The forest stretched endlessly before them, its dense canopy casting dappled shadows over the narrow, overgrown path. The shard pulsed faintly in Elaine's hand, its light barely visible beneath the fabric of her satchel. Each beat of its energy seemed to draw them deeper into the labyrinth of trees, pulling them toward an unknown destination.
Ferran grumbled as he ducked under a low-hanging branch, his voice muffled by the damp air. "I thought we were avoiding the Convergence, not marching straight into their backyard."
Elaine shot him a sharp look. "We are avoiding them. That's why we're using the forest."
Kael, walking ahead with an arrow nocked, scanned the trees with practiced precision. "They patrol these woods. We'll need to be quiet."
"I am quiet," Ferran said defensively.
"You're loud when you're quiet," Lira muttered, earning a glare from Ferran.
Ardyn trailed at the rear, her gaze sweeping the shadows. "The Convergence doesn't just patrol. They track. If they know we're here, they'll come in force."
Elaine nodded grimly. "Then we'll make sure they don't know."
The First Vision
As the group pressed onward, the shard in Elaine's satchel began to grow warmer, its pulse quickening. The energy vibrated through her fingertips, sending faint whispers echoing through her mind.
She stumbled slightly, her vision blurring as a flash of light consumed her thoughts.
In the vision, Elaine saw a sprawling city of glass and metal, its towers glinting beneath an artificial sky. Nexus constructs moved among the streets, their sleek forms radiating purpose as they enforced a rigid order. At the city's center stood a massive crystalline structure, its light pulsing like a heartbeat.
A voice spoke, low and resonant, its tone neither human nor entirely machine. "Order is inevitable. Chaos is the anomaly."
"Elaine?"
Kael's voice jolted her back to the present. She blinked rapidly, the forest around her coming back into focus.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Elaine nodded slowly, her hand tightening on the satchel. "I'm fine. Just… the shard. It showed me something."
Ferran raised an eyebrow. "Showed you? Like what?"
Elaine hesitated. "A city. Nexus constructs everywhere. A central crystal—it looked like it was controlling everything."
Ardyn stepped closer, her expression serious. "That's not just a vision. That's the Nexus as it was—before it fell."
Lira frowned. "Why would the shard show her that now?"
"I don't know," Elaine said, her voice quiet. "But it's trying to tell me something. We have to keep moving."
Evidence of the Convergence
The group emerged from the forest into a clearing where a small Convergence outpost stood nestled among the trees. The makeshift structure was little more than a reinforced cabin, its walls patched together with scavenged materials.
Kael held up a hand, signaling for the group to stop. "Guards. Four of them. Lightly armed."
Elaine nodded, her voice low. "This is a supply outpost. They won't be expecting trouble."
Ferran grinned. "Let's give them some."
"No," Elaine said firmly. "We're here for information, not a fight. We move quietly. Lira, Ardyn, check the building for anything useful. The rest of us will watch for patrols."
The group split up, their movements silent as they approached the outpost.
The Convergence's Plan
Inside the outpost, Lira and Ardyn found a crude map pinned to the wall, its surface marked with red and black lines radiating from a central point. Nearby, a stack of documents lay scattered across a table, their pages covered in dense notes and diagrams.
Lira's eyes widened as she scanned the map. "These lines—they're Nexus routes. They're rebuilding the network."
Ardyn frowned, picking up one of the documents. "Not just rebuilding. They're enhancing it. If they finish this, they'll have control over every shard—and anyone who carries one."
Lira's voice trembled. "That's what the Unity Engine was for. It wasn't just a prototype. It was a hub."
Elaine entered the room, her expression tense. "What did you find?"
Lira gestured to the map. "The Convergence isn't just collecting fragments. They're creating a system to amplify them, to control their power across entire regions."
Kael leaned over the table, his face grim. "And what happens if they get enough shards?"
"They won't just rebuild the Nexus," Ardyn said. "They'll become it."
A Sudden Attack
Before anyone could respond, the faint sound of footsteps echoed outside. Kael's head snapped up, his bow already drawn.
"Patrol," he whispered.
Elaine grabbed the documents and stuffed them into her satchel. "Out the back, now."
The group slipped out through a narrow window as the guards entered the outpost. They moved quickly into the forest, keeping low as shouts erupted behind them.
"They know we're here!" Ferran growled, drawing his blade.
Elaine clenched her jaw. "Then we keep moving. We have what we need."
As they disappeared into the trees, the shard in Elaine's satchel pulsed again, its energy resonating with a growing urgency.