The crystalline relic pulsed faintly atop its pedestal, casting an eerie glow across the dim chamber. Shadows danced along the cracked walls as Kaelron and Eryk stood still, their eyes locked on the figure in the dark robes before them.
"You have no claim to this relic," the guardian said, their voice an echoing growl. The shadows around them writhed, taking on menacing forms that seemed to reach for Kaelron and Eryk. "It is a key meant for those who understand its purpose, and you do not."
Kaelron stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "We're here to stop the corruption spreading from the Maw. If this relic is tied to the Bonds, it belongs with those fighting to protect them."
Eryk moved cautiously to Kaelron's side, Frostbane growling low. "We don't have time for riddles. If the cult finds this, we're all done for."
The guardian tilted their head, the shadows deepening around them. "The cult does not understand its power either. But you... you will only bring ruin faster."
Before Kaelron could respond, the guardian raised their staff, unleashing a wave of shadowy tendrils that lashed out violently.
Kaelron merged with Ignis in a burst of fiery light, his flames roaring to life as he deflected the tendrils with a sweeping arc of his staff. The heat illuminated the chamber, casting stark contrasts against the encroaching darkness.
Eryk darted to the side, summoning ice shards with a flick of his hand. Frostbane leapt into action, slashing through the tendrils with frost-coated claws, freezing parts of the dark energy in place.
"They're feeding off the shadows in this room," Kaelron shouted, his flames struggling to maintain their strength. "We have to disrupt their source!"
Eryk hurled a barrage of ice shards at the guardian, forcing them to retreat momentarily. "Easier said than done. Whatever they're pulling from, it's not normal magic."
The guardian swung their staff, creating a wave of dark energy that sent Kaelron and Eryk skidding backward. Ignis let out a piercing cry, her fiery wings flaring as she shielded Kaelron from the worst of the blast.
"We need to pin them down!" Kaelron called out, focusing his energy into a concentrated burst of fire. The flames surged forward, forcing the guardian into the center of the chamber.
As the battle raged, the relic began to glow more intensely, its light flickering in tandem with the energy Kaelron and Eryk unleashed. The runes on the walls pulsed in response, creating ripples of magic that spread through the chamber.
Kaelron felt the relic's pull, its power resonating deeply with his merging magic. For a moment, he faltered, his connection to Ignis trembling under the weight of the relic's energy.
"It's reacting to you," Eryk shouted, his frost wolf lunging at the guardian to keep them at bay.
Kaelron nodded, his grip tightening on his staff. "I know, but I can't tell if it's helping or trying to take control."
The guardian seemed to sense the shift, their voice rising with urgency. "You cannot wield it! The relic's power is beyond your comprehension!"
Kaelron ignored their warning, directing Ignis toward the pedestal. The guardian let out a snarl, shadowy tendrils lashing out to block their path, but Eryk intercepted them with a barrage of frost magic.
Kaelron reached the pedestal, his hand hovering over the relic as the guardian let out a desperate cry. "You think this will save you, but it will only bring ruin! The Bonds cannot hold forever!"
Kaelron's fingers brushed the relic's surface, and a surge of energy shot through him, forcing him to his knees. For a brief moment, the world around him dissolved, replaced by a vision of the Primordial Bonds—brilliant threads of light spanning the realms, frayed and breaking under an invisible force.
The vision shifted, showing glimpses of the Eternal Maw's influence: villages consumed by darkness, guardians corrupted, and the delicate balance of the Bonds unraveling.
Kaelron gasped, his connection to Ignis flaring as the relic's power stabilized in his hands. The guardian let out a final, anguished cry as the shadows around them dissolved, their form crumbling into ash.
Eryk helped Kaelron to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he studied the relic. "You okay? What did you see?"
Kaelron shook his head, his voice shaky. "The Bonds... they're weaker than we thought. The Maw isn't just spreading corruption—it's tearing the Bonds apart entirely."
Eryk's expression hardened. "Then we need to act fast. If the cult gets their hands on anything else tied to the Bonds..."
Kaelron nodded, though the unease in his chest lingered. The relic's power was undeniable, but the vision had left him with more questions than answers.
As they stepped out of the chamber, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The relic's activation had destabilized the ancient magic binding the monastery together.
"We need to move—now!" Eryk shouted, leading the way through the crumbling corridors.
Kaelron followed, Ignis soaring overhead as debris rained down around them. Frostbane barked urgently, guiding them toward the exit just as the ruins collapsed behind them.
Once outside, Kaelron glanced back at the ruins, his thoughts heavy. The relic's faint glow cast long shadows across the forest floor, a reminder of the power now in their possession.
Eryk broke the silence. "That guardian said the relic was a key. Do you think they meant to the hidden shrines?"
Kaelron frowned, his grip tightening on the relic. "Maybe. Or maybe it's tied to something even bigger. Either way, we need to figure it out before the cult does."
Eryk nodded, his frost wolf pacing beside him. "Let's regroup with Nyx and Zerin. If they've found anything useful, we might be able to connect the dots."
As the two set off into the forest, Kaelron couldn't shake the guardian's parting words: "The Bonds cannot hold forever." The Maw's threat loomed larger than ever, and the weight of their mission pressed heavily on his shoulders.