The faint light of dawn spilled over the ridge as Elaine and her team emerged from the stronghold, the cold air biting at their faces. The containment field around the crystal pulsed softly, the artifact nestled securely in Lira's reinforced satchel.
"We need to move fast," Elaine said, her voice firm. "They'll regroup, and if they send reinforcements, we won't survive another attack like that."
Kael scanned the horizon, his bow ready. "No sign of movement yet, but it won't stay quiet for long."
Lira adjusted the straps of her satchel, her expression strained. "This thing isn't stable. I've done everything I can to keep it contained, but if the field breaks…"
"We'll deal with it," Elaine said. "Let's just get out of here."
An Unseen Threat
The descent from the ridge was slow and tense, the group moving carefully to avoid drawing attention. The barren plain below stretched endlessly, offering little cover should they be spotted.
As they reached the base of the ridge, Ferran came to a sudden stop, his hand raised in warning.
"Something's not right," he murmured.
Elaine froze, her senses sharpening. The air felt heavy, the silence around them oppressive.
Then she saw it—a faint shimmer in the distance, like heat rising from the ground. It moved unnaturally, shifting and distorting as it drew closer.
"Kael," Elaine said quietly.
Kael nodded, his bow already drawn. "I see it."
The shimmer solidified into a figure, their form cloaked in shadows and fragments of Nexus energy. They carried a staff etched with glowing runes, its power radiating in waves.
Elaine's breath caught. "That's not just another attacker."
The figure stopped a few paces away, their voice calm but laced with menace. "You carry something that does not belong to you."
Elaine stepped forward, her blade at the ready. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted their head slightly. "A guardian. A shepherd of the old order. Return the crystal, and I may allow you to leave."
Ferran snorted. "Yeah, that's not happening."
The figure's staff flared brightly, the runes pulsing in time with the crystal's energy. "Then you leave me no choice."
The Battle Begins
The guardian moved with unnatural speed, their staff sweeping in an arc that sent a wave of energy surging toward the group.
"Scatter!" Elaine shouted, diving to the side as the ground where she'd stood exploded in a burst of light.
Kael loosed an arrow, the projectile glowing faintly with alchemical energy. It struck the guardian's staff, but the figure barely flinched, the energy absorbed into the runes.
"They're feeding off the crystal's power!" Lira called, her voice tinged with panic.
Elaine rolled to her feet, her blade flashing as she closed the distance to the guardian. Their staff met her strike, the clash sending a shockwave through the air.
"You cannot fight what you do not understand," the guardian said, their voice calm even as they deflected her blows.
"Then I'll learn fast," Elaine growled, driving her blade toward the runes on their staff.
The guardian countered, their movements fluid and precise. With a flick of their wrist, they sent a pulse of energy through the ground, knocking Elaine off balance.
Turning the Tide
As the fight raged on, Kael and Ferran worked to keep the guardian distracted, their strikes and arrows forcing the figure to shift their focus.
Lira crouched behind a rocky outcrop, her hands moving quickly as she prepared an essence vial. "Elaine, buy me time!"
Elaine gritted her teeth, pushing herself back to her feet. "Hurry!"
The guardian turned their attention to Lira, their staff glowing brightly as they prepared another attack.
"No, you don't," Ferran growled, charging forward and swinging his blade in a wide arc. The strike hit home, forcing the guardian to stagger.
Elaine seized the opportunity, driving her blade into the staff's runes. The energy flared violently, the feedback sending both of them reeling.
Lira hurled her essence vial, the explosion enveloping the guardian in a burst of blinding light.
The Crystal's Power
The dust settled, revealing the guardian kneeling on the ground, their form flickering as they struggled to rise. The runes on their staff were dim now, their energy drained.
Elaine approached cautiously, her blade still drawn. "Who sent you?"
The guardian's hollow eyes met hers. "The same ones who will come for you. You are meddling in forces beyond your understanding."
Elaine's jaw tightened. "Then tell me what I'm up against."
The guardian let out a faint laugh, their form flickering one last time. "You already know."
With that, they dissolved into fragments of light, their presence fading into the air.
Aftermath
The group stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the battle settling over them.
Lira approached Elaine, her face pale. "The crystal… it's reacting to something. The containment field is weakening."
Elaine pulled the satchel close, her heart pounding. The shard in her satchel pulsed faintly, its energy resonating with the crystal's unstable hum.
Kael frowned. "What do we do now?"
Elaine's grip on the satchel tightened. "We keep moving. If there are more of them out there, we need to stay ahead of them—and find out who's behind this."
Ferran sighed, sheathing his blade. "No rest for the wicked, huh?"
Elaine smirked faintly. "Not until this is over."
As they set off across the plain, the sun rose behind them, casting long shadows over the path ahead. The fight had taken its toll, but their resolve was stronger than ever.
The Nexus's fragments were out there, and Elaine would see them destroyed—no matter the cost.