The silence that followed the battle was oppressive, broken only by the faint hum of the shards. Lira sat beside Elaine, her breaths shallow as she clutched the field generator tightly.
"Are they… are they gone?" Lira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Elaine nodded, though her body trembled from exhaustion. "For now. But we can't stay here."
The shard in Elaine's hand flared faintly, its light dimming as it synced with the shards Lira carried. The fractures beneath the outcrop pulsed in response, their glow casting an eerie light across the cracked ground.
"Elaine," Lira said, her gaze fixed on the fissure. "It's reacting to the shards again. I don't think it's done with us."
Elaine pushed herself to her feet, her legs shaky but steady. "Neither are the fractures. They're pulling us toward something—I can feel it."
Lira hesitated, her voice trembling. "And what if it's pulling us into something we can't stop?"
Elaine's jaw tightened as she stared at the fissure. "Then we'll figure it out. We don't have a choice."
The Fractures' Call
The shards' glow intensified, their energy spilling into the fissure like threads of light. The ground beneath the outcrop began to tremble, and a faint rumbling echoed through the air.
Elaine knelt beside the fissure, the shard in her hand pulsing steadily. Its whispers returned, quiet but insistent.
"The fractures remember, Custodian. Their echoes will guide you to resolution."
"What do you want me to see?" Elaine murmured, her voice low.
The shards' light spiraled upward, forming a shimmering veil that hovered above the fissure. Within the light, fragmented images began to take shape—a city torn apart by fractures, its people struggling to survive as the shards' power spiraled out of control.
Elaine's chest tightened as the vision shifted, showing Dominion forces harnessing the shards' energy, their weapons blazing with chaotic light.
"Their plan," Elaine said softly. "They're not just collecting the shards. They're amplifying the fractures."
Lira crouched beside her, her face pale. "Why? What could they possibly gain from making things worse?"
Elaine's grip on the shard tightened. "Control. If they can force the shards into submission, they can rebuild the Nexus—and make the world bend to their will."
Rivan and Ardyn's Fight
Elsewhere in the desert, Rivan and Ardyn crouched behind a cluster of jagged rocks, their backs pressed against the cool stone. Dominion forces moved cautiously through the dunes, their flashlights cutting through the darkness.
"They're fanning out," Rivan whispered, their bow drawn. "We need to move before they box us in."
Ardyn gritted her teeth, her blade ready. "And go where? Every direction's a death trap with them on our trail."
Rivan glanced upward, their sharp eyes scanning the stars for a familiar landmark. "The ridge to the east. If we can make it there, we'll have high ground and a better chance of spotting Elaine and Lira."
Ardyn snorted. "High ground won't mean much if we're dead before we get there."
"Then stop talking and move," Rivan said, already slipping into the shadows.
Ardyn followed reluctantly, her movements deliberate and silent. The Dominion patrols moved closer, their voices muffled by the wind.
One soldier stopped, his flashlight sweeping dangerously close to their position. Ardyn's grip on her blade tightened, her muscles coiled as she prepared to strike.
Rivan placed a hand on her arm, shaking their head. With careful precision, they nocked an arrow and fired, striking a nearby rock. The sound drew the soldier's attention away, giving the pair enough time to slip past unnoticed.
Ardyn exhaled sharply. "I hate it when you're right."
Rivan allowed a faint smirk. "You'll survive."
The Fissure's Warning
Back at the outcrop, the shards' energy continued to flow into the fissure, their light casting shifting patterns across the ground. The whispers in Elaine's mind grew louder, their tone urgent.
"The fractures cannot wait, Custodian. Dominion's plans will unravel what little balance remains."
Elaine stood, her breathing steady despite the strain. "We have to keep moving. We can't let Dominion get ahead of us."
Lira looked up at her, her expression uncertain. "And what about Rivan and Ardyn? What if they don't make it?"
Elaine's jaw tightened, her voice firm. "They'll make it. We'll meet them at the safe haven."
The shards' light dimmed slightly, their energy receding back into the fissure. The ground beneath the outcrop grew still, though the faint hum of the fractures remained.
Elaine helped Lira to her feet, her grip steady. "Come on. The sooner we leave, the better chance we have of staying ahead of Dominion."
Dominion's Resurgence
As the pair moved through the desert, the faint sound of engines echoed in the distance. Lira's steps faltered, her fear evident.
"They're back," she said, her voice trembling.
Elaine nodded grimly, her grip on the shard tightening. "Then we don't stop. Not until we're safe."
The shard in her hand pulsed faintly, its whispers a constant reminder of the stakes ahead. The fractures loomed large in her mind, their chaotic energy threatening to consume everything if she failed.
With determination in her step, Elaine pressed forward, the path ahead uncertain but unavoidable.