The chamber was silent except for the faint hum emanating from the fragment in Kael's hand. The golden glow pulsed gently, like a heartbeat, resonating with an unseen rhythm. Kael closed his hand around it, feeling its warmth spread through him.
"Are you sure touching that thing is a good idea?" Ardin asked, his daggers still drawn as he surveyed the room for any more surprises.
"Probably not," Kael replied, his voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in his chest. "But we don't have a choice. If this is connected to the Nexus—and whatever's affecting this land—it's the key to stopping it."
Vaelin nodded, his gaze lingering on the shard. "The fragment is ancient, older than even the legends of the Nexus. It holds power that could either save or destroy us. Handle it carefully, Kael."
"Great pep talk," Maris muttered, slinging her rifle over her shoulder. "So, what now? Does the shiny rock come with instructions, or do we just wander around until it starts glowing harder?"
Before anyone could answer, the shard flared brightly in Kael's hand. The golden light spilled across the chamber, illuminating the murals on the walls. The once-static carvings began to shift, as though alive, revealing scenes of battles, towering cities, and colossal figures wielding fragments like the one Kael now held.
"The shard is reacting to the chamber," Vaelin observed, his voice filled with awe. "It's showing us its history."
---
Visions of the Past
Kael felt the world around him blur as the light from the shard engulfed him. His companions' voices faded, and he was plunged into a vision.
He stood in a vast hall, its ceiling stretching beyond sight and its walls lined with towering spires of crystal. A council of figures sat in thrones carved from light, their faces obscured but their presence overwhelming. Each figure held a fragment, their energies intertwining to form a blazing orb suspended above them.
"This is the Council of Luminaries," a voice echoed in Kael's mind. It was neither male nor female, but a harmonious blend of both. "They were the keepers of balance, wielders of the Nexus fragments. Together, they maintained order across the realms."
Kael watched as the blazing orb dimmed and fractured, its shards scattering across the realms. Chaos erupted. Darkness surged forth, consuming entire worlds. The figures on the council faded one by one, their fragments lost to time.
"This is what became of them," the voice continued, its tone heavy with sorrow. "The fragments must be reunited, or the cycle will repeat. The Rift will consume all."
The vision shifted to a solitary figure standing at the edge of an abyss, their back turned to Kael. They held a fragment aloft, its light piercing the darkness. The abyss recoiled, but the figure faltered, their strength waning.
"Who are they?" Kael asked, his voice trembling.
"The one who tried and failed," the voice replied. "Now, it is your turn."
---
Awakening from the Vision
Kael's eyes snapped open, and he stumbled back, the shard still glowing in his hand. Maris caught him before he fell.
"Kael! Are you okay?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
"I... I saw them," he said, his voice hoarse. "The ones who came before. The fragments were theirs. They fought to keep the balance, but they failed."
"Failed?" Ardin asked, his brow furrowed. "What does that mean for us?"
Kael looked down at the shard, its light dimming but still warm. "It means we can't fail. If we do, everything—this world, every world—will fall into the Rift."
Vaelin stepped forward, his expression grim. "The fragment has chosen you, Kael. The visions are proof. You're tied to this now, whether you wish to be or not."
Kael clenched his fist around the shard, the weight of its responsibility pressing down on him. "Then we find the other fragments. We reunite them and stop the Rift before it's too late."
Maris gave a half-smile. "No pressure, huh?"
---
A New Journey
The group made their way out of the chamber, the path ahead illuminated by the shard's faint glow. The ruins seemed to shift subtly as they passed, as though the Nexus itself was guiding them.
As they emerged into the open air, the sky above was tinged with red, the sun dipping below the horizon. The land stretched out before them, vast and wild, with countless dangers and mysteries awaiting them.
"What's the plan, then?" Ardin asked, squinting at the horizon.
"We head east," Vaelin said, pointing toward the distant mountains. "There's an old archive hidden there, one that might hold clues about the remaining fragments."
Kael nodded, determination hardening his features. "Then that's where we'll go. But we'll need to be ready. If the Rift's corruption is spreading, it won't just let us walk in and take what we need."
Maris smirked. "Good. I was getting bored anyway."
The group set off, the shard's light guiding their way. Though the weight of their mission loomed heavy, Kael felt a spark of hope. For the first time, he wasn't running from his destiny—he was walking toward it.
And he would not fail.