Kael's presence in the Citadel felt like a storm brewing in a bottle. Tensions ran high among the inhabitants, their wary eyes darting toward him as if his mere existence threatened their fragile peace. It wasn't just fear—there was anger, too, simmering beneath the surface.
The wilds' corruption hadn't just threatened the bastion—it had begun to alter its people. Reports trickled in of soldiers succumbing to fits of rage, their veins darkening as if poisoned by an unseen force. Farms on the outskirts yielded crops withered and gray, animals growing restless and feral.
Kael stood before the Citadel's council chamber, its once-grand oak doors now reinforced with steel, the scars of an earlier attack evident in the deep gashes carved into the frame. He braced himself, knowing that inside awaited not allies, but a trial.
Confrontation
Inside, the chamber was alive with murmurs. The Citadel's leaders had gathered—a mix of commanders, scholars, and elders who represented the bastion's last semblance of governance. At the head of the table sat Captain Reyna, her face etched with exhaustion but her eyes sharp and unyielding.
"You've put us all at risk," Reyna began without preamble, her tone laced with accusation. "The wilds are not what they were. The balance is broken, and the source of this chaos points to you."
Kael straightened, meeting her gaze. "I didn't choose this. But I won't deny my role in it. The wilds are evolving, and if we don't act, they'll consume everything."
Reyna slammed a fist on the table, her frustration palpable. "And whose fault is that? You wield power beyond understanding, Kael, and with it comes consequences. The people are suffering while you..." She gestured to him, her voice dripping with disdain. "...march back here as though you're our savior."
Kael's fists tightened, but he kept his voice steady. "I didn't come here to argue. I came here to warn you. The wilds are retaliating, yes—but it's not the end. It's the beginning. If we don't face this head-on, there won't be a bastion left to protect."
Reyna's lips thinned, her silence speaking volumes. From the far side of the chamber, a voice broke the tension.
"What do you propose, Kael?" It was an elder, his tone weary but curious. "If you've truly seen the heart of this... corruption, then tell us—what can be done?"
Kael took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The wilds aren't just attacking—they're testing. They're looking for something—or someone—to take responsibility for the imbalance. I've felt it. Whatever power I've awakened, it's tied to the core of the wilds themselves."
Reyna crossed her arms, skeptical. "And you think you're the one to fix it?"
Kael met her gaze evenly. "I know I am."
A Reluctant Alliance
The council erupted into debate, voices clashing as arguments flew back and forth. Some called for Kael's exile, fearing his presence would bring further ruin. Others saw him as their only hope, a bridge to understanding the wilds' unpredictable fury. Through it all, Kael stood resolute, his mind fixed on what he had seen and what he needed to do.
Finally, Reyna raised a hand, silencing the room. Her eyes bore into Kael, searching for answers she wasn't sure she wanted.
"You want us to trust you," she said slowly. "To believe that you, the man who brought this chaos to our doorstep, can end it."
Kael nodded. "I don't need your trust. I need your support. The wilds won't stop with the bastion. They'll spread, devouring everything in their path. You can exile me, or you can let me fight for you. The choice is yours."
Reyna studied him for a long moment before finally sighing. "You'll have your chance. But understand this, Kael—if you fail, it won't just be the wilds you'll answer to. It'll be us."
Preparing for the Unknown
The Citadel sprang into action, its defenses bolstered as Kael outlined his plan. He would journey to the heart of the wilds, a place whispered of in legend but never confirmed—a nexus where the land's energy converged. If he could reach it, perhaps he could restore the balance.
The Wanderer, ever Kael's shadow, stepped forward. "You'll need guidance. The wilds are shifting faster than you realize. Paths that existed yesterday may be gone tomorrow."
Kael glanced at him, nodding. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Reyna interrupted, her expression grim. "You won't go alone. If this is truly our last hope, we'll send a detachment with you."
Kael shook his head. "They won't survive."
Reyna bristled. "You think you're the only one capable of facing danger?"
"I think," Kael said evenly, "that this journey will break anyone who isn't ready to face the wilds' full wrath. I can't protect them, Reyna. Not from this."
The silence that followed was heavy. Finally, Reyna relented, though her glare promised this wasn't the end of the argument.
The First Fracture
Kael left the Citadel under the cover of twilight, the Wanderer at his side. Behind him, the bastion's lights flickered like distant stars, a reminder of what he was fighting for—and what he stood to lose.
The journey was grueling from the outset. The land itself seemed to resist them, trees bending unnaturally, roots snaking across paths to block their progress. The air grew heavier with each step, laden with an electric charge that set Kael's nerves on edge.
Hours turned into days, the landscape growing stranger with each passing moment. The fractures in the wilds were more pronounced now—fields of grass that shimmered like glass, rivers flowing with liquid shadow. And always, the sense of being watched.
On the third night, as they camped in the shadow of a jagged cliff, the first attack came.
It was subtle at first—a rustling in the underbrush, too faint to be natural. Kael tensed, his hand going to his spear. The Wanderer stood motionless, his eyes scanning the darkness.
Then, without warning, the ground erupted. A massive beast, its form shifting and writhing as though it were made of the wilds themselves, lunged at them. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its roar was a cacophony of pain and fury.
Kael moved on instinct, his spear meeting the creature's claws with a deafening clash. The beast was fast—faster than anything he had faced before—but Kael was faster. The wilds surged within him, guiding his movements, enhancing his strength.
The fight was brutal, each strike shaking the ground. But Kael's resolve never wavered. With a final, powerful thrust, he drove his spear through the beast's heart. It let out a bone-chilling scream before collapsing into a heap of ash and earth.
As silence returned, Kael stood over the fallen creature, his chest heaving. The Wanderer approached, his expression unreadable.
"They're coming for you," he said quietly. "The wilds won't stop until they've reclaimed what you've taken."
Kael tightened his grip on his spear, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Let them come."