The wind howled around the ruins, scattering loose sand as the two groups faced each other. The masked figure didn't move, their hand still raised as their companions held their weapons steady.
Elaine stepped forward cautiously, the shard in her hand glowing faintly. "We're not here to fight. If there's a shard here, it's too dangerous to leave unguarded. Let us help contain it."
The figure's gaze lingered on the shard in her hand, their posture tense. "You think you can contain what you do not understand? You wield a fragment of creation like a weapon. That is not control—it is recklessness."
Elaine's jaw tightened. "And doing nothing isn't an option. If the shard falls into the wrong hands, it won't matter who understands what—it'll destroy everything."
A faint hum cut through the air, low and rhythmic. The shard in Elaine's hand flared suddenly, its light casting long shadows across the ruins.
"What's happening?" Lira asked, her voice trembling as she shielded her eyes.
The masked figure stepped back, their tone sharp. "You've awakened it."
Elaine turned, her heart pounding. The ground beneath their feet began to tremble, fractures spreading outward from the center of the ruins. A second shard, larger and more unstable, emerged from the sand, its chaotic energy spiraling into the air.
Unleashed Chaos
The second shard hovered above the ruins, its light flickering erratically as though struggling to maintain its form. The fractures around it pulsed in response, their glow intensifying with each passing moment.
"Another shard," Rivan said, their voice grim. "And it's not happy."
The masked figure's companions moved quickly, forming a protective circle around the shard. Their leader turned to Elaine, their voice filled with urgency. "You've brought this upon us. If you cannot control your fragment, the two will destroy each other—and us with them."
Elaine gritted her teeth, the shard in her hand burning hot against her palm. "I can stabilize it."
"You don't know that," Ardyn snapped, her blade already drawn. "Look at it. That thing's barely holding itself together."
The second shard's energy flared violently, sending a shockwave through the ruins. Stones crumbled, and a section of the wall collapsed, separating several of the masked figures from the main group.
"Elaine!" Lira shouted, struggling to keep her balance. "Do something!"
Elaine raised her shard, its light blazing as she focused on the second shard. The energy between them spiraled into a visible connection, a thread of light that pulsed in rhythm with the fractures.
The second shard reacted violently, its energy surging outward in chaotic waves.
An Uneasy Alliance
The masked leader stepped forward, their movements deliberate. "You cannot do this alone. The shards are reacting to each other, and their resonance will only grow stronger. We must work together to contain them."
Elaine hesitated, her gaze flicking to Ardyn.
"Trust them?" Ardyn scoffed. "You think they'll help us out of the kindness of their hearts?"
The leader ignored her, turning to their companions. "Protect the outer perimeter. If the resonance spreads, the fractures will destabilize the entire region."
Elaine lowered her shard slightly, her voice steady. "What do you need me to do?"
The leader gestured to the glowing connection between the shards. "Focus on the thread. Anchor its energy to your shard. It's the only way to prevent a collapse."
"Anchor it?" Elaine asked, her voice sharp. "What does that even mean?"
"You must become the conduit," the leader said simply.
Becoming the Conduit
Elaine stepped closer to the second shard, the connection between them growing brighter with each step. The whispers in her mind grew louder, overlapping until they became a single, overwhelming voice.
"Unity is inevitable, Custodian. Embrace it."
She clenched her teeth, forcing the voice into the background. The shard in her hand pulsed violently, its energy syncing with the second shard.
"You're running out of time," the leader said, their tone urgent.
Elaine raised her shard, focusing on the chaotic thread of energy connecting it to the second shard. The light flared, and she felt the energy surge through her like a storm, its intensity threatening to overwhelm her.
"Elaine!" Lira's voice broke through the noise. "You can't hold it alone!"
"I don't have a choice," Elaine said through gritted teeth.
The second shard trembled, its energy spiraling inward as the connection stabilized. The fractures around it began to close, their chaotic glow fading into dim embers.
The Aftermath
When the light faded, the ruins were still. The second shard floated quietly above the ground, its energy calm but present. The masked leader approached it cautiously, their movements deliberate.
"You succeeded," they said, turning to Elaine. "But this is only the beginning. The shards are not yours to command. They are part of something far greater than you understand."
Elaine staggered, her strength nearly spent. "Then tell me what they are. If you know so much, help us stop this before it's too late."
The leader hesitated, their gaze lingering on the shard in her hand. "We are not your enemies, Custodian. But neither are we your allies. If you seek to control the shards, you will find only ruin."
They turned, signaling to their companions. "Take the shard. Protect it. Let no one else wield its power."
Ardyn stepped forward, her blade raised. "You're not taking it."
The leader paused, their tone calm but firm. "If we do not, Dominion will. And when they do, the fractures will consume everything."
Elaine raised a hand, stopping Ardyn. "Let them take it."
"What?" Ardyn said sharply.
Elaine met her gaze, her voice resolute. "We're not here to fight over shards. If they can keep it safe, that's one less shard Dominion can use."
Ardyn scowled but lowered her blade.
The masked figures moved quickly, securing the second shard and retreating into the ruins. The leader turned back once more, their tone cryptic. "Your path is dangerous, Custodian. Be careful where it leads you."