The golden crystal rested in Azarion's hands, its light a soft yet radiant glow that felt warm and reassuring. The chaos of their battle with the shadowspawn faded into the back of his mind as he examined the artifact. Despite its beauty, there was a strange weight to it, like holding a fragment of the sun.
"It doesn't seem dangerous," Sera said, watching him carefully. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. "But then again, nothing glowing like that is ever safe in my experience."
Azarion chuckled softly, his fingers tracing the smooth surface of the crystal. "You're probably right. But this… it feels alive somehow. Like it's calling out to me."
"That's what worries me," Sera muttered under her breath.
As they stood in the clearing, the forest around them seemed unnaturally quiet. The usual sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls were absent, replaced by an almost oppressive silence.
"We shouldn't stay here too long," Sera said. "If those things were attracted to Erevos' remnants, more could be on their way."
Azarion nodded, sliding the crystal into a pouch on his belt. "You're right. Let's head for the outpost. The others need to know what we've found."
The two set off down the path, moving quickly but cautiously. The air felt heavy, as if the forest itself were holding its breath. Azarion couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them.
"Do you feel that?" he asked quietly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Sera glanced around, her daggers already drawn. "Yeah. We're not alone."
The words had barely left her mouth when a low, guttural growl echoed through the trees. Azarion spun around, his blade igniting with light, but nothing appeared.
"Show yourself!" he commanded, his voice steady despite the tension in his chest.
A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in tattered black robes. Their face was obscured by a hood, but a faint violet glow emanated from where their eyes should have been.
"Do you think you've truly escaped the Abyss?" the figure said, their voice a haunting whisper that seemed to echo unnaturally. "Erevos was but a fragment of its will."
Azarion stepped forward, his sword at the ready. "Who are you?"
The figure tilted its head, as if amused by the question. "A messenger. Nothing more."
"Then deliver your message and leave," Sera said, her tone sharp as she raised her daggers.
The figure chuckled softly. "The Abyss cannot be destroyed. It cannot be sealed. It exists beyond your comprehension, in the spaces between reality. And it is watching you, Azarion."
Azarion's grip tightened on his sword. "If the Abyss is so powerful, why does it need messengers to threaten me?"
The figure's laughter grew louder, more distorted. "You misunderstand. This is not a threat. It is a warning. The light you carry—the crystal—is not what you think. It is a fragment of something far older than the Abyss. And it will demand more from you than you are prepared to give."
Before Azarion could respond, the figure began to dissolve into shadows, their form melting into the darkness of the forest.
"Wait!" he called out, but it was too late. The messenger was gone, leaving only an eerie silence in their wake.
Sera lowered her daggers, her expression troubled. "What do you think that meant? A fragment of something older than the Abyss?"
"I don't know," Azarion admitted, his gaze falling to the pouch at his side. "But whatever this crystal is, it's more than just a weapon. We need answers."
"And where exactly are we supposed to find those?" Sera asked, raising an eyebrow.
Azarion thought for a moment before a name came to him—a place spoken of in old stories, a sanctuary of knowledge hidden deep within the world.
"The Aetherium Archive," he said quietly.
Sera's eyes widened. "You can't be serious. That place is a myth."
"Maybe," Azarion said. "But if it's real, it's our best chance. The Archive is said to hold the secrets of the gods. If there's anywhere we can learn more about the crystal and the Abyss, it's there."
Sera sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Fine. But if this leads us into more trouble, I'm holding you personally responsible."
Azarion smiled faintly, despite the tension in the air. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
As they continued their journey, the golden crystal pulsed faintly in its pouch, its light seeming to grow stronger with every step. And far away, in the deepest reaches of the Abyss, something stirred—a presence vast and ancient, its attention fixed firmly on Azarion.
The true battle was only beginning.