The air was heavy with the scent of moss and rain as Kaelron and Eryk pushed through the dense undergrowth. The fragment's pulse was growing stronger, sending faint ripples of energy through Kaelron's satchel with every step they took. The gryphon padded beside him, its golden eyes scanning their surroundings, while Frostfang prowled ahead, his ears swiveling at the slightest sound.
"We're close," Eryk said, his voice low but firm. "The shrine should be just beyond this ridge."
Kaelron glanced at the fragment's faint glow through the satchel's fabric. Its presence had been a constant weight on his mind since the battle with the corrupted tamer. The fragment whispered to him sometimes, faint words he couldn't quite decipher, like voices from a dream.
"We'd better hurry," Kaelron said. "If I can feel this thing, so can the Guild—and probably the shadow beasts too."
Eryk gave a curt nod, but Kaelron didn't miss the tension in his companion's shoulders. Something was bothering him, and Kaelron had a feeling it wasn't just the fragment.
---
The ridge leveled out, and the forest opened into a wide clearing. At its center stood a stone shrine, ancient and weathered, with thick vines snaking up its walls. Runes similar to those on the fragment were etched into the stones, glowing faintly in the dim light. The air around the shrine hummed with energy, a sensation that made the hair on Kaelron's arms stand on end.
"This is it," Eryk said, his voice quieter now. "The second shrine."
Kaelron stepped forward cautiously, his gryphon close behind. As they neared the shrine, the fragment's glow grew stronger, its pulse synchronizing with the rhythm of the runes.
Eryk hesitated, his hand resting on Frostfang's back. "Kaelron, before we—"
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Kaelron froze, his grip tightening on his staff. The gryphon let out a low growl, and Frostfang's fur bristled. Emerging from the treeline was Lady Serina Nyx, her silver hair gleaming like a blade in the faint light. Behind her were five Guild tamers, each accompanied by their beasts—a mix of wolves, hawks, and a sleek, armored drake.
"Well," Nyx said, her cold gaze locking onto Kaelron. "This saves me the trouble of tracking you down again."
---
Kaelron stepped in front of the shrine, his staff glowing faintly with flames. The gryphon moved to his side, its wings partially extended in a protective stance.
"Nyx," Kaelron said, his voice steady despite his racing heart. "We're not giving you the fragment."
Nyx raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Still so stubborn, Kaelron. I warned you before—this artifact is too dangerous for someone like you to handle. Give it to me, and I might consider letting you and your friend walk away."
Eryk scoffed, his blade already in his hand. "We both know that's a lie."
Nyx's smile faded, and her shadow panther prowled forward, its violet eyes glowing ominously. "This isn't a negotiation. You're meddling in forces you don't understand. The fragment must be contained, or the Eternal Maw's corruption will spread faster than you can imagine."
"And you think locking it away with the Guild will stop that?" Kaelron shot back. "I've seen what the fragment can do. It's connected to the Primordial Bonds—and I'm starting to think the Guild knows a lot more about this than they're letting on."
Nyx's eyes narrowed. "Careful, Kaelron. You're treading on dangerous ground."
Kaelron took a step forward, his flames flaring. "Maybe it's time someone did."
---
Nyx's expression hardened. "So be it. Take them."
The Guild tamers sprang into action, their beasts charging toward the shrine. Kaelron raised his staff, flames erupting around him as he swung it toward the nearest attacker. The gryphon screeched and leapt into the air, diving at an armored drake and raking its talons across the beast's flank.
Eryk and Frostfang moved together like a well-oiled machine, the wolf's icy breath freezing the ground as Eryk struck at a hawk-like beast that swooped low to attack.
Kaelron focused on Nyx, who strode forward with calm precision, her shadow panther at her side.
"You're strong," she said, dodging a burst of fire from Kaelron's staff. "But strength without control is useless. The Guild could teach you discipline, Kaelron. You wouldn't have to run anymore."
"I'm not running," Kaelron said, merging with his gryphon in a burst of golden light. Flames and feathers swirled around him as his body transformed, talons replacing his feet and fiery wings sprouting from his back. "I'm fighting—for the truth."
Nyx's panther lunged, but Kaelron was faster. He leapt into the air, striking the beast with a burst of flame that forced it back. Nyx countered with a wave of dark energy, but Kaelron deflected it with his flaming claws.
---
As the battle raged, Kaelron noticed something strange. The fragment's pulse had grown erratic, its energy resonating not just with the shrine, but also with Nyx's attacks.
"Nyx," Kaelron shouted, dodging another strike from her panther. "You know what this fragment really is, don't you?"
Nyx hesitated for the briefest moment, but it was enough.
"The Guild's been hunting merging magic users like me because of this, hasn't it?" Kaelron pressed, flames blazing brighter. "You're not trying to protect the world—you're trying to control it!"
Nyx's eyes flashed with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Then tell me!" Kaelron demanded.
Nyx didn't answer. Instead, she raised her hand, and her panther leapt at Kaelron again, forcing him back toward the shrine.
---
The fragment's glow intensified, its pulse becoming a deafening hum that vibrated through the air. Kaelron felt its energy pulling at him, and he realized with a start that the shrine was reacting to their battle.
"Eryk!" Kaelron shouted. "We have to stop—something's happening!"
Eryk glanced over, his blade locking against a Guild tamer's spear. "What are you talking about?"
Before Kaelron could respond, the runes on the shrine flared to life. A wave of energy erupted from its center, knocking everyone off their feet. The fragment in Kaelron's satchel shot into the air, hovering above the shrine as the runes spun around it like a whirlpool of light.
Nyx stared at the display, her expression a mix of awe and fear. "What have you done?"
The light coalesced into a spectral figure—a humanoid shape with shifting, indistinct features and eyes that burned with golden fire. The figure's voice echoed, deep and resonant.
"Who dares disturb the balance of the Bonds?"
Kaelron staggered to his feet, his hybrid form fading as the energy overwhelmed him. "What… what are you?"
The figure's gaze turned to him, and for a moment, Kaelron felt as though his very soul was being laid bare.
"You carry the fragment of a Bond broken long ago," the figure said. "The Eternal Maw seeks to destroy what remains, and yet you bring its power here. Explain yourself, tamer."
---
Kaelron's mouth went dry, his mind racing for an answer. Behind him, Nyx rose to her feet, her expression grim.
"This is why the fragment cannot remain with you," she said. "It's too dangerous."
The figure's fiery eyes turned to Nyx. "And you, servant of the Guild… Your kind has meddled with the Bonds before. You are no less guilty."
The light around the shrine pulsed, growing brighter with every passing moment. Kaelron stepped forward, his resolve hardening despite the chaos.
"I don't know what's happening," he said, his voice steady, "but I'm going to find out. And I'm not letting the Maw destroy everything."
The figure studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Then prove yourself, tamer. The trial begins now."
Before Kaelron could ask what it meant, the light consumed the clearing, plunging him into the unknown.