The jungle was alive with whispers. Kaelron's group moved cautiously, their steps muffled by the damp earth. The canopy above was so dense that only thin shafts of moonlight pierced through, casting eerie patterns on the ground. The fragment in Kaelron's satchel pulsed faintly, like the heartbeat of a sleeping beast.
Eryk walked beside him, his greatsword slung over his shoulder, while the three Guild enforcers followed closely. Their eyes darted to every shadow, their weapons ready. Frostfang, Eryk's wolf, prowled ahead, its low growls a warning of the corruption saturating the jungle. Ignis, ever vigilant, moved beside Kaelron, her golden feathers glowing faintly in the dim light.
Kaelron glanced at Eryk. "How close do you think we are to the shrine?"
"Closer than I'd like," Eryk muttered, scanning the surroundings. "The air's too heavy. The corruption's stronger here."
Kaelron nodded, the fragment pulsing harder with each step. His visions of the shrine's guardian battling shadow beasts were growing more frequent and vivid, a sign that time was running out.
Suddenly, Frostfang froze, its ears flicking forward. A deep growl rumbled in its throat, and Ignis let out a low trill. Kaelron raised his staff, his body tensing. "Something's here," he said quietly.
The jungle fell silent, the usual hum of insects and distant calls of animals eerily absent. Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged.
The figure was cloaked, their face obscured by a hood. Their movements were slow and deliberate, as if wary of the group. Kaelron and Eryk raised their weapons, the enforcers fanning out behind them.
"Who's there?" Eryk barked, his voice cutting through the silence.
The figure stopped a few paces away, raising their hands in a gesture of surrender. "Easy now," they said, their voice low and raspy. "I'm not here to fight."
Kaelron narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you here? People don't just wander the jungle at night."
The stranger pulled back their hood, revealing a gaunt face with sharp features. Their eyes, a piercing green, glowed faintly in the darkness—a sign of someone who had been touched by the Maw's corruption but had not fully succumbed.
"My name is Maevor," they said. "I used to be one of them—a cultist. But not anymore."
Eryk's grip on his sword tightened. "Convenient. And why should we believe you?"
Maevor took a cautious step forward, their hands still raised. "Because I know what they're planning. The ritual at the shrine—it's more than just an attack on the guardian. If they succeed, the Maw's corruption will spread across the entire jungle. It will be unstoppable."
Kaelron exchanged a glance with Eryk. "If you're telling the truth, why are you helping us?"
"Because I've seen what the Maw does to people," Maevor said, their voice trembling slightly. "It promises salvation, but all it brings is ruin. I couldn't watch any longer. So I ran."
Eryk scoffed. "And now you want redemption? Spare me the sob story."
Kaelron held up a hand to stop Eryk. "If what you're saying is true, we don't have time to argue. What do you know about the ritual?"
Maevor lowered their hands, their expression grim. "The cult is using the shrine's guardian as a conduit. They're siphoning its energy to weaken the shrine's defenses, but that's just the first step. Once the guardian is fully corrupted, it will become a weapon for the Maw—an unstoppable force bound to their will."
Kaelron felt a chill run down his spine. His visions of the guardian locked in battle suddenly made sense. "And the ritual? How do we stop it?"
"There's a nexus deep within the shrine," Maevor explained. "That's where the cultists are focusing their energy. Destroying it will sever their connection to the guardian and stop the corruption from spreading further."
Eryk frowned. "And how do we know you're not leading us into a trap?"
"You don't," Maevor admitted. "But you're out of options. The longer you wait, the stronger the cult's hold on the shrine becomes. If you don't act now, it'll be too late."
Kaelron hesitated. Trusting Maevor was a risk, but they couldn't afford to ignore the warning. He turned to Eryk. "We don't have a choice. If Maevor can get us to the nexus, we have to try."
Eryk sighed, his expression begrudging. "Fine. But if this goes south, it's on you."
Kaelron nodded, turning back to Maevor. "Lead the way."
The group followed Maevor deeper into the jungle, the trees growing denser and the air heavier with
corruption. Frostfang and Ignis moved cautiously, their senses on high alert.
As they walked, Maevor spoke in hushed tones. "The cultists have spread corrupted wards throughout the jungle to keep intruders away. If we're not careful, we'll trigger them."
Kaelron frowned. "Wards? How do we avoid them?"
Maevor pointed to faint, glowing symbols carved into nearby trees. "Look for these. They're traps designed to summon shadow beasts if disturbed."
The group moved carefully, avoiding the marked trees as they pressed on. Despite their caution, the oppressive atmosphere of the jungle made every step feel like a risk.
Suddenly, Frostfang growled, and Maevor froze. "Wait," they whispered. "Something's ahead."
Kaelron peered through the underbrush, his heart pounding. In a clearing ahead, several cultists were gathered around a large, glowing crystal embedded in the ground. Shadow beasts prowled nearby, their violet eyes glowing with malice.
"That's one of the nexus points," Maevor said quietly. "They're using it to anchor their corruption to the shrine."
Eryk gripped his sword. "Then we take it out."
Kaelron nodded, gripping his staff. "Maren, Gryss, Talis—stay back and provide cover. Eryk, you're with me. Ignis, Frostfang, keep the beasts busy."
The group sprang into action. Ignis roared, flames igniting around her as she charged into the clearing. Frostfang followed, leaping at the nearest shadow beast and locking its jaws around its throat.
Kaelron unleashed a wave of fire from his staff, striking one of the cultists and disrupting their focus. Eryk charged in, his greatsword cleaving through another cultist with a single, brutal strike.
The remaining cultists retaliated, summoning tendrils of dark energy that lashed out at the group. Kaelron raised a shield of fire, deflecting the attacks as he pressed forward.
Maevor stayed at the edge of the clearing, their hands trembling as they chanted softly. A moment later, the glowing crystal dimmed slightly, and the shadow beasts faltered.
"They're weakening!" Maevor shouted. "Keep them distracted—I'll break the nexus!"
---
With Maevor's help, the group overpowered the cultists. As the last shadow beast fell, Maevor stepped forward, placing their hands on the crystal. They chanted in a language Kaelron didn't recognize, and the crystal shattered, releasing a burst of light that dispelled the lingering corruption.
The jungle grew quiet once more, the oppressive weight lifting slightly. Kaelron lowered his staff, breathing heavily. "That was close."
Eryk wiped blood from his blade, his expression grim. "Too close. Let's hope this wasn't a waste of time."
Maevor turned to face them, their expression weary but determined. "The nexus is destroyed, but the ritual isn't over. The main nexus is at the heart of the shrine. If we don't stop it, the corruption will spread again."
Kaelron nodded. "Then we keep moving."
As the group pressed on, Kaelron couldn't shake the feeling that Maevor wasn't telling them everything. But for now, they had no choice but to trust their unlikely ally.