The flickering lights danced in the distance, weaving through the darkness like restless phantoms. Kael's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on the Void Chains. Beside him, Lysandra's dagger gleamed faintly, her expression a mask of focused intensity.
"What are they?" Kael whispered.
Lysandra's gaze didn't waver from the approaching lights. "Wraith Lanterns. They're not alive in the usual sense, but they hunt like a pack. One sees you, the others follow. And if they catch you…"
"They kill you?"
"No," Lysandra said grimly. "They take you. Your soul becomes one of theirs, a flickering light in the endless dark."
Kael's stomach churned. "And we're standing in their path?"
"They're drawn to Void energy," Lysandra explained. "Which means they're drawn to us."
As the Lanterns moved closer, Lysandra motioned for Kael to follow her down a narrow crevice between jagged rocks. The air grew colder as they descended, and Kael felt the oppressive weight of the Void pressing down on them.
"This is what the Wastelands do," Lysandra said as they crouched behind an outcropping. "They twist everything. People, animals, even the land itself. Nothing here is natural anymore."
Kael glanced around at the landscape. The rocks seemed to shimmer faintly, as though infused with Void energy. Pools of black liquid bubbled in the craters, and the distant mountains glowed with an unnatural light.
"How did it get this way?" he asked.
"The Void's influence spread after the Shattering," Lysandra explained. "No one knows exactly what caused it, but the legends say it was a catastrophic event—something that tore the barrier between our world and the Void."
Kael frowned. "The Shattering… could it have been someone like Adrian? Someone who tried to use the Void's power?"
Lysandra hesitated. "Maybe. Or maybe it was the Void itself, breaking through in search of something—or someone."
The weight of her words settled over Kael like a shroud. The Void wasn't just a force; it had intent. And Kael couldn't shake the feeling that he was part of its plan.
As they waited for the Lanterns to pass, Lysandra opened up more about her mark.
"I was a child when I first felt the Void," she said quietly. "It was a storm—black and endless. My village was swallowed whole. Everyone I knew, everyone I loved… gone."
Kael studied her, seeing the pain etched into her features. "But you survived."
"Barely," Lysandra said. "The Void spared me—or cursed me. I don't know which. This mark appeared that night, and with it came the whispers. I learned to use the Void's power to survive, but it came at a cost."
"What cost?"
Lysandra met his gaze, her emerald eyes shimmering with unspoken anguish. "I don't dream anymore, Kael. Only the Void dreams through me."
Kael felt a pang of sympathy. He had thought his own burden was heavy, but Lysandra's was a torment he couldn't fully comprehend.
The hum of the Lanterns grew louder, pulling Kael's attention back to the present. He peered through the crevice and saw them more clearly now—spheres of pale, flickering light, each surrounded by a faint, ghostly mist.
"They're searching for us," Lysandra whispered. "Stay perfectly still. Don't let the Void Chains move."
Kael focused, willing the chains to lie dormant. But it wasn't easy. The Void's whispers grew louder as the Lanterns approached, their ethereal glow casting eerie shadows on the rocks.
One of the Lanterns paused, its light flickering erratically. Kael's breath caught as it turned toward their hiding spot.
"Don't move," Lysandra hissed, her voice barely audible.
The Lantern hovered, its misty tendrils reaching out like probing fingers. Kael's pulse thundered in his ears as he fought the urge to lash out with the Void Chains.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Lantern drifted away, its light merging with the others.
When the Lanterns were gone, Lysandra led Kael deeper into the crevice. The air grew colder, and the walls began to glow faintly with blue-green light.
"What is this place?" Kael asked.
"A sanctuary," Lysandra said. "There are pockets of resistance against the Void, places where its influence weakens. They're rare, but they exist."
They emerged into a small cavern filled with glowing crystals. The air was crisp and clear, free of the Void's oppressive presence.
Kael felt a wave of relief wash over him. For the first time since entering the Wastelands, he could breathe freely.
As they rested, Lysandra pulled out a small bundle of herbs and began to prepare a healing salve.
"You've done this before," Kael observed.
"More times than I can count," she replied. "Survival isn't just about fighting. It's about knowing how to heal."
Kael watched her work, marveling at her skill and resourcefulness. "You're full of surprises, you know that?"
Lysandra smirked. "And you're not as useless as I thought."
Kael chuckled, but her words struck a chord. He was beginning to see himself differently. The boy who had fled Adrian's betrayal was gone, replaced by someone tougher, smarter, and more determined.
As they prepared to sleep, Lysandra spoke again.
"You said you're searching for Serena," she said. "Why?"
Kael hesitated. "She's… important to me. She was the only one who believed in me after Adrian's betrayal. If there's any chance she's still alive, I have to find her."
Lysandra's expression softened. "You're loyal. That's rare in a world like this."
Kael looked at her, the firelight casting shadows on her face. "And you? What are you searching for?"
Lysandra's gaze grew distant. "Redemption," she said softly.
Before Kael could ask more, the cavern trembled. A low, rumbling sound echoed through the sanctuary, and the crystals dimmed.
"What's happening?" Kael asked, rising to his feet.
Lysandra's eyes narrowed. "The Void. It's found us."