The fractures beneath Rivan's feet pulsed faintly, their rhythm steady but subdued, as if waiting for the decision that lingered in the air. The Watcher stood still, their shimmering cloak of fractured light shifting in slow, deliberate patterns.
"You're asking us to trust you," Ardyn said, her blade still drawn, the edge catching the fractures' faint glow. "And so far, you've given us nothing but riddles."
The Watcher inclined their head slightly, their voice calm. "Trust is a fragile thing, shaped by necessity. You have seen the fractures' instability—their chaos. Without guidance, their collapse is inevitable. I offer a way forward."
Rivan's gaze was fixed on the Watcher, their mind racing with the fractures' faint whispers that still echoed in their thoughts. "What's your connection to the fractures?" they asked. "Why do you care if they collapse?"
The Watcher's faint smile flickered. "Because I am part of them, and they are part of me. The fractures remember what the Nexus was meant to be. Through them, I remember as well."
Ardyn lowered her blade slightly, her brow furrowing. "You're a fragment of the Nexus. Just like the shards."
The Watcher nodded. "Precisely. But unlike the shards, I retain the ability to act. To guide. If you wish to restore balance, you will need someone who understands the fractures' purpose."
A Rift Between Allies
The fractures' hum deepened, their rhythm growing louder as the Watcher's gaze shifted between Rivan and Ardyn. The tension between the duo was palpable, the weight of the decision pressing down on them like the fractured terrain beneath their feet.
Ardyn turned to Rivan, her tone sharp. "You're not seriously thinking about trusting this thing, are you? For all we know, they could be leading us straight into another trap."
Rivan hesitated, their sharp eyes scanning the fractures' faint glow. "The fractures brought us here for a reason," they said, their voice quiet but firm. "They're connected to the Watcher. If we ignore this, we might miss something critical."
"Or we might end up dead," Ardyn countered, her tone cutting. "We don't know anything about this place, or them."
The Watcher watched the exchange silently, their expression unreadable. When they finally spoke, their voice was even. "The fractures do not have time for indecision. Every moment you waste brings them closer to collapse."
Rivan's jaw tightened as they met Ardyn's gaze. "We've come this far by following the fractures. If the Watcher can help us understand them, we have to take the risk."
Ardyn exhaled sharply, her frustration evident. "Fine. But if this goes sideways, don't say I didn't warn you."
The Hidden Fracture
The Watcher turned, their cloak of light shifting like rippling water as they began to move. The fractures beneath their feet pulsed faintly, their rhythm syncing with the shimmering patterns of their cloak.
"Follow me," the Watcher said simply.
Rivan and Ardyn exchanged a glance before stepping forward, the fractures' light guiding their path. The terrain around them grew stranger with every step, its jagged edges twisting into impossible shapes that seemed to defy the laws of reality.
"This region is old," the Watcher said, their voice resonating softly through the fractures. "It was among the first to be shattered when the Custodians severed the Nexus's connections. What you see now is a remnant of their interference—a reflection of their fear and ambition."
Rivan's gaze swept the surreal landscape, their thoughts racing. "Why did they shatter the Nexus?" they asked. "What were they afraid of?"
The Watcher paused, their expression somber. "The Nexus was a network of unity—a living system that connected all worlds. But the Custodians saw its power as a threat. They believed that chaos would follow if the Nexus was allowed to grow unchecked. So they chose control over harmony."
Ardyn's voice was edged with skepticism. "And how did that work out for them?"
The Watcher's faint smile returned. "Poorly."
A Warning from the Fractures
The fractures beneath them pulsed suddenly, their light flaring brightly as the terrain trembled. The shimmering patterns of the Watcher's cloak flickered, their glow dimming briefly before stabilizing.
"They're warning us," Rivan said, their tone sharp. "Something's happening."
The Watcher nodded, their expression grim. "Dominion is moving again. They sense the fractures' stability—and they mean to disrupt it."
Ardyn gripped her blade tightly, her stance defensive. "Let them come. We'll deal with them like we always do."
"This is different," the Watcher said, their tone grave. "Dominion has learned from their failures. They are bringing something far more dangerous than before."
The fractures beneath them trembled again, their chaotic rhythm growing louder as the distant hum of machinery echoed through the fractured terrain.
"What do you mean?" Rivan asked, their voice filled with quiet urgency.
The Watcher turned to them, their gaze intense. "They are bringing a weapon that can sever the fractures permanently. If they succeed, this region—and everything connected to it—will be lost."