The group moved through the disjointed corridors of the crumbling school, their footsteps echoing in the unnatural stillness. Aiden gripped the quill-sword tightly, his eyes scanning every corner as the oppressive silence pressed against them. The school's disheveled state was haunting—lockers hung open, some warped beyond recognition, while faded posters on the walls flaked and curled, their slogans long forgotten. Desks and chairs lay scattered across the floor, overturned as if abandoned in a hurry.
Rowan kept her spear ready, her sharp eyes flicking to every shadow. "This place isn't just falling apart—it's wrong. Feels like the walls are watching us."
"Keep moving," Kieran said, his shield held in front of him. "The Core's corruption is thick here. We don't want to linger longer than necessary."
Sylva floated ahead, her light dim but steady. "This fragment is on the edge of collapse. The memories it holds are fragile. If we fail to stabilize it, everything here will be lost."
"And we still don't know who the protector is," Aiden muttered. "Do you think they're even still alive?"
"They have to be," Sylva said firmly. "Fragments like this survive because of the protector's connection. Without them, it would have merged with the Core already."
"Great," Rowan said, her voice tinged with sarcasm. "So we're looking for someone who might not even know they're the key to saving this place. No pressure."
As they rounded a corner, the air grew colder, and the dim light seemed to flicker. The hallway stretched out before them, its far end swallowed by darkness. Aiden slowed, his chest tightening as he noticed the unnatural stillness.
Then, a figure emerged from the shadows at the end of the hallway.
It didn't move at first. It simply stood there, its head tilted slightly as if studying them. Its form was humanoid but wrong—its edges flickered, and its body seemed to be made of pure shadow. Its head hung low, obscuring its face, but its hunched posture radiated something Aiden recognized: pain.
"What is that?" Aiden asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sylva's glow dimmed further. "A shadow manifestation, but... different. It's most likely a killer from the real world corrupted by the core."
The shadow took a step forward, its movements slow and deliberate. As it came closer, its form became clearer. It looked like an exaggerated embodiment of a high schooler—ragged clothing, slumped shoulders, and hands that hung too low, ending in claws that shimmered faintly with crimson light.
"It's feeding off the memory," Sylva said, her tone grim. "This fragment history is helping shape it."
Rowan gritted her teeth, her knuckles white on her spear. "I've seen enough of this place. Let's take it out."
Before anyone could respond, the shadow tilted its head the other way, its movements jerky and unnatural. Then it lunged, faster than any of them expected. Its claws slashed through the air as Aiden barely managed to throw up a glowing barrier. The force of the impact sent him stumbling back.
"Move!" Kieran barked, raising his shield as the shadow turned its focus toward him. Its claws struck the shield with a deafening clang, sending ripples of dark energy across the hallway.
Rowan darted to the side, her spear glowing as she launched herself at the creature. Her attack struck true, but the spear barely pierced its shifting form before the shadow knocked her aside with a powerful swing of its arm.
"This thing's tougher than the others!" Rowan shouted, rolling to her feet. Her usual confidence was replaced with frustration—and a flicker of fear.
The shadow let out a guttural growl, its head snapping toward Rowan. Its form twisted, growing larger, its claws elongating as it seemed to feed off her hesitation.
Aiden slashed with the quill-sword, imagining chains to bind it. The glowing chains wrapped around the shadow's arms, but the creature pulled against them with terrifying strength, dragging Aiden forward.
"You've got to commit, rookie!" Rowan yelled, lunging again. This time, her spear glowed brighter, and she drove it into the shadow's torso. The creature let out an ear-piercing shriek, its body flickering as cracks of light appeared along its form.
But it wasn't finished.
The shadow lashed out with a claw, slamming Rowan into a wall. She crumpled to the ground, her spear clattering out of reach. The creature turned its attention to her, its movements growing more erratic as it prepared to strike.
"Rowan!" Aiden shouted, panic surging through him. He sprinted forward, raising the quill-sword. It shifted into a bow, and he fired a volley of glowing arrows. They struck the shadow, momentarily staggering it.
"Fall back!" Kieran ordered, slamming his shield into the ground. A golden barrier erupted around them, but cracks quickly spread across its surface as the monstrous shadow battered it relentlessly.
"I don't think this is going to hold," Aiden said, his voice tight with fear. His grip on the quill-sword trembled as he prepared to fight to the last.
Rowan's eyes darted around the ruined hallway. "This can't be how it ends. There has to be—"
Her words were cut off by a sudden flash of brilliant light that lit up the fragment. The shadows recoiled, hissing and writhing as the light seared through them. A melodious voice, calm yet commanding, echoed through the chaos.
"Enough."
From the far end of the corridor, a young man stepped forward. He was tall and lean, with silver hair that framed a youthful yet weathered face. In his hands, he carried a staff carved from smooth, dark wood, its head crowned with a crystalline orb that shimmered with an ethereal glow. His robes were simple but elegant, adorned with faint runes that seemed to shift and shimmer as he moved.
The man raised his staff, and an arc of pure light erupted from its tip, slicing through the largest shadow. The creature let out a final, guttural scream before dissolving into mist. The remaining shadows hesitated, their forms flickering as though unsure whether to advance or retreat.
"Be gone," the man commanded, his voice firm. He struck the staff against the ground, and a wave of light rippled outward, obliterating the remaining shadows in an instant.
Silence fell over the fragment.
The group stood frozen, their weapons still at the ready as they stared at the newcomer. The man lowered his staff, his piercing eyes scanning the room before settling on Sylva.
"Still getting into trouble, I see," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Sylva's glow brightened, and to Aiden's surprise, her usually composed demeanor softened into something almost playful. "Emrys," she said, her voice carrying an unusual warmth. "You always did have a knack for dramatic entrances."
Rowan blinked, lowering her spear. "Wait, you know this guy?"
Sylva turned to the group, her light shimmering with what almost seemed like excitement. "This is Emrys, the protector of this fragment."
"Protector?" Aiden repeated, his breath still catching up to him. "You mean he's the one we've been looking for?"
Emrys inclined his head, his expression serene. "Indeed. Though I must admit, I wasn't expecting such a large welcoming party." He turned to Sylva, his gaze sharpening. "What brings you to my corner of the Otherworld, Sylva? It's not often you leave your perch."
Sylva floated closer, her voice softening further. "We came to stop the Core's corruption. This fragment is on the brink, Emrys. We need your help."
Emrys sighed, resting his staff against the ground. "The Core's reach grows bolder by the day. I've been holding this fragment together as best I can, but even I have my limits."
"You've done well," Kieran said, his tone respectful. "We wouldn't have made it without you."
Rowan, still catching her breath, muttered, "Yeah, I'll second that. Thanks for the save, magic man."
Emrys chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "Magic man? I like it. But my friends call me merlin."
"Friends?" Rowan said with a smirk. "We just met."
"Then perhaps we'll become friends in time," Emrys replied smoothly. His eyes drifted back to Aiden, his expression growing more serious. "And you... You carry something unusual."
Aiden stiffened, his grip tightening on the quill-sword. "What do you mean?"
Emrys tapped his staff lightly against the floor, and the crystalline orb at its tip glowed faintly. "silvas gifts to her hero's. It's tied to you in ways you don't yet understand. Be cautious with it, or it may consume more of you than you're prepared to give."
Sylva floated beside Aiden, her tone light but pointed. "You always did enjoy your cryptic warnings."
"And you always did enjoy rushing into danger without considering the consequences," Emrys replied, his tone playful yet sharp. "It's good to see some things never change."
Aiden exchanged a glance with Rowan and Kieran, his confusion evident. "Do... you two have history or something?"
Sylva's glow flickered in what Aiden could only describe as embarrassment. "It's a long story."
Emrys smirked. "One best saved for another time. For now, let's focus on stabilizing this fragment."
"Right," Kieran said, hefting his shield. "What's the plan?"
Emrys turned toward the flickering edges of the fragment, where the corruption still lingered. "That's simple we run for it. It won't be easy, but with all of us working together, it can be done."
Rowan twirled her spear, her smirk returning. "Well, I didn't come here for an easy day. Let's do this."
Aiden nodded, his grip on the quill-sword steadying. "Lead the way."
Emrys raised his staff, its light growing brighter as he stepped forward. "Then let us begin."