The sun had fully set as the companions made their way across the ridge, and a chill crept over the plains, settling like a thin mist around them. Elian's mind was still racing with the memory of the Trial of Shadows, the feeling of dread clawed at him, the strange comfort of the Accord's warmth that had seen them through. They had survived the test, but he couldn't shake the sense that something had shifted within him. In each of them, perhaps. Facing shadows together had bound them more than any vow could, yet something darker seemed to linger, as though the trial had left a trace behind.
The sky quickly darkened as they continued toward the eastern range, where an abandoned fort lay hidden in the foothills, a place Grimmir claimed would offer them a haven for the night. The night air grew colder, and the stars above were shrouded by dense clouds, leaving only a faint glow from the moon to light their path.
"Tell me," Lira said, breaking the silence, her voice just above a whisper, "did any of you… see something during the trial? A vision or… hear something?"
Kaela nodded; her eyes thoughtful. "I heard voices, yes. Old voices, warning us to turn back. It was almost like a song but laced with fear." She glanced at the others. "But that's the nature of ancient magic. It draws on one's deepest memories, reshaping them to test the heart."
Lira shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her. "I heard… my mother's voice as if she were still with me. But she sounded frightened. And the wraiths… it was like they knew my fears." She looked down, embarrassed. "Silly, really, to be afraid of shadows."
"Not so silly, lass," Grimmir said, his tone surprisingly gentle. "We all carry shadows, even those of us who like to think we're made of steel." He chuckled, but there was a gruff warmth in his voice. "Fear's a part of being human… or dwarf, or elf, or whatever Rorek is." He nudged the half-dragon shaman, who gave him an unimpressed glance.
Rorek's expression was contemplative as he spoke. "Fear is a shadow we carry. But that trial was no ordinary fear. That was a shadow born from the dragon's power. I felt its pull." He looked at each of them in turn. "I have heard of such power… my ancestors knew of it. They called it 'the Long Night', a force that brings darkness to the mind and soul. This dragon is tied to that night, to something even older than the Accord."
A heavy silence fell over them, each of them absorbing Rorek's words. Elian could feel the weight of his words pressing on him, and he sensed the same worry in his companions. They were bound by the Accord, yes, but against a creature that fed on the shadows within them, would their unity be enough?
As they continued, the shape of an ancient fort loomed out of the mist, its crumbling stone walls and broken towers casting long shadows over the ground. Grimmir led them inside, and they found a small chamber near the center where the walls were intact enough to shield them from the wind. They set up a makeshift camp, lighting a small fire in the middle of the room.
Once they had settled, Elian turned to Rorek. "You mentioned 'the Long Night', a force of darkness older than the Accord itself. What exactly does that mean?"
Rorek stared into the fire, his eyes reflecting the dancing flames. "The Long Night is more than just darkness. It is a presence, an ancient hunger that seeks to consume everything. Long ago, before dragons walked these lands, the Long Night threatened to plunge the world into eternal shadow. My ancestors spoke of it as a living curse, one that could only be bound, never truly destroyed."
Kaela's eyes narrowed; her curiosity piqued. "And this dragon… is it a servant of this force? Or something greater?"
"A vessel, I believe," Rorek answered. "It's a creature that has become entwined with the Long Night's essence. Its shadow feeds on fear, on despair, on darkness itself. The dragon doesn't just want to destroy; it wants to reshape the world in its image, a land of endless night, where no light can pierce."
Lira frowned, glancing around the chamber. "Then what chance do we have? We're just five, bound by this Accord, yes, but we're facing something older than time itself."
Elian felt a surge of determination. "We face it together. And the Accord was made for this purpose, was it not? To forge light from unity, to stand against the very thing that threatens us now?"
Grimmir let out a low chuckle. "Aye, the lad's right. The Accord's power is no small thing, and it was created to face darkness. I don't know what it'll cost us, but we're the best chance this land has."
Kaela nodded; her expression resolute. "If the Accord requires a sacrifice, then so be it. We each knew the risks when we accepted this path."
Rorek watched them, his eyes flickering with a strange emotion, something between admiration and sorrow. "The Accord is powerful, but even it cannot dispel the shadows entirely. Not without…" He trailed off, his gaze shifting to the fire.
Elian leaned forward, catching his gaze. "Not without what?"
Rorek hesitated as if choosing his words carefully. "The Accord's bond is not without cost, as you said. But it also requires something more, a source of light, a focus. Legend speaks of an ancient relic, one that can draw the light from the Accord and wield it against the Long Night. It's called the Starforged Gem."
Kaela's eyes widened. "I thought that was a myth. No mage I know has ever seen it, or even heard of its location."
"It's no myth," Rorek replied. "The Starforged Gem was crafted in the first age when the Accord was forged. It is a stone born of the stars, with the power to channel light itself. It was lost centuries ago, hidden by those who feared its power falling into the wrong hands. But without it, our strength may not be enough."
Grimmir huffed, crossing his arms. "So, in other words, we need to find a lost gem if we're to have a chance of taking down this dragon. Sounds simple enough," he added with a dry smirk.
Rorek shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. "Simple it is not. But there may be clues in the old texts of Valoria's ancient libraries, or even among the ruins of the Accord's original keep if it still stands."
Lira leaned forward; her eyes bright with curiosity. "Then that's where we'll go. But if we're looking for a relic, we'd best get started sooner than later. Who knows how long it will take to find."
The fire crackled softly, casting warm light over their faces as they sat in silence, each absorbed in their thoughts. The discovery of the Starforged Gem brought a glimmer of hope, but it also underscored the difficulty of their task. Finding a lost relic in a world this vast, with only legends to guide them, would be no simple feat. But together, they had faced shadows and survived. Perhaps they could do this, too.
After a moment, Elian spoke, his voice quiet but steady. "Tomorrow, we'll set out for the libraries of Valoria. If the High Mage knew of the Accord's prophecy, she may have kept records that could help us locate the Starforged Gem."
Grimmir nodded, scratching his beard thoughtfully. "Aye, and the sooner we get it, the better. I've no mind to face that dragon without every weapon we can muster."
Kaela glanced at the flames, her expression contemplative. "It seems that the Accord is leading us on a path we weren't meant to take alone. If this relic is part of that path, then we must follow it. Whatever lies ahead, we're meant to face it together."
As they lay down to rest, each of them found their minds wandering, lingering on the things left unsaid. The Trial of Shadows had shown them their inner fears, and this night had revealed the depth of the dragon's power. But despite everything, they remained bound by the Accord, a bond they could feel growing stronger with each passing trial.
Elian drifted off, his mind filled with fragments of ancient legends, of star-lit stones and forgotten magic. He dreamed of a forest cloaked in shadow, of a dragon's roar echoing through the darkness, and a stone that pulsed with light, piercing the night like a beacon.
But the dream shifted, the light fading, and the forest grew darker, filled with voices whispering of despair, of lost hope. And in the center of it all, he saw a pair of blazing eyes red and cold, staring directly into his soul.
He awoke with a start, sweat beading on his forehead, his heart pounding. For a moment, he could still feel the weight of those eyes, the chill of the shadow that lingered even now.
But as he glanced around at his companions, sleeping under the quiet protection of the fort's stone walls, a calm settled over him. Whatever trials lay ahead, he knew they would face them together, each of them carrying a spark of light forged by the Accord.
And somewhere in the distance, beyond the mountains and valleys, that shadow dragon stirred, sensing the strength of the bond that was growing. It watched, and it waited, the hunger of the Long Night festering within it. The Accord was awake, and so was the darkness.