The faint glow of dawn painted the horizon as Kael, Ardin, and Maris gathered in the village square. The air still carried the stench of the rift beasts, but the villagers were busy clearing the debris and reinforcing their homes. Though they had survived the night, fear lingered in their eyes.
Kael leaned against a wooden post, his body sore from the battle. The weight of his sword at his side felt heavier than usual, as if the weapon itself bore the memories of the fight.
Halric approached, his expression a mixture of gratitude and exhaustion. "You've done more for us than anyone ever has. If there's anything we can do to help you…" He trailed off, glancing nervously at the horizon.
Kael shook his head. "Just stay safe. Fortify the village, and if more rifts appear, leave immediately. The rift beasts won't stop."
Halric hesitated before nodding. "We will. Thank you again."
As Halric returned to his people, Maris joined Kael, tossing a chunk of bread his way. "Eat. You look like you're about to keel over."
Kael caught it and sighed. "Not much time to rest, is there?"
"Not unless you want to let the next village fall," Maris replied, her tone light but her expression serious.
Ardin approached, holding a map he'd scavenged from the village. "We've got a lead. The villagers say the rift activity has been concentrated in the northern plains, near the ruins of Eldrin."
"Eldrin?" Kael asked, taking a bite of the bread.
"A city lost to rift corruption years ago," Ardin explained. "If there's a pattern to these rifts, the ruins might hold the answer."
Maris scoffed. "Or more trouble."
"Either way, it's our best shot," Ardin said firmly.
---
The Journey North
The group left Lyria by midday, the villagers waving them off with weary hope. The road to Eldrin was treacherous, winding through dense forests and rocky terrain. As they traveled, the signs of rift corruption became more evident—trees twisted unnaturally, their bark blackened and oozing a strange, tar-like substance. The air grew colder, biting against their skin.
Kael couldn't shake the unease settling over him. Each step closer to Eldrin felt like stepping into the heart of chaos. The visions from the rift vein haunted him, vivid flashes of the spire and the darkness it radiated.
"Kael," Ardin's voice broke through his thoughts. "You're quiet again. What's on your mind?"
Kael hesitated before speaking. "The spire. It feels like… like it's watching me. Every time I close a rift, the connection gets stronger."
Maris glanced at him, her brow furrowed. "And that doesn't bother you?"
"Of course it does," Kael admitted. "But if this connection can help us stop the rifts, I have to use it."
Ardin frowned. "Just be careful. Power like that always comes with a price."
---
The Whispering Woods
As night fell, the group decided to make camp in a clearing surrounded by dense trees. The forest was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Maris set up a perimeter of traps while Ardin started a fire.
Kael sat by the flames, staring into their flickering light. His mind wandered to his grandfather's teachings—kindness, strength, and the belief that protecting others was worth any sacrifice.
"Thinking about him again?" Maris asked, sitting across from him.
Kael nodded. "I wonder what he'd say about all this. About the rifts, the beasts… everything."
Maris smirked. "He'd probably tell you to stop sulking and get some sleep."
Kael chuckled softly. "Yeah, he would."
Suddenly, a faint whisper carried on the wind, too soft to make out. Kael stiffened, his hand instinctively moving to his sword.
"You heard that too?" Ardin asked, already standing with his weapon drawn.
Maris scanned the treeline, her rifle at the ready. "We're not alone."
The whispers grew louder, more distinct, though the words were incomprehensible. The shadows between the trees seemed to shift, moving unnaturally.
"Stay close," Kael said, his voice low.
From the darkness, figures began to emerge—humanoid but distorted, their bodies flickering like images on a broken screen. Their hollow eyes glowed faintly, and their movements were jerky, as if they were being pulled by invisible strings.
"Rift wraiths," Ardin muttered. "I hate these things."
The wraiths didn't charge. Instead, they circled the group, their whispers blending into a chilling symphony. Kael could feel their energy pressing against him, probing his mind.
"They're waiting for something," Maris said, her grip tightening on her rifle.
Kael stepped forward, his blade gleaming in the firelight. "Then let's not give them the chance."
---
The Wraiths' Dance
Kael moved first, his sword slicing through the nearest wraith. The creature dissolved into mist, but the others didn't falter. They closed in, their whispers growing louder, almost deafening.
Maris fired, her shots tearing through two wraiths at once. "They're endless!" she shouted.
"Keep fighting!" Kael yelled, swinging his blade in a wide arc. The rift energy within him surged, his strikes glowing with raw power. Each wraith he cut down released a burst of energy, which seemed to linger in the air.
Ardin fought beside him, his daggers flashing in the dim light. "Kael, they're not just attacking—they're draining us!"
Kael realized Ardin was right. With each swing, he felt more fatigued, as if the wraiths were siphoning his strength.
"We need to finish this fast," Kael said, his voice strained.
Closing his eyes, Kael focused on the energy around him. He could feel the connection—the thread linking the wraiths to the rift that had spawned them. Channeling his power, he reached out to the thread, pulling it toward himself.
The wraiths froze, their forms flickering violently. The whispers turned into shrieks as Kael tore the thread apart. With a final burst of light, the wraiths vanished, leaving the forest eerily silent once more.
---
The Ruins Await
Kael dropped to one knee, his breath ragged. Maris and Ardin rushed to his side.
"What did you do?" Maris asked, her voice tinged with both awe and concern.
"I severed their connection to the rift," Kael said between breaths. "But it's getting harder. The more I use this power, the more it pulls at me."
Ardin placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. "You saved us. That's what matters."
Maris nodded. "Let's rest. Eldrin can wait a few more hours."
Kael didn't argue. As they settled back by the fire, the weight of the journey ahead loomed over them. Eldrin was close, and with it, the answers they sought—but also the dangers they feared.
For now, all they could do was prepare for the storm that awaited them.