The hidden canyon was a stark contrast to the chaos of the stronghold. Towering rock walls rose on either side, shielding the group from the biting wind and the prying eyes of Dominion scouts. The faint glow of the shards lit the narrow space, casting shifting patterns on the stone.
Elaine sat cross-legged near the center of their makeshift camp, the shard in her hand pulsing faintly. The other shards lay before her, their light erratic as though struggling to stabilize.
"We need answers," Ardyn said, pacing restlessly. "What are these things trying to tell us? Because right now, all I see is a lot of glowing rocks and no clear plan."
Rivan leaned against the canyon wall, their gaze steady. "The shards reacted when Elaine used hers to sever the conduits. Maybe they're linked somehow."
Elaine nodded, her focus on the shards. "They're connected, but it's more than that. They're trying to show us something."
"Great," Ardyn said dryly. "Another cryptic puzzle to figure out while Dominion breathes down our necks."
Lira knelt beside the shards, her expression cautious. "If we can sync their energy, it might reveal whatever they're trying to communicate. But it's risky. Too much power, and they could destabilize the fractures even more."
Elaine's grip on her shard tightened. "We don't have a choice. If we don't understand what these shards are, we'll never stop Dominion."
The Shards' Vision
Elaine placed her shard alongside the others, their light growing brighter as they resonated with one another. The hum of energy filled the air, vibrating through the stone walls of the canyon.
"Careful," Lira said, her hands hovering near the shards. "This much energy could draw attention."
Elaine ignored her, closing her eyes as the shards' light flared. The hum grew louder, drowning out the sounds of the canyon as her mind was pulled into a vision.
She stood in a vast, open expanse, the ground beneath her a mosaic of glowing fractures. The sky above was dark, pierced only by faint beams of light that spiraled downward like threads of energy.
At the center of the expanse stood a towering crystalline structure—the first shard, its light blazing with raw power. Surrounding it were smaller shards, their energy flowing into the larger one in intricate patterns.
"This is the origin," the whispers said. "The shards were never meant to be divided. They are the world's foundation, fractured by those who sought control."
Elaine approached the first shard, its energy radiating warmth and an overwhelming sense of purpose. As she reached out, the vision shifted, and she saw flashes of the Nexus—its spires rising above a broken world, its energy spiraling outward in destructive waves.
"Unity must be earned, not forced," the whispers continued. "But those who wield the shards will decide the world's fate."
Elaine gasped as the vision ended, her eyes snapping open. The shards before her pulsed faintly, their light steady once more.
A Fragmented Connection
"What did you see?" Lira asked, her voice filled with both curiosity and concern.
Elaine took a moment to steady her breathing. "The shards… they're part of something larger. They were never meant to be separated. The fractures, the Nexus—it all started because someone tried to force them into unity."
Rivan's brow furrowed. "And Dominion's trying to do the same thing again."
Elaine nodded. "If they succeed, it won't just destroy the fractures—it'll destroy the world."
Ardyn folded her arms, her expression skeptical. "So what's the solution? We just keep running around, collecting shards, and hope we figure it out before Dominion does?"
Elaine met her gaze, her voice firm. "We don't just collect them. We protect them. The shards need to be together—but on their own terms, not ours."
Lira tilted her head. "What does that even mean?"
"I don't know yet," Elaine admitted. "But we'll figure it out. We have to."
Dominion's Retaliation
The faint sound of engines echoed through the canyon, breaking the group's focus. Rivan tensed, their hand moving to their weapon. "We've got company."
Ardyn drew her blade, her stance ready. "Dominion?"
Rivan nodded, their expression grim. "Scouts. And they're closing in fast."
Elaine rose to her feet, her grip on the shard tightening. "We can't let them take the shards. Get ready."
Lira scrambled to gather the shards, wrapping them in protective cloth. "We're not going to outrun them, not here."
"Then we don't run," Elaine said, her voice steady. "We make our stand."
The group moved quickly, taking defensive positions along the canyon walls. The hum of the shards' energy was faint but constant, a reminder of what was at stake.
The first scout vehicle appeared at the mouth of the canyon, its lights cutting through the shadows. A second followed close behind, their engines reverberating through the narrow space.
Ardyn smirked, raising her blade. "Finally, something I know how to deal with."
Elaine raised the shard, its light flaring as the Dominion forces advanced.