The artifact pulsed faintly, its crystalline surface glowing in rhythm with the fractures beneath the ground. The air around it shimmered with a strange, resonant energy, bending light and sound into faint, distorted echoes.
Rivan traced the glowing symbols etched into the artifact, their sharp eyes studying the patterns with intent focus. "These markings—they're part of the Nexus's language," they said, their voice steady. "It's like a message, written into the fractures themselves."
Ardyn crouched beside them, her blade resting on her shoulder. "And what's the message? 'Touch this and die horribly?'"
Rivan managed a faint smile, their fingers pausing over a particularly intricate section of the artifact. "More like... 'Everything you know is a lie.'"
Ardyn raised an eyebrow. "Great. I love those kinds of messages."
The Artifact's Vision
As Rivan placed both hands on the artifact, the fractures' light flared brightly, casting the site in a blinding glow. The air grew heavy, resonating with a low, steady hum that filled the space with an almost palpable presence.
"I'm seeing something," Rivan said, their voice distant.
"Seeing what?" Ardyn asked, her tone sharp.
Images filled Rivan's mind: the Nexus whole and radiant, its harmonious energy flowing through the fractures like rivers of light. But the vision shifted, showing shadowed figures wielding shards, their actions tearing the Nexus apart and rewriting its purpose.
"They... they broke it on purpose," Rivan said, their voice trembling. "The Nexus wasn't just a network—it was alive. It connected everything—every fracture, every shard, every person. But they destroyed it to seize control."
"Who's 'they?'" Ardyn demanded, her grip tightening on her blade.
Rivan opened their eyes, their expression filled with quiet dread. "The Custodians. The ones who were supposed to protect it."
Dominion's Attack
The faint hum of engines grew louder, breaking the heavy silence. Dominion's convoy crested the ridge, their vehicles rumbling across the fractured terrain. Soldiers poured out quickly, forming a tight perimeter around the site.
"They're here," Ardyn said, rising to her feet.
Rivan turned to her, their expression resolute. "We can't let them take this artifact. It's too important—it holds the answers we've been searching for."
Ardyn unsheathed her blade, her stance defensive. "Then we fight."
The fractures beneath the ground pulsed erratically as Dominion's forces advanced. The air shimmered with chaotic energy, rippling outward as the artifact's glow intensified.
The commander stepped forward, his voice sharp and commanding. "Surrender the artifact and the shards, and I might consider sparing you."
Rivan notched an arrow, their gaze steady. "You'll have to take them from us."
The commander's expression hardened. "So be it."
The Fractures' Instability
The first wave of soldiers opened fire, their weapons blazing with Nexus energy. The fractures beneath the ground trembled violently, their chaotic rhythm syncing with the artifact's escalating glow.
Ardyn darted forward, her blade slicing through the nearest attackers with precise, lethal movements. "Rivan, whatever you're doing, do it fast!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.
Rivan placed their hands on the artifact again, their breathing steady as the fractures' whispers filled their mind.
"Unity was broken by choice. Balance demands clarity. The path is clear."
The artifact's light flared suddenly, casting the site in blinding brilliance. The fractures beneath the ground pulsed violently, their chaotic energy spiraling upward in jagged waves.
"What's happening?" Ardyn shouted, glancing back at Rivan.
"The artifact—it's reacting to the fractures," Rivan said, their voice trembling. "It's trying to stabilize them, but the energy is too unstable."
A Cryptic Warning
As the fractures' energy spiraled upward, the artifact emitted a low, resonant hum. The glowing symbols on its surface shifted, forming new patterns that pulsed with chaotic light.
Rivan's voice broke the silence, filled with quiet dread. "It's not just showing us the past—it's warning us about the future."
"Warning us about what?" Ardyn demanded, slicing through another attacker.
"The fractures," Rivan said, their voice faint. "They're not just unstable—they're alive. They're reaching out because they're dying. And if they collapse, the entire Nexus will go with them."
Ardyn froze, her blade hovering mid-swing. "What does that mean for us?"
"It means," Rivan said, their tone grim, "that everything is at stake."