The air in the underground refuge felt heavy, charged with an ancient energy that Kael couldn't quite place. The visions from the shard still swirled in his mind, vivid and unrelenting, like a puzzle demanding to be solved.
Merek and Liora stood nearby, arguing in hushed tones. Though their words were clipped, Kael could tell they were talking about him—about what he'd done and what it meant.
He clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling to the surface. They were talking about his life as if he weren't standing right there.
"I can hear you, you know," Kael said sharply, cutting through their conversation.
Both of them turned to him. Merek looked sheepish, but Liora's expression was unflinching.
"Good," she said. "Then you can hear how much trouble you've just brought us."
"I didn't ask for this," Kael shot back, his voice rising. "I didn't ask for any of it! The gods, the geomancy, whatever's happening—it's not my fault!"
"No, but it is your responsibility now," Liora said, her tone icy. "You think you're the only one who's had their life turned upside down? Welcome to the club, kid. We all have scars. It's what you do with them that matters."
Kael opened his mouth to argue, but Merek stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. "Enough. Both of you. We don't have time for this."
Liora's jaw tightened, but she said nothing more.
Kael turned away, his emotions simmering. He hated feeling helpless, like a pawn in a game he didn't understand. But as his gaze fell on the carved walls of the refuge, something caught his eye—a series of symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"What are these?" he asked, stepping closer.
Liora glanced over. "Resistance sigils. They're a kind of record—stories, warnings, that sort of thing."
Kael ran his fingers over the symbols, feeling their warmth beneath his touch. The lines seemed to shift and move under his gaze, forming images and words in his mind.
One symbol stood out: a spiral surrounded by jagged lines, like a storm contained within a circle.
"It's… a prophecy," Kael murmured, the words forming unbidden on his lips. "The Earthbound will rise against the gods, wielding the power of the land itself. But their strength will be their undoing."
Liora's expression darkened. "Where did you hear that?"
Kael pointed to the sigil. "It's right here. Can't you see it?"
Liora and Merek exchanged a look.
"There's nothing there," Merek said cautiously.
Kael frowned, his fingers tracing the spiral. The warmth of the stone grew stronger, and suddenly, his mind was flooded with another vision—a battle raging across a shattered landscape, with armies of earth and stone clashing against divine light.
In the center of it all stood a lone figure, their face obscured but their presence undeniable.
Kael stumbled back, gasping.
"What is it?" Merek asked, his voice laced with concern.
Kael shook his head, struggling to find the words. "It's… it's coming. A war. And I think I'm supposed to stop it."
The revelation hung heavy in the air as they prepared to leave the refuge. Liora moved with practiced efficiency, gathering supplies and checking her weapons, while Merek poured over the old maps scattered across the table.
Kael sat apart, his mind racing. The weight of what he'd seen—and what it implied—was almost too much to bear.
"Here," Liora said, tossing him a small pouch.
Kael caught it awkwardly. "What's this?"
"Dried rations. You'll need your strength."
"Thanks," he muttered, slipping the pouch into his pack.
Liora hesitated, her sharp demeanor softening for a moment. "Look… I know this isn't easy. But if what you saw is true, we don't have the luxury of second-guessing. We need to be ready."
Kael met her gaze, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. "Do you really think I can do this? Fight the gods?"
"I think you don't have a choice," she said simply. "But that doesn't mean you're alone."
The journey back to the surface was uneventful, but the moment they stepped out into the forest, the tension returned. The air was colder now, and the shadows seemed to cling to the trees like a living thing.
"We need to move quickly," Liora said, her voice low. "The Sentinels won't stop searching."
They moved in silence, the forest eerily quiet around them. Kael kept his senses alert, his connection to the earth faint but present.
It wasn't long before they heard it—the faint hum of energy that signaled the Sentinels' approach.
"They're close," Liora whispered, her hand tightening on her dagger. "Stay together."
Kael felt his pulse quicken as the sound grew louder. He could sense the vibrations in the ground, subtle but distinct, like ripples in a pond.
Then, without warning, the first Sentinel emerged.
It moved with terrifying speed, its silvery armor catching the light as it charged toward them. Liora reacted instantly, hurling her dagger with deadly precision. The blade struck the Sentinel's chest, but it barely slowed, its featureless face turning toward her with an almost mechanical focus.
"Move!" Merek shouted, pulling Kael out of the way as the Sentinel swung a massive blade, its edge cleaving through the trees like paper.
Kael hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He scrambled to his feet, his heart pounding.
"Kael!" Liora's voice cut through the chaos. "Use your power!"
"I can't!" he shouted back, panic flooding his veins.
"Yes, you can!" she yelled, dodging another strike. "Feel the earth! Trust it!"
Kael closed his eyes, forcing himself to block out the noise. He reached down, pressing his hands against the ground.
At first, there was nothing. But then, slowly, he felt it—the steady, rhythmic pulse of the earth, strong and unyielding.
He focused on that rhythm, letting it guide him.
The ground beneath the Sentinel suddenly shifted, rising up in jagged spikes that pierced through its armor. The creature let out a strange, distorted scream before collapsing, its body crumpling like a discarded puppet.
Kael opened his eyes, breathing hard.
Liora stared at him, a faint smile playing at her lips. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
Merek clapped a hand on his shoulder, his face a mix of relief and pride. "You did it, Kael. You controlled it."
Kael nodded, though his legs felt like jelly. The power was exhilarating, but it was also terrifying.
And he knew this was only the beginning.