The forest felt alive with tension. Every creak of a branch and rustle of leaves made Kaelron's skin crawl as he and Eryk pressed deeper into the wilderness. The gryphon's wings were tucked tightly against its body as it padded silently alongside them, its golden eyes scanning the shadows. Frostfang prowled ahead, his ears swiveling at the slightest noise.
The crown fragment in Kaelron's satchel pulsed faintly, a slow, rhythmic beat that matched his unease.
"How much farther?" Kaelron asked, his voice low.
Eryk glanced over his shoulder, his face tense. "Not far. There's a clearing ahead where we can rest. But stay alert—this area isn't safe."
Kaelron rolled his eyes. "Nothing has been safe since you showed up with that fragment."
Eryk didn't respond, but Kaelron caught the faintest flicker of guilt in his expression.
---
The clearing was eerily quiet. Moonlight spilled through the treetops, illuminating a patch of soft moss that looked almost inviting compared to the rough terrain they'd been traversing. Eryk crouched near the edge, inspecting the ground.
"No tracks," he muttered. "We should be fine here for a while."
Kaelron sat down heavily, his body aching from the long trek. The gryphon lay beside him, its feathers glinting faintly in the light. Frostfang curled up near Eryk, his icy breath creating small clouds in the cool night air.
Kaelron pulled the fragment from his satchel, turning it over in his hands. The runes etched into its surface glowed faintly, their patterns shifting in ways that made his head spin if he stared too long.
"It's getting stronger," he said quietly.
Eryk sat across from him, his face unreadable. "The closer we get to the next shrine, the more active it will become. The energy it's connected to… it's ancient. Powerful."
Kaelron frowned. "You've been vague about this from the start. What do you really know about the fragment?"
Eryk hesitated, his gaze flickering to the fragment. "Enough to know it's dangerous. Enough to know it can't fall into the wrong hands."
Kaelron narrowed his eyes. "That's not an answer."
Before Eryk could respond, Frostfang let out a low growl. The wolf-like beast rose to its feet, its icy fur bristling. The gryphon followed suit, letting out a sharp, warning screech.
Kaelron shot to his feet, gripping his staff. "What is it?"
The shadows at the edge of the clearing shifted, rippling like water. A figure stepped forward, their movements fluid and unnatural.
"Kaelron Veil," the figure said, their voice a distorted echo. "You've been making quite a mess."
---
The figure stepped into the moonlight, revealing a tamer clad in dark, tattered armor. Their eyes glowed with a sickly violet light, and a shadowy aura pulsed around them like a living thing. Beside them stood a creature unlike any Kaelron had seen—a massive, blackened serpent with smoke-like scales and glowing purple fangs.
Kaelron's grip on his staff tightened. "Who are you?"
The corrupted tamer smiled, their teeth unnaturally sharp. "Names mean little now. I am a servant of the Eternal Maw, as you soon will be."
Eryk stepped forward, his blade drawn. "You've been following us."
The tamer's glowing eyes flicked to Eryk, and their smile widened. "And you've been running. But the Maw is patient. It always gets what it wants."
Kaelron glanced at the fragment in his hand, its glow intensifying. "You want this," he said.
The corrupted tamer tilted their head. "The fragment belongs to the Maw. Return it, and perhaps it will show you mercy."
"Not a chance," Kaelron said.
The tamer's smile twisted into a snarl. "So be it."
The shadow serpent lunged.
---
The gryphon launched into the air with a screech, its talons glowing as it dived at the serpent. Frostfang charged forward, his icy breath freezing the ground beneath him as he snapped at the serpent's tail.
Kaelron swung his staff, unleashing a burst of fire that struck the corrupted tamer. They staggered but recovered quickly, their shadowy aura absorbing some of the damage.
"You've barely scratched the surface of your power," the tamer taunted, summoning tendrils of darkness that lashed out at Kaelron.
Kaelron dodged, the tendrils narrowly missing him. He reached out through his bond to the gryphon, feeling its strength surge into him. Flames erupted around his arms as his merging magic activated, transforming him into his hybrid form.
The gryphon dived again, its talons raking across the serpent's back. The beast let out a deafening hiss, coiling around Frostfang in an attempt to crush him.
"Frostfang!" Eryk shouted, slashing at the serpent with his blade. The weapon glowed with frost, biting into the serpent's smoky scales.
Kaelron focused on the corrupted tamer, closing the distance between them. His flaming claws struck out, forcing them to retreat.
"You're fighting the inevitable," the tamer hissed, their voice distorted. "The Maw's influence spreads with every passing moment. You cannot stop it."
Kaelron growled, flames swirling around him. "We'll see about that."
---
The battle raged, but Kaelron quickly realized the corrupted tamer and their serpent were not ordinary foes. Every time he struck the tamer, their shadowy aura absorbed part of the damage, and the serpent's attacks became more erratic, as though it was feeding off the fragment's energy.
"We can't keep this up!" Kaelron shouted to Eryk.
Eryk glanced at the fragment. "The serpent's tied to it. If we break its connection, we might have a chance."
Kaelron gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He reached out to the fragment through his bond with the gryphon, feeling its energy resonate with his own.
"Cover me!" he called.
Eryk nodded, slashing at the serpent to draw its attention. Frostfang leapt in, sinking his teeth into the beast's tail as the gryphon attacked from above.
Kaelron focused on the fragment, its glow growing brighter as he channeled his magic into it. The runes on its surface shifted, pulsing in time with his heart.
The corrupted tamer's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"
"Ending this," Kaelron said, unleashing a surge of flame-infused energy into the fragment.
---
The fragment erupted in a burst of light, sending a shockwave through the clearing. The shadow serpent let out an ear-splitting hiss before dissolving into ash, its smoky form disintegrating.
The corrupted tamer staggered, their shadowy aura flickering. They glared at Kaelron, their voice a distorted growl. "This isn't over."
Before Kaelron could react, the tamer vanished into the shadows, leaving only a faint echo of their presence.
Kaelron fell to his knees, the fragment dimming in his hand. The gryphon landed beside him, its feathers singed but intact.
Eryk approached, Frostfang at his side. "You okay?"
Kaelron nodded, though his body ached. "What was that?"
"A warning," Eryk said grimly. "The Maw's influence is spreading faster than I thought."
Kaelron looked down at the fragment, its glow faint but steady. "We need to reach the shrine. Whatever this thing is, we have to stop it before it's too late."
Eryk nodded, his expression serious. "Then we move quickly. The Maw won't wait."
As they set off again, Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling that the corrupted tamer's words were more than just a threat. The Eternal Maw was watching—and it was only a matter of time before it struck again.