The fractures beneath Rivan's feet pulsed faintly, their light spiraling outward in steady waves that guided their path through the jagged terrain. Each pulse resonated in their mind, filling their thoughts with fragmented whispers that echoed faintly, like distant voices calling from the depths of an abyss.
"Does it feel different now?" Ardyn asked, her tone cautious as she walked beside them. Her blade rested on her shoulder, its edge catching the fractures' faint glow.
Rivan hesitated, their gaze fixed on the shimmering fissures ahead. "It's... clearer," they said finally. "Like the fractures aren't just guiding me—they're showing me things. Pieces of what used to be here, before the Nexus was broken."
Ardyn frowned, glancing at the shimmering terrain. "And what exactly are they showing you?"
"Images," Rivan replied, their voice distant. "Memories, maybe. I can't tell if they're real or just fragments of something long gone. But they feel... important."
"Let's hope they're useful too," Ardyn muttered.
The Veilspire's Warning
The fractures' light grew brighter as they approached the Veilspire, a towering spire of jagged crystal that spiraled upward like a frozen vortex. The air grew heavier, thick with the fractures' chaotic energy, and the ground beneath them trembled faintly with each step.
"This place feels alive," Ardyn said, her voice low. "And not in a good way."
The Watcher stepped forward, their shimmering cloak of light flickering faintly. "The Veilspire is one of the oldest fractured regions," they said. "It was once a Custodian outpost—a place where they conducted experiments to harness the Nexus's energy. What remains here is both a warning and a legacy."
Rivan's gaze sharpened as they studied the towering spire. "The fractures are stronger here," they said softly. "Their whispers—they're louder."
"Louder isn't always better," Ardyn said, gripping her blade tightly. "If this place was an experiment, what exactly were they experimenting on?"
The Watcher's expression darkened slightly. "The Custodians sought to control the Nexus by creating artificial shards—fragments of the system that could bend its energy to their will. But their experiments failed. The shards became unstable, and the fractures consumed them."
"Let me guess," Ardyn said dryly. "We're about to walk straight into the middle of all that."
The Watcher's faint smile returned. "Precisely."
The Fractures' Chaos
As they entered the Veilspire, the fractures' light flared brightly, casting the terrain in blinding brilliance. The jagged ground beneath them pulsed erratically, its chaotic rhythm clashing with the steady hum of the spire's energy.
The whispers in Rivan's mind grew louder, their fragmented words overlapping into a cacophony of sound that sent a sharp pain through their thoughts. They staggered slightly, clutching their head as the fractures' energy surged through them.
"Rivan!" Ardyn shouted, steadying them. "What's wrong?"
"The fractures," Rivan said through gritted teeth. "They're... trying to show me something. It's overwhelming."
The Watcher stepped closer, their tone calm. "You must focus. The fractures are testing you—they want to see if you are worthy of their secrets."
"Worthy or not, we're not sticking around if this place blows," Ardyn muttered.
Rivan closed their eyes, their breathing steadying as they synced their thoughts with the fractures' chaotic rhythm. The whispers grew clearer, forming fragmented images in their mind: jagged shards glowing with unstable energy, the Custodians' shadowed figures working in the Veilspire's depths, and a sudden, violent explosion that shattered the spire's foundations.
"They were trying to create a new Nexus," Rivan said softly, their voice trembling. "But they couldn't control it. The shards—they rebelled against them."
A Hidden Path
The fractures' light dimmed slightly, their chaotic rhythm growing steadier as Rivan opened their eyes. The terrain ahead shifted, revealing a faint, glowing path that spiraled upward toward the Veilspire's peak.
"The fractures have accepted you," the Watcher said, their tone even. "They are guiding you to what remains of the Custodians' experiments."
"Great," Ardyn muttered, her grip tightening on her blade. "Let's hope this path doesn't lead to another trap."
Rivan glanced at her, their expression steady. "We don't have a choice. If Elaine Kastor is connected to the Nexus, then the answers we need might be here."
Ardyn exhaled sharply, her frustration evident. "Fine. But if this place starts falling apart, I'm dragging you out of here."
The Watcher's faint smile returned. "The Veilspire will not collapse—unless you fail."