As the group caught their breath, Rowan turned to Aiden, her expression sharp. "Okay, rookie, what was that? Those spikes looked… off."
"They worked, didn't they?" Aiden shot back, his voice defensive.
Rowan frowned, crossing her arms. "Yeah, but they didn't exactly scream 'light and hope.'"
Sylva floated closer, her light flickering. "She's right, Aiden. The darkness within you is growing. If you rely on it too much, it will consume you."
Aiden looked at the ring on his finger, its glow steady but faintly tinged with shadow. "I wasn't trying to use it," he said quietly. "It just… happened."
Kieran stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "You need to control it. If you don't, it'll control you."
Aiden nodded, though doubt lingered in his mind. "I'll be careful."
The next fragment was brighter, its surface shimmering like glass. Golden orbs floated gently above the ground, casting a warm glow. The whispers were fainter here, and the air felt lighter.
"This is a fragment of light," Sylva said, her voice steady. "It is rare, but it holds the potential to strengthen us."
"What's the catch?" Rowan asked, her spear glinting faintly.
Sylva hesitated. "The Core despises these fragments. It will do everything it can to destroy this one."
As they moved through the fragment, Aiden felt a strange sense of calm. He reached out to touch one of the golden orbs, and a memory flickered to life—a vision of him and Lila sitting in the park, sketching together. Her laughter echoed in the air, warm and familiar.
"She's waiting for you," Sylva said softly. "But you must hold onto this light."
The memory shifted, and the whispers surged. Shadows began to seep into the fragment, twisting the golden light into crimson veins.
"Here we go," Rowan muttered, spinning her spear. "Everyone stay sharp."
The shadows attacked, and the group fought fiercely to protect the fragment. Aiden's weapon shifted constantly—chains of light, arrows of energy, and spikes of darkness that pierced through the creatures. Each strike felt heavier, as if the shadows were pressing harder against his mind.
As the battle ended, the fragment began to stabilize. Aiden stood in silence, staring at the ring on his finger. Its glow was brighter now, but the faint shadow lingered.