The southeastern wilderness stretched out like an endless labyrinth of jagged cliffs and dense, thorny underbrush. The shard's pulse had grown stronger with each passing mile, its faint glow illuminating Elaine's determined expression as she led the group through the rough terrain.
"Are we even close?" Ferran asked, his voice strained as he wiped sweat from his brow.
Elaine nodded, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "The shard's guiding us. We're on the right path."
Kael scanned the landscape, his bow at the ready. "If the Convergence knows about this place, we'll have more than the wilderness to worry about."
"They know," Ardyn said, her tone grim. "They might not have found the exact site yet, but they'll be searching."
Lira, walking at the rear of the group, glanced nervously at the shard in Elaine's satchel. "And the shard? It's been… louder lately. Almost like it's pulling too hard."
Elaine frowned. The shard's energy had been erratic in the past day, its pulses occasionally sharp and dissonant. It felt alive in a way that unsettled her, as though it were aware of its own purpose.
"We'll deal with it when we get there," Elaine said. "For now, we keep moving."
The Forgotten Sanctuary
By late afternoon, the group reached a narrow gorge carved into the cliffs. At its center lay a crumbling archway, its surface covered in faded runes that glowed faintly under the shard's light.
"This is it," Elaine said, her voice quiet with awe. "The shard brought us here."
Kael stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he examined the archway. "It's Nexus. But it looks older than anything we've seen before."
Ardyn nodded, her expression serious. "This isn't just a facility. It's a sanctuary—one of the first places the Nexus touched."
Lira hesitated, her voice trembling. "If this place is tied to the Nexus's origins, what's still left here?"
Elaine didn't answer immediately. She stepped through the archway, the shard's pulse growing stronger as she entered a wide chamber carved into the rock.
Inside, the walls were lined with intricate patterns of crystal and metal, their surfaces humming faintly with dormant energy. At the center of the room was a pedestal, atop which rested a large, fractured crystal that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"The core," Elaine murmured, her chest tightening.
A Warning from the Past
As Elaine approached the pedestal, the shard in her satchel pulsed violently, its light flaring bright enough to illuminate the entire chamber. She staggered, her vision blurring as the shard's energy surged through her mind.
In the vision, Elaine stood in the sanctuary, but it was whole and pristine, its walls glowing with vibrant energy. A group of robed figures surrounded the central crystal, their faces obscured by hoods.
One of the figures spoke, their voice echoing with both authority and dread. "The Nexus is no longer a tool. It has become a will, a presence. We cannot control it, but we can fracture it—scatter its pieces to prevent its rise."
The vision shifted to show the crystal shattering, its fragments spreading across a vast map. The same voice continued, softer now, almost mournful. "But it will wait. It will call to those who carry its pieces. And when the fragments reunite, it will awaken."
Elaine gasped as the vision ended, her knees buckling. The others rushed to her side, their voices filled with concern.
"What happened?" Kael asked, his hand on her shoulder.
Elaine struggled to steady her breathing, her voice shaky. "The shards… they're not just remnants. They're the Nexus itself, waiting to be reborn."
Lira's face paled. "Reborn? How?"
"Through us," Elaine said, her gaze fixed on the fractured crystal atop the pedestal. "The shards were scattered to stop the Nexus, but they were never destroyed. And now, they're calling each other back."
The Convergence Arrives
Before anyone could respond, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the gorge outside. Kael's head snapped up, his bow drawn. "We're not alone."
Ardyn drew her blade, her expression dark. "The Convergence found us."
Elaine stood, her resolve hardening. "Then we make sure they don't leave with the core."
The group took defensive positions as a group of masked figures entered the sanctuary, their movements swift and calculated. At their center stood a tall, imposing figure clad in dark armor etched with glowing runes—the same Voice of the Convergence they had faced before.
"You've been busy," the Voice said, their tone mocking as they surveyed the room. "But your efforts are futile. The Nexus will rise, whether you will it or not."
Elaine stepped forward, her blade drawn. "Not if we stop you."
The Voice chuckled, raising a hand. The room trembled as more constructs emerged from the shadows, their forms crackling with unstable energy.
"Then let us see what you're capable of," the Voice said, their mask tilting slightly as though amused.
The Fight for the Core
The chamber erupted into chaos as the Convergence forces charged forward. Elaine met the first wave head-on, her blade flashing as she parried a strike and countered with a swift slash.
Kael loosed a volley of arrows, each one striking true and forcing the attackers to scatter.
Ferran roared as he waded into the fray, his sword cleaving through constructs and Convergence operatives alike. "Come on, then! Let's see what you've got!"
Lira worked quickly to set up a disruption field, her tools sparking as she redirected the Nexus energy coursing through the chamber. "I need time!" she shouted, her voice strained.
Elaine nodded, her focus narrowing as she charged toward the Voice. Their blades clashed, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the room.
"You're wasting your strength," the Voice said, their tone calm despite the battle. "The Nexus does not belong to you—it never did."
Elaine gritted her teeth, driving them back with a flurry of strikes. "I don't care who it belongs to. I'm not letting it destroy this world again."
A Fragile Victory
As Lira activated the disruption field, the constructs faltered, their energy destabilizing as the room filled with a deafening hum.
"Now!" Elaine shouted.
Ferran and Kael launched a coordinated attack, driving the remaining operatives back toward the entrance. The Voice staggered, their form flickering as the field disrupted the connection to their armor's runes.
"This isn't over," they said, their voice distorted as they retreated with the surviving Convergence forces.
Elaine watched them go, her blade still drawn. "No. It's not."
The Core's Choice
As the dust settled, the fractured crystal atop the pedestal began to glow brighter, its energy resonating with the shard in Elaine's hand.
Lira stepped closer, her voice filled with awe. "It's… responding to you."
Elaine hesitated before reaching out, her hand hovering over the crystal. Its light pulsed, filling the room with a warm, steady glow.
"What happens if you take it?" Kael asked, his tone wary.
Elaine's gaze didn't waver. "We find out."
She placed her hand on the crystal, and the room was bathed in light.