped into the crystal's power. A surge of dark energy coursed through him, more potent than he anticipated. The ward dissolved, but the crystal's glow dimmed unnaturally, flickering as though fatigued.
Seris frowned. "It's draining too quickly. Be careful, Calen."
"I'll manage," Calen replied, though doubt gnawed at him.
Kira's team advanced first, slipping into the outskirts of Grathor like wraiths. Sentries fell silently, their bodies dragged into shadows before anyone noticed. The Yaloran hunters moved with deadly precision, cutting off communication routes and disabling alarms.
Ronan, flanking Calen, paused suddenly. "Something's off."
"What do you mean?" Calen asked.
"This part of the town—there should be patrols here. At least a few guards. But it's… silent."
The eerie stillness settled over the group like a heavy fog. The central hub of Grathor loomed ahead, its gates surprisingly unguarded.
"This feels wrong," Kira whispered, her bow at the ready.
"Keep moving," Calen said, though his gut twisted with unease.
As they reached the central square, the trap revealed itself. Shadows coalesced from the corners of the square, forming into humanoid figures with glowing red eyes. The shadow-enhanced soldiers emerged from the darkness, their movements unnatural and swift.
A guttural cry echoed through the square as the ambush was sprung. The shadow-enhanced soldiers moved with inhuman speed, their strikes precise and brutal. Calen's squad fought back fiercely, but the enemy's strength and agility overwhelmed them.
Calen raised the crystal, summoning a barrier of shadows to shield his comrades. The soldiers clawed at it, their movements frenzied, as if they were drawn to the crystal's energy.
"Fall back!" Seris shouted, her staff crackling with energy as she blasted a soldier off its feet.
"We can't retreat now!" Calen shouted back, his voice strained as he fought to maintain control of the crystal.
The crystal pulsed violently in his hand, resisting his commands. Its glow flickered erratically, and Calen felt a sharp pain in his chest as if the artifact were drawing from his very essence.
Retreat or Advance?
As the squad regrouped, the weight of the situation pressed on them. Half of the militia was down, some injured and others lifeless. Kira, bloodied but unbroken, approached Calen.
"We can't keep this up," she said. "We need to fall back and regroup."
"No," Calen said, his voice low but firm. "If we retreat, they'll secure the supply cache, and we'll lose everything we've worked for."
Seris stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "And if you keep using the crystal like this, you'll lose yourself, Calen. It's not worth it!"
But Calen made his choice. Closing his eyes, he channeled the crystal's power once more, summoning a massive wave of shadows that swept through the square. The shadow-enhanced soldiers faltered under the onslaught, giving the squad enough time to press forward.
By dawn, Grathor was theirs. The squad stood victorious but battered, their numbers depleted. Calen knelt in the square, the crystal dim and unsteady in his hand.