Kael's fingers brushed over the glowing etchings, the warmth beneath his touch both soothing and unnerving. The faint hum of energy in the ruins seemed to respond to his presence, growing louder the closer he moved to the central stone. Exhaustion forgotten, Kael knelt and examined the patterns more closely. They formed a spiral, curling inward toward a faint depression in the stone floor.
The beast's blood, still fresh on his hands, dripped onto the spiral. Instantly, the markings flared to life, their glow shifting from a soft gold to a vivid crimson. A low rumble shook the ruins, and the central stone began to sink, revealing a staircase leading into darkness.
Kael hesitated, his instincts warning him to stay above ground. Yet the pull of the unknown was stronger. With his spear in one hand and a torch fashioned from his supplies in the other, he descended.
The air grew cooler the deeper he went, the faint echoes of his footsteps blending with the distant sound of water. The staircase ended in a cavern, its walls glistening with crystals that emitted a pale, otherworldly light. At the center of the cavern stood an altar, carved from the same stone as the ruins above. Resting atop it was a metallic shard, its surface etched with patterns similar to the ones Kael had seen above ground.
Kael approached cautiously. The shard seemed to hum with energy, its glow pulsating like a heartbeat. As he reached for it, a voice echoed in the cavern.
"Who dares disturb the legacy of the old world?"
Kael froze, his eyes darting around the cavern. The voice was deep and resonant, yet it seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"I seek nothing but survival," Kael said, his voice steady despite the unease creeping over him. "If this is sacred, I mean no disrespect."
The silence stretched on for a moment before the voice spoke again. "Survival requires strength, and strength demands sacrifice. Do you understand this?"
Kael nodded, his grip tightening on his spear. "I've already sacrificed much. My life is a testament to that."
The voice chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down Kael's spine. "Then prove your worth, young wanderer. Take the shard and let it bind to your will. If you falter, the wild shall consume you."
Kael hesitated only a moment before reaching for the shard. The moment his fingers touched it, a searing pain shot through his arm. He cried out, dropping his torch as the shard fused with his skin, its energy coursing through him. Visions filled his mind—images of battles, of beasts both ancient and new, of warriors wielding powers beyond comprehension.
When the pain subsided, Kael found himself on his knees, his breathing ragged. The shard was gone, absorbed into his body. He felt its energy lingering within him, waiting to be called upon.
The voice spoke one last time. "You have taken the first step, but the path ahead is treacherous. Remember, strength is not the absence of fear but the will to face it. Now go, wanderer, and carve your legacy."
Kael rose unsteadily, his body trembling from the ordeal. The cavern began to tremble, the crystals dimming as the energy within them dissipated. He turned and ascended the staircase, emerging into the ruins just as the first light of dawn broke through the canopy.
The wild had given him a gift—or perhaps a curse. Either way, Kael knew he couldn't turn back now. The shard's power was his to wield, and the forest would soon test his ability to control it.