The roar grew louder, reverberating through the air like a storm. Azarion and Sera stood at the edge of the chasm, the narrow stone bridge stretching before them like a precarious lifeline. Beyond it loomed the Aetherium Archive, shrouded in a faint, golden glow.
"Azarion," Sera said, her voice low but tense, "whatever's down there doesn't sound like it wants us to cross."
Azarion gripped the crystal tightly, his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "We've come too far to turn back now. Stay close to me."
As they stepped onto the bridge, the ground beneath them trembled, and from the depths of the chasm, a massive shadow emerged.
It was a dragon—or at least, it had once been. Its skeletal frame was held together by glowing tendrils of dark energy, and its eyes burned with a crimson light. Black, tattered wings unfurled, stretching impossibly wide, and a guttural growl echoed from its gaping maw.
"Voidwrought," Azarion muttered, his heart sinking. "A creature forged by the Abyss."
Sera's daggers gleamed in her hands as she narrowed her eyes. "Great. A dragon. As if shadowspawn weren't bad enough."
The dragon let out an ear-splitting roar before lunging toward the bridge. Azarion pushed Sera back, raising his sword. The crystal in his hand flared brightly, projecting a shield of golden light that repelled the creature's advance.
The dragon reared back, its crimson eyes narrowing. It circled them, hovering over the chasm, waiting for an opening.
"Any bright ideas?" Sera asked, her voice strained.
Azarion glanced at the crystal. Its glow pulsed rhythmically, as if urging him forward. "We can't fight it here. The bridge is too narrow. We need to reach the Archive."
"And how do you plan to outrun a flying, undead dragon?"
Before Azarion could respond, the dragon attacked again, unleashing a torrent of black flames. Azarion swung his sword, the blade emitting a burst of light that split the flames in two, protecting him and Sera.
"Run!" Azarion shouted, dashing toward the other side of the bridge.
Sera hesitated for only a moment before following him, her steps quick and light on the unstable stone. The dragon roared in frustration, its wings beating furiously as it gave chase.
The bridge began to crumble under the dragon's weight as it landed behind them, its claws digging into the stone. Azarion turned, slashing at the creature's talons with his blade, forcing it to recoil.
"Sera, go ahead!" he yelled. "I'll hold it off!"
"Like hell you will!" she shouted back, her daggers flying toward the dragon's face. The blades struck true, embedding themselves in the creature's glowing eyes. The dragon screeched in pain, thrashing wildly.
Azarion seized the opportunity, channeling energy into his sword. The blade glowed brighter, and with a powerful swing, he unleashed a wave of light that struck the dragon's chest. The creature staggered, pieces of its skeletal frame breaking apart and falling into the chasm below.
"Move!" Azarion shouted, grabbing Sera's arm and pulling her toward the end of the bridge.
They reached the other side just as the bridge gave way entirely, the remaining stones tumbling into the abyss. The dragon let out a furious roar, its wings struggling to keep it aloft as it hovered over the chasm.
Azarion and Sera turned toward the Archive, its massive gates towering before them. Strange glyphs glowed faintly along the surface, pulsating in sync with the crystal in Azarion's hand.
"Is it… locked?" Sera asked, panting.
Azarion stepped forward, holding the crystal up to the gate. The glyphs began to shimmer and shift, rearranging themselves into a pattern that resembled an intricate web.
Behind them, the dragon screeched again, its rage unrelenting.
"We don't have time for puzzles, Azarion!" Sera yelled, her eyes darting between the gate and the approaching creature.
The crystal's glow intensified, and with a loud click, the gates began to open. A warm, golden light spilled out, illuminating the area and bathing Azarion and Sera in its radiance.
The dragon lunged toward them, but as its shadow crossed the threshold of the light, it recoiled violently. The creature screeched, its form unraveling like smoke caught in a gale.
Azarion and Sera stepped through the gates just as they closed behind them, sealing them inside.
For a moment, there was only silence.
The chamber they now stood in was vast, with walls lined with countless shelves filled with glowing orbs and ancient tomes. The ceiling stretched high above them, a dome adorned with constellations that seemed to move and shift. At the center of the room stood a pedestal, and upon it rested a large, crystalline sphere that pulsed with the same golden light as Azarion's artifact.
Sera let out a low whistle. "So this is the Aetherium Archive."
Azarion nodded, his eyes fixed on the sphere. "The heart of all knowledge," he said softly. "If the answers we seek aren't here, they don't exist."
But as they approached the pedestal, a voice echoed through the chamber—deep, resonant, and filled with authority.
"Who dares disturb the sanctity of the Archive?"
Azarion and Sera froze as a figure materialized before them. Clad in ornate, glowing armor, the being was tall and imposing, with eyes that shone like stars.
"I am the Keeper," the figure said. "State your purpose, or face the consequences of your intrusion."