The gates of Durnthall groaned as they opened, the sound reverberating through the cold air like a warning bell. Kael stood frozen for a moment, staring into the abyss beyond. The darkness wasn't natural—it writhed, as if alive, tendrils of shadow curling and retreating like waves against an invisible tide.
Lysandra stepped forward, her shoulders tense, hand on her blade. "Stay close. Places like this don't just test your strength. They test your mind, too."
Kael swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, his fingers brushing against the Void Chains coiled around his arm. He could feel them pulsing, resonating with the fortress.
Garrick approached the threshold, his eyes scanning the ancient carvings etched into the stone. "This place was a citadel before the Shattering," he said quietly. "A stronghold for scholars, warriors, and seers who sought to understand the Void. But when the Shattering came…"
"What happened?" Kael asked.
Garrick's voice dropped. "They didn't survive. But something tells me their knowledge did."
The group entered cautiously, the air growing colder with every step. Torches burned faintly along the walls, their flames unnaturally blue. The corridor widened into a grand hall, its ceiling stretching far above them. Fractured statues of armored warriors lined the walls, their faces frozen in expressions of agony.
Kael felt a pang of unease. "Why do I feel like we're being watched?"
"Because we are," Lysandra muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows.
Garrick stopped suddenly, his gaze fixed on the ground. "Careful."
Kael followed his line of sight and saw it—a faint sigil glowing on the stone floor.
"A ward," Garrick explained. "Step on it, and we'll find out just how much the ancients valued their privacy."
Kael frowned. "How do we get around it?"
"We don't," Garrick said, kneeling to inspect the sigil. "We go through it. Give me a moment."
As Garrick worked, Kael felt a prickling at the back of his neck. He turned to Lysandra. "Do you trust him?"
Lysandra hesitated, her expression unreadable. "Garrick's survived longer in the Wastelands than most. That counts for something. But trust? Trust is earned, Kael. And it's easily broken."
Garrick finished disarming the ward, and they pressed on, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Kael's head throbbed, a faint whisper brushing against the edges of his mind.
"Do you hear that?" he asked.
Lysandra shook her head. "Hear what?"
Kael frowned. The whispers grew louder, indistinct yet insistent. He could almost make out words, but they slipped away like smoke every time he tried to focus.
Suddenly, Garrick stopped. "We're not alone."
A figure emerged from the shadows—a tall man with a pale complexion, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. He wore dark robes, and his presence exuded authority.
"Welcome to Durnthall," the man said, his voice smooth and unsettling. "You've come seeking knowledge, but knowledge always comes at a price."
Kael stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Who are you?"
The man smiled. "I am a Keeper. My purpose is to guard the secrets of this place from those who would misuse them."
The Keeper gestured, and the shadows around him coalesced into humanoid forms.
"Prove your worth," he said. "If you cannot face the darkness here, you are unworthy of the light."
The shadowy figures attacked without warning, their movements swift and unnatural. Kael's instincts kicked in, and he lashed out with the Void Chains, their metallic length slicing through one of the figures.
Lysandra and Garrick fought beside him, their coordination seamless. But the shadows were relentless, reforming as quickly as they were destroyed.
"Kael!" Lysandra shouted. "We need a plan!"
Kael's mind raced. The shadows weren't physical—they were manifestations of the fortress itself. Destroying them outright wouldn't work.
"The torches!" he shouted. "They're feeding off the darkness. We need more light!"
Garrick nodded and drew a flask from his pack, tossing it toward one of the torches. The oil inside ignited, creating a burst of flame that momentarily dispelled the shadows.
"Keep going!" Kael yelled, his confidence growing.
They worked together, igniting torch after torch until the room was bathed in brilliant light. The shadows recoiled, their forms dissipating into wisps of smoke.
The Keeper watched impassively. "You are resourceful. That will serve you well."
As the Keeper vanished into the shadows, Kael turned to Garrick. "How much of this did you know?"
Garrick raised an eyebrow. "What are you implying?"
"You knew about the wards. About the traps. About the Keeper. How much have you been keeping from us?"
Garrick's expression hardened. "I've been keeping us alive, lad. If you want to make it out of here in one piece, you'd do well to remember that."
Kael clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. But before he could press further, Lysandra stepped between them.
"Enough," she said firmly. "This isn't the time for infighting. We've made it this far. Let's focus on the task at hand."
As they pressed deeper into the fortress, Kael found himself walking beside Lysandra. He glanced at her, searching for the right words.
"Back there," he said hesitantly. "You trusted me. Even when I wasn't sure of myself."
She smiled faintly. "You're stronger than you realize, Kael. You just need to believe it."
Her words warmed him in a way he hadn't expected. For so long, he had relied on anger and vengeance to drive him forward. But Lysandra's faith in him was… different. It was steady, grounding.
"Why are you doing this?" he asked. "Helping me, I mean."
She looked at him, her expression softening. "Because I see something in you. Something worth fighting for."
Kael felt his chest tighten. For the first time in years, he allowed himself to feel something other than rage.
The moment was shattered by a sudden scream. Kael whirled around to see Garrick clutching his side, blood seeping through his fingers.
A figure stood behind him—a familiar face.
"Adrian," Kael breathed, his voice filled with disbelief and fury.
His brother smiled coldly. "Hello, little brother. Did you miss me?"
Kael's heart raced as Adrian stepped closer, his blade gleaming with Garrick's blood.
"You've come so far," Adrian said mockingly. "But did you really think you could escape the Void's grasp?"
Kael's vision blurred with rage. The Void Chains lashed out, but Adrian caught them with ease, his strength far surpassing Kael's.
"Still so predictable," Adrian said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You'll never beat me if you let your emotions control you."
Kael gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He couldn't let Adrian win—not here, not now.