The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy as Kaelron sat by the remnants of their campfire, the weight of their actions at Dawnspire Cathedral heavy on his shoulders. The destruction of the nexus had bought them time, but the Whispered Flame's taunts echoed in his mind.
"You may delay the inevitable, but you cannot stop it," the bishop had said.
Kaelron's grip tightened on his staff as he stared into the smoldering ashes. Ignis lay nearby, her feathers dulled after the intense battle. Nyx approached, her expression grim but determined.
"We need to move," she said. "The longer we stay here, the more we risk the cult regrouping."
Kaelron nodded, rising to his feet. "Do we have a plan?"
Nyx gestured to a rough map spread across the ground. Zerin and Eryk knelt beside it, deep in discussion. "Elorin's notes mentioned two potential leads. We'll have to split up to cover them both."
Nyx pointed to a marked location on the map. "House Draymoor, one of the noble families in Lyndara, has deep connections to the cult. Zerin and I will infiltrate their estate and find out what they're hiding."
Kaelron frowned, his gaze shifting to another mark. "And the artifact?"
Eryk answered, his tone cautious. "There's a rumor about a relic tied to the Primordial Bonds hidden in the ruins of an old monastery north of here. If the cult hasn't found it yet, we need to secure it before they do."
Nyx's eyes met Kaelron's. "You and Eryk will handle that lead. If the relic is tied to the Bonds, it could give us an edge."
Kaelron hesitated, glancing at Ignis. "Splitting up is risky. If something goes wrong—"
Zerin cut him off with a wry smile. "We've faced worse odds. Besides, Nyx and I can handle ourselves. You just focus on the relic."
---
Nyx and Zerin traveled light, their path winding through quiet roads and dense woods until they reached the outskirts of the Draymoor estate. The sprawling manor was heavily guarded, its perimeter patrolled by robed figures.
"They're not subtle about their affiliations," Zerin muttered, his eyes scanning the guards.
Nyx smirked, her daggers glinting faintly in the dappled sunlight. "Subtlety isn't their strong suit. Let's see if we can slip in without drawing too much attention."
The pair waited until nightfall before making their move. Umbra led the way, the black panther's silent movements a perfect complement to Nyx's stealth. Zerin followed closely, his daggers ready as they scaled the estate's outer wall and slipped into the courtyard.
Inside, the signs of corruption were unmistakable. Shadow-forged weapons lined the walls of the estate's armory, and dark runes glowed faintly on the floor of the main hall.
"This isn't just a family with ties to the cult," Nyx whispered. "They're stockpiling weapons. Whatever they're planning, it's going to be big."
Zerin gestured toward a locked door at the end of the hall. "That looks promising."
Nyx nodded, working quickly to pick the lock. Inside, they found a room filled with documents and maps, some marked with the cult's sigil.
Zerin rifled through the papers, his brow furrowing. "They're moving something near the eastern border. Supplies, troops, and... artifacts."
Nyx frowned, her eyes narrowing. "Artifacts? Could they be connected to the Bonds?"
Zerin shook his head. "It's hard to tell, but this doesn't give us anything about the hidden shrines. They're keeping that information buried—if they even know it."
Their conversation was cut short as a shadowy figure stepped into the room, their eyes glowing faintly. "You shouldn't be here."
---
Kaelron and Eryk's journey to the northern monastery was uneventful at first, the quiet countryside a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. Frostbane trotted ahead, his frost-coated paws leaving faint imprints in the dirt.
Eryk broke the silence. "You've been quiet since Dawnspire."
Kaelron sighed, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. "I can't stop thinking about what the Whispered Flame said. What if we're missing something? What if the Maw isn't just destruction?"
Eryk slowed his pace, his tone measured. "Doubt is natural, Kael. But the Maw's actions speak for themselves. Villages destroyed, people corrupted—those aren't the actions of a savior."
Kaelron nodded, though unease lingered in his chest.
By the time they reached the ruins of the monastery, the sun had begun to set, casting long shadows across the crumbling stone walls. The air was heavy with an unnatural stillness, the faint hum of dormant magic lingering in the background.
"This place feels... wrong," Kaelron said, his staff glowing faintly as he stepped through the broken doorway.
Eryk followed, his frost wolf growling low. "Then we're probably in the right place."
Deep within the monastery, they found a small chamber, its walls etched with runes similar to those at the leyline nexus. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, upon which rested a crystalline artifact pulsing faintly with light.
Kaelron approached cautiously, his senses on high alert. "This must be the relic Elorin mentioned. It's tied to the Primordial Bonds—I can feel it."
As his hand neared the crystal, the air grew colder, and the shadows around them began to shift.
Eryk stepped forward, his frost wolf at his side. "We're not alone."
A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in dark robes and wielding a staff of twisted metal. Their voice was low and menacing. "You come for the relic, but you do not understand its purpose. Leave now, or face the consequences."
Kaelron gripped his staff, Ignis at his side. "We're not leaving without it."
The cloaked figure raised their staff, and the chamber erupted in chaos as shadowy tendrils lashed out, forcing Kaelron and Eryk into a desperate fight.