The Wastelands were colder tonight. The three of them huddled around a crackling campfire, its flames offering little comfort against the oppressive chill in the air. The ruins of the village they had left behind lingered in Kael's mind, a grim reminder of what was at stake.
Kael stared into the fire, his thoughts turning over Garrick's revelation about the fortress of Durnthall. The name carried weight, a promise of answers he desperately needed. But beneath the anticipation was a gnawing fear—answers often came with a price.
"Durnthall," he said aloud, testing the name.
Lysandra glanced at him. "It's not just a place, Kael. It's a crucible. If we're not careful, it could destroy us."
He met her gaze. "I'd rather risk destruction than keep stumbling in the dark."
Garrick nodded approvingly. "Good. That fire in your belly will serve you well. But don't let it blind you, lad. Durnthall has its share of secrets, and some of them are better left buried."
The campfire crackled, casting long shadows across their faces. Kael leaned back against a rock, the Void Chains coiled loosely around his arms.
"Garrick," Kael said after a long silence. "What do you know about the Void? Not just the fragments we've picked up along the way—I mean the truth."
Garrick took a deep breath, his expression grim. "The truth is, no one knows everything about the Void. But here's what I've pieced together over the years."
He paused, as if weighing his words. "The Void isn't just a force. It's a will—a conscious, malevolent entity that thrives on chaos and destruction. It didn't just appear during the Shattering; it's been here longer than we have, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Kael frowned. "Then why doesn't it just wipe us out? Why the games, the manipulation?"
"Because it can't," Garrick said simply. "Not yet, at least. The Void is powerful, but it's not omnipotent. It needs hosts, conduits to spread its influence. That's why it's so obsessed with people like you—those who can wield its fragments without succumbing to madness."
Kael looked down at the shard embedded in his palm, its faint glow pulsating in rhythm with his heartbeat. "And if it gathers all the fragments?"
Garrick's face darkened. "Then it becomes whole again. And when that happens, there won't be a world left to save."
Kael felt the weight of Garrick's words settle over him like a heavy cloak. His entire life had been spent chasing Adrian, driven by a single-minded thirst for vengeance. Now, that vengeance seemed almost trivial compared to the enormity of what he was up against.
"It's overwhelming, isn't it?" Lysandra said softly.
Kael nodded, his throat tight. "How do you deal with it? Knowing that every step we take could mean the difference between survival and annihilation?"
Lysandra smiled faintly. "You don't. Not entirely. You just keep moving forward, one step at a time. And you remind yourself why you're fighting."
Kael studied her face, searching for cracks in her calm facade. He found none, but her words carried a weight that hinted at personal loss.
"What about you?" he asked. "Why are you fighting?"
Her expression faltered for a moment, a shadow passing over her features. "Let's just say I've lost enough to know that giving up isn't an option."
The next morning, they set out before dawn, the faint light painting the horizon in shades of gray and gold. The path to Durnthall was treacherous, winding through narrow gorges and over crumbling bridges that threatened to collapse under their weight.
As they walked, Kael noticed a shift in the air. It was heavier now, charged with an energy that made his skin prickle.
"We're getting close," Garrick said, his voice low.
"How can you tell?" Kael asked.
Garrick gestured to the ground beneath their feet. The dirt was tinged with a faint silver glow, and tiny motes of light floated in the air like fireflies.
"This is elemental residue," Garrick explained. "Leftover energy from the days before the Shattering. It's strongest near places of power like Durnthall."
Lysandra's hand hovered near her weapon, her eyes scanning the terrain. "And places of power tend to attract unwanted attention. Stay alert."
They hadn't gone far when the first attack came. A shadow flickered in the corner of Kael's vision, followed by a guttural growl.
"Voidspawn!" Garrick shouted.
Kael barely had time to react before a creature lunged at him, its twisted form a grotesque blend of flesh and shadow. He swung his blade instinctively, the Void Chains snapping out to intercept the creature mid-air.
The fight was chaos. More Voidspawn emerged from the shadows, their glowing eyes filled with malice. Garrick and Lysandra fought with practiced precision, their movements fluid and deadly. Kael struggled to keep up, his strikes clumsy but effective.
One of the creatures broke through their defenses, heading straight for Lysandra. Kael acted without thinking, the Void Chains lashing out like living serpents. They wrapped around the creature's neck and yanked it back, slamming it into the ground with enough force to shatter its spine.
Lysandra glanced at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. "Not bad."
Kael didn't have time to respond before another Voidspawn attacked, forcing him back into the fray.
When the last Voidspawn fell, the three of them stood in a circle, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Is it always like this?" Kael asked, wiping blood from his face.
"Pretty much," Garrick said, leaning on his weapon. "But you handled yourself well, lad. You're getting stronger."
Kael didn't feel strong. His muscles ached, and his hands trembled from the adrenaline. But beneath the exhaustion was a spark of pride. For the first time, he had fought not out of desperation, but with purpose.
Lysandra approached him, her gaze steady. "You saved my life back there. Thank you."
Kael shrugged, uncomfortable with the attention. "You've saved mine plenty of times. Consider us even."
She smiled faintly. "Noted."
As they resumed their journey, the landscape began to change. The trees grew sparse, their gnarled branches reaching toward the sky like skeletal hands. The air grew colder, and the silver glow in the dirt intensified.
Finally, they crested a hill and saw it: Durnthall.
The fortress loomed before them, its massive stone walls weathered by centuries of decay. Towers jutted into the sky like jagged teeth, and the gates were sealed with thick iron bars.
Kael felt a shiver run down his spine. The place was ancient, exuding an aura of power and menace that made the air hum with tension.
"We're here," Garrick said, his voice hushed.
Kael took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the fortress. Durnthall held the answers he sought, but it also held dangers he couldn't yet fathom.
"Let's go," he said, stepping forward.
As they approached the gates, a low rumble echoed through the air, followed by a voice that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"Who dares disturb the resting place of the Forgotten?"
Kael's heart pounded as the gates began to creak open, revealing a darkness that seemed to swallow the light.