The tower loomed in the distance behind them, its shattered crystal and fading runes a grim reminder of what they had just faced. The group trudged along the uneven path, the weight of their exhaustion settling into every step. Even Calder, usually the loudest voice among them, was uncharacteristically quiet.
Sam clutched the box tightly, its light faint and subdued after the fight. The gauntlet on their hand felt like a lead weight, its glow barely perceptible. They glanced at Delphine, who led the group with her usual stoic determination, and Calder, who brought up the rear, his blade resting on his shoulder.
"So," Sam began, their voice breaking the heavy silence. "Do we even know how many more of these conduits are out there?"
Delphine didn't look back. "No. But the darkness won't stop until they're all active. We have to assume there are several."
Sam groaned. "Several? That's your answer? Great. I'm thrilled."
Calder chuckled, though it lacked his usual enthusiasm. "Cheer up, kid. At least you're still alive."
"For now," Sam muttered. "Feels like the gauntlet's doing all the work. What happens when it gives out?"
"It won't," Delphine said, her tone firm. "The gauntlet chose you for a reason. It will last as long as you do."
"Comforting," Sam said sarcastically.
The group reached a small stream by mid-afternoon, its clear waters reflecting the pale sky above. Delphine motioned for them to stop, and Sam sank gratefully onto a nearby rock, the box resting on their lap. Calder crouched by the water, splashing some onto his face before filling a canteen.
"We'll rest here for a while," Delphine said, sitting cross-legged near the stream. "But not too long. The darkness won't wait for us to recover."
Sam sighed, leaning back against a tree. "Does it ever stop with you? Resting. Moving. Fighting. Rinse and repeat."
Delphine met their gaze, her expression softening just slightly. "If you're tired, imagine how the villages feel. They don't have the luxury of stopping. If we don't keep going, they won't have a chance."
Sam's shoulders sagged. "Yeah, yeah. Guilt trip accepted."
Calder laughed, settling down beside them. "You've got to learn to pace yourself, Herald. Otherwise, you'll burn out before we even hit the next conduit."
"Don't call me that," Sam grumbled.
"You keep saying that," Calder said, smirking. "But it's growing on you, isn't it?"
Sam shot him a glare, but their retort was cut off by a sudden ripple in the air. The box on their lap pulsed sharply, its light flaring. Delphine was on her feet instantly, her daggers drawn.
"What is it?" Sam asked, their heart pounding.
"The wards are reacting," Delphine said, her voice tight. "Something's coming."
Calder was already up, his blade gleaming in the fading light. "Can't we get a break for once?"
The air grew colder, and the shadows around them seemed to stretch and writhe. Sam stood, gripping the box tightly as the gauntlet on their hand flared to life. The stream's gentle babble was drowned out by a low, resonant hum that seemed to emanate from the ground itself.
Then, they appeared.
Figures emerged from the shadows—humanoid shapes clad in dark armor, their movements unnervingly fluid. They were unlike the corrupted they had faced before. These creatures exuded an aura of intelligence, their glowing red eyes scanning the group with eerie precision.
"Not corrupted," Delphine said, her voice barely above a whisper. "These are sentinels."
"Sentinels?" Sam asked. "And they're worse than corrupted because…?"
"They're faster," Calder said, his grip tightening on his blade. "Smarter. And a hell of a lot harder to kill."
"Great," Sam muttered. "Because this day was going so well."
The sentinels moved as one, spreading out to encircle the group. Delphine stepped forward, her daggers gleaming. "Stay close. Don't let them separate us."
Sam raised the gauntlet, its golden light cutting through the gloom. The sentinels didn't flinch, their movements unnervingly coordinated as they advanced. Calder struck first, his blade arcing toward the nearest figure. The sentinel dodged effortlessly, its counterstrike forcing him to step back.
"They're fast," Calder said through gritted teeth. "Real fast."
Delphine engaged another sentinel, her daggers flashing as she parried its strikes. Sam stood frozen, their mind racing. The gauntlet's energy hummed against their skin, but the sheer precision of the sentinels left them paralyzed with doubt.
"Sam!" Delphine's voice snapped them out of their daze. "Focus on the gauntlet! It's the only thing that can stop them!"
"I'm trying!" Sam yelled, raising the gauntlet as a sentinel lunged at them. The golden light flared, striking the creature and sending it stumbling back. The sentinel let out a guttural growl, its movements faltering before it dissolved into smoke.
"One down," Calder called, dodging another strike. "Keep going!"
The box pulsed, its light syncing with the gauntlet. Sam focused on the nearest sentinel, releasing another burst of energy. The golden light engulfed the creature, its form disintegrating under the attack. The remaining sentinels hesitated, their red eyes flickering as if recalibrating.
Delphine pressed the advantage, her daggers finding purchase between the joints of a sentinel's armor. The creature crumpled, dissolving into ash as the runes on its armor faded. Calder followed suit, his blade cleaving through another figure.
By the time the last sentinel fell, the clearing was silent once more. Sam collapsed onto a rock, their chest heaving as the gauntlet's glow dimmed. "Please tell me that was the last of them."
"For now," Delphine said, cleaning her daggers. "But they'll send more."
"Because of course they will," Sam muttered, rubbing their face.
Calder dropped onto the ground beside them, his grin returning. "You're getting the hang of it, Herald."
Sam groaned. "Do you have to keep calling me that?"
"Yes," Calder said, smirking. "It suits you."
Delphine ignored their bickering, her gaze fixed on the horizon. The faint outline of mountains loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in mist.
"We're close," she said. "The next conduit is in the foothills. If we move quickly, we can reach it by morning."
Sam sighed, their exhaustion creeping back. "Morning. Right. Because who needs sleep?"
Delphine's expression softened, just enough for Sam to notice. "You did well today. Rest while you can. It's only going to get harder from here."
Sam didn't reply, the weight of her words settling over them like a blanket. As they leaned back against the tree, the box pulsed faintly, its light steady and reassuring. The gauntlet felt lighter now, its hum a quiet reminder of the power it held.
"Plan B for destiny," Sam muttered under their breath. "Let's hope it's enough."