Kael stepped cautiously into the massive chamber, his hand tightening around the shard. Its faint blue glow flickered, syncing with the faint hum in the cavern's air. The echoes of his footsteps were swallowed quickly by the sheer size of the space.
The shard pulsed weakly, a slow rhythm like a heartbeat.
"You are not alone here," the voice within the shard warned.
Kael gritted his teeth. "You don't say," he muttered.
He scanned the chamber, his nerves on edge. The hum grew louder, a low, almost melodic vibration that resonated in his chest. Something was here—something powerful. The shard's glow dimmed further, as if responding to the growing pressure.
Then, from somewhere behind him, a voice rang out. "Keep walking like that, and you'll hand yourself to him on a silver platter."
Kael whipped around, the shard flaring slightly in his grip. A figure emerged from the shadows—lean, armored, and impossibly composed. Her silver hair caught the faint light of the shard, her face sharp and unreadable.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, taking a step back.
The woman held up her hands in mock surrender, her lips curving into a faint smirk. "Relax, I'm not your enemy. Yet. Name's Aeris."
Kael didn't lower the shard. "How do I know that?"
"You don't." Aeris's smirk widened as she gestured toward the center of the chamber. "But if you keep standing here gawking, the guy hunting you is going to do a lot worse than introduce himself."
The shard pulsed violently, the light around them flickering.
"Move," the voice urged Kael, its tone sharper now. "The hunter approaches."
Kael turned his attention back to the center of the chamber. A figure was emerging from the gloom, broad-shouldered and clad in armor that shimmered faintly with Resonance energy. His face was partially obscured by a mask, but the intensity of his gaze was unmistakable.
"Rynar," Aeris muttered under her breath, stepping up beside Kael.
"You know him?" Kael asked.
Aeris nodded grimly. "He's Spiral Choir. One of their best enforcers. If he's here, it's for that shard."
Kael frowned. "And why are you here?"
Aeris didn't answer immediately, her gaze fixed on Rynar as he strode closer. "Let's just say I have my reasons. For now, I suggest you worry about staying alive."
Rynar stopped several paces away, his presence dominating the chamber. When he spoke, his voice was deep and steady, carrying an air of authority. "You are untrained. Unworthy. That shard does not belong to you."
Kael tightened his grip, stepping in front of Aeris. "Funny, because it doesn't seem to like you either."
Rynar tilted his head, unfazed. "You do not understand the power you hold. Hand it over, and I'll spare your life."
Kael snorted. "Yeah, I've heard that one before."
The moment the words left Kael's mouth, Rynar raised a hand, Resonance energy crackling to life around him. The air seemed to warp as he unleashed a wave of force, the sheer power of it sending Kael and Aeris scrambling for cover.
"Great plan," Aeris shouted, rolling behind a fallen pillar. "Got any other brilliant ideas?"
"Working on it!" Kael shouted back, ducking as another blast of energy tore through the chamber.
The shard flared in his hand, Resonance energy coursing through his veins. Kael could feel it responding to his desperation, its power ready to explode—but the memory of its backlash in the last fight held him back.
"Control it," the voice urged. "Focus your intent, or it will consume you."
Kael gritted his teeth, raising the shard. This time, he didn't let it overwhelm him. Instead, he guided the energy, directing it toward Rynar in a sharp, focused beam.
The Resonance struck true, forcing Rynar to stagger back. But the enforcer recovered quickly, his armor absorbing the brunt of the attack.
"Not bad," Aeris called out, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Now try not to die before you figure it out."
As the battle raged on, Kael grew more confident in wielding the shard's power. But Rynar's control over Resonance was leagues ahead of his own, every move precise and devastating.
It wasn't until Rynar landed a crushing blow, sending Kael sprawling across the chamber, that the shard reacted violently. Its light exploded outward in a wave of energy, enveloping the chamber in blinding blue light.
Rynar shielded himself, but even he couldn't withstand the force entirely. When the light faded, he stood on unsteady feet, glaring at Kael.
"This isn't over," Rynar growled before retreating into the shadows.
Kael collapsed to his knees, the shard dimming in his hand. His entire body ached, and his vision blurred.
Aeris approached cautiously, her expression unreadable. "You've got a death wish, don't you?"
Kael managed a weak smile. "You're still here, so I guess I'm not dead yet."
Aeris extended a hand, pulling him to his feet. "I don't know what that thing is, but if you keep using it like that, you're going to burn yourself out. Or worse."
Kael glanced at the shard, its faint glow pulsing weakly in his grip. "I don't think I have a choice."
"You always have a choice," Aeris said, turning toward the chamber's exit. "Come on. If Rynar's here, others won't be far behind. And next time, you might not be so lucky."
As they left the chamber, the shard pulsed faintly, its energy stabilizing. Kael glanced at Aeris, who walked a few paces ahead, her movements confident and controlled. For the first time since touching the shard, Kael felt like he wasn't entirely alone.