The cloaked figure moved with an air of calm purpose, the tattered edges of its robes brushing against the scorched ground. As it stepped into the dim light, Kael caught glimpses of its face beneath the hood—angular features, unnaturally pale skin, and glowing eyes that seemed to pierce through him.
Ardin tightened his grip on his daggers, stepping between Kael and the figure. "Who are you, and why are you following us?"
The figure raised a hand, its voice calm yet unnervingly deep. "Peace, wanderer. I am no enemy."
"Then state your purpose," Maris demanded, raising her rifle.
The figure turned its gaze to Kael, ignoring the others. "The one who wields the rift's blade—you are the reason I am here."
Kael's hand instinctively moved to his sword, though it still lay dormant at his side. "What do you want from me?"
"To warn you," the figure replied, stepping closer. "And to offer guidance, should you choose to listen."
Ardin scoffed, his daggers glinting in the faint light. "We're not exactly in the market for advice from mysterious strangers."
The figure's glowing eyes flicked to Ardin. "You would do well to reconsider. Without my guidance, your path will end in ruin."
---
The Rift's Curse
Kael stepped forward, silencing Ardin with a glance. "If you're here to warn us, then speak plainly. What do you know about this sword?"
The figure's gaze returned to Kael, its expression unreadable. "That blade is no ordinary weapon. It is a shard of the rift itself, forged in chaos and tempered by desperation. Few can wield such a weapon without succumbing to its influence."
Kael frowned. "What influence?"
"The rift feeds on its bearer," the figure explained. "Every swing, every battle, every victory—it takes a part of you in return. Your memories, your emotions, your very essence. If you continue to wield it recklessly, you will lose yourself entirely."
Maris glanced at Kael, concern flickering in her eyes. "And what happens if he does?"
"Then he becomes like them." The figure gestured toward the fading mist where the shades had been. "A hollow servant of the rift, doomed to wander as a creature of shadow."
Ardin crossed his arms. "So, what's the alternative? Throw the sword away and hope for the best?"
The figure shook its head. "The rift's mark cannot be undone. But it can be mastered. That is why I have come—to teach you how to wield its power without losing yourself."
Kael studied the figure carefully. The offer was tempting, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this stranger than met the eye. "Why help us? What's in it for you?"
The figure hesitated for a moment, then pulled back its hood, revealing a face that was eerily human yet undeniably alien. Its skin shimmered faintly, like starlight trapped in flesh, and its eyes were twin abysses, swirling with cosmic energy.
"I am Vaelin, a Seeker of the Lost," the figure said. "I have walked the edges of the rift for centuries, seeking to understand its mysteries. Your blade is tied to a greater threat, one that could consume this world if left unchecked. If you fall, so too does everything else."
---
A Choice to Make
Maris exchanged a wary glance with Ardin. "And we're just supposed to take your word for it? How do we know you're not part of this 'greater threat'?"
Vaelin's expression darkened. "You do not. But you have no other options. The shades were merely the beginning. There are far worse creatures lurking in the rift's depths—creatures that will come for you, whether you are ready or not."
Kael's grip on his sword tightened. He wanted to trust Vaelin, but the memories of Zyvaris and the devastation he'd caused were still fresh in his mind. "If I agree to your help, what does that mean? What do I have to do?"
Vaelin stepped closer, his voice soft but firm. "You must embrace the rift's power, but with discipline. I will teach you how to channel its energy without succumbing to its hunger. But the path will not be easy. There will be pain, sacrifice, and choices that will test your very soul."
"And if I say no?" Kael asked.
Vaelin's glowing eyes bore into him. "Then the rift will claim you, sooner or later. And when it does, there will be no saving you—or this world."
---
The First Lesson
Kael took a deep breath, his mind racing. He looked to Maris and Ardin, searching for reassurance, but their expressions mirrored his own uncertainty. Finally, he turned back to Vaelin.
"All right," he said. "I'll listen to what you have to say. But if I even suspect you're leading us astray—"
"You will not have to," Vaelin interrupted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Come. The first step begins now."
Vaelin raised his hand, and a circle of glowing runes appeared on the ground. The air around them grew heavy, charged with energy that crackled like distant thunder.
"What is this?" Maris asked, her voice edged with suspicion.
"A gateway," Vaelin replied. "To a place where you can begin to understand the rift's power. But be warned—the trials within will test you in ways you cannot imagine."
Kael stepped forward, his sword glowing faintly in response to the runes. "What kind of trials?"
Vaelin's smile faded. "The kind that reveal who you truly are."
Before anyone could protest, the runes flared with light, and the world around them dissolved into blinding white.