The foothills loomed ahead, jagged silhouettes against the faint blush of dawn. The air was sharp and cold, filled with the crisp scent of earth and stone. Sam trudged along behind Calder and Delphine, their body aching from the battles of the previous day. The gauntlet on their hand was quiet now, its glow faint, as if conserving energy for what lay ahead.
"Tell me," Sam said, breaking the silence, "why do these conduits always have to be in the worst possible places?"
Delphine didn't look back. "Because the darkness thrives in isolation. The harder it is to reach, the more secure it feels."
Sam rolled their eyes. "Great. So, the more we suffer, the better we're doing?"
"Something like that," Calder said with a grin. "Think of it as character building."
"Character building," Sam muttered. "I think I've had enough character for one lifetime."
The path grew steeper as they climbed, the ground uneven and littered with loose rocks. The box pulsed faintly under Sam's arm, its light guiding them forward even as the terrain became more treacherous. By the time they reached a narrow plateau, the sun was just beginning to crest the horizon, painting the mountains in hues of gold and crimson.
"Hold up," Delphine said, raising a hand. She crouched near the edge of the plateau, scanning the area below with sharp eyes.
Sam dropped onto a nearby rock, grateful for the chance to catch their breath. "Please tell me we're close."
Delphine nodded. "The conduit's just beyond the next ridge. But there's movement."
"Movement?" Calder asked, unsheathing his blade. "How many?"
"Too many," Delphine said. "The darkness is guarding this one heavily."
Sam groaned. "Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
Delphine ignored them, her focus remaining on the ridge. "We'll need to move carefully. A direct fight will draw too much attention."
"Carefully," Calder repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's not exactly our style."
"It is now," Delphine said firmly.
Sam leaned back against the rock, letting out a long sigh. "Carefully. Directly. Whatever. Just tell me where to point the gauntlet."
The trio descended the ridge cautiously, keeping low to avoid detection. The closer they got to the conduit, the heavier the air became, filled with the oppressive hum of dark energy. The box's light pulsed steadily now, its glow brighter than before.
Sam clutched it tightly, their nerves on edge. "Do we even know what's guarding this one?"
"Does it matter?" Calder asked, his voice low. "Whatever it is, we'll deal with it."
"Confidence is great," Sam muttered. "But I'd settle for a solid plan."
"We have one," Delphine said, her tone clipped. "You destroy the conduit. We hold the line."
Sam groaned. "Because that always goes so smoothly."
They reached the edge of a rocky outcrop overlooking a small valley. The conduit stood in the center, a massive spire of dark crystal surrounded by glowing red runes. Shadowy figures patrolled the area, their movements precise and deliberate. These weren't corrupted or mindless sentinels. They were something worse.
"Knights," Delphine said, her voice tense. "Elite constructs of the darkness. Fast. Strong. And nearly indestructible."
"Nearly?" Sam asked, their stomach sinking. "That's reassuring."
"They're vulnerable to light," Delphine said. "The gauntlet can take them down, but it'll take precision."
Calder grinned. "Looks like it's your time to shine, Herald."
Sam glared at him. "Stop calling me that."
"No promises," Calder said, still smirking.
The plan was simple—too simple, in Sam's opinion. Delphine and Calder would draw the knights' attention, giving Sam a chance to reach the conduit. From there, the gauntlet would do the rest. At least, that was the theory.
Sam crouched behind a boulder, their heart pounding as Delphine signaled the start of the assault. She and Calder moved like shadows, striking with deadly precision. The knights reacted instantly, their glowing red eyes locking onto the pair as they engaged.
"Go!" Delphine shouted, her daggers flashing in the dim light.
Sam bolted from their hiding spot, the box and gauntlet pulsing in unison. The knights were occupied, their movements fluid and relentless as they clashed with Delphine and Calder. Sam sprinted toward the conduit, their breath coming in short, ragged gasps.
The spire loomed before them, its dark surface writhing with malevolent energy. The gauntlet hummed against their skin, its golden light flaring as they raised it toward the crystal. The runes on the spire flickered, reacting to the gauntlet's energy.
"Come on," Sam muttered, focusing all their will into the artifact. "Work with me here."
The gauntlet unleashed a beam of golden light that struck the conduit dead center. The spire trembled, cracks spreading across its surface. The runes flared in response, their glow shifting from red to deep purple.
Behind them, the battle raged on. Delphine and Calder fought with practiced precision, their movements perfectly in sync. But the knights were relentless, their dark blades cutting through the air with deadly intent.
"Sam!" Delphine shouted, her voice strained. "Hurry!"
"I'm trying!" Sam yelled, pouring more energy into the gauntlet. The crystal's surface began to fracture, its dark energy spilling into the air like black smoke.
One of the knights broke away from the fight, its red eyes locking onto Sam. It moved with terrifying speed, closing the distance in seconds. Sam barely had time to react before the box pulsed, releasing a burst of light that sent the knight stumbling back.
"Not today," Sam muttered, raising the gauntlet once more. The golden light surged, striking the crystal with renewed force. The spire let out a low, resonant hum, its structure buckling under the assault.
With a deafening crack, the conduit shattered, its fragments dissolving into ash. The runes on the ground flickered and died, and the oppressive energy in the valley lifted. The remaining knights let out unearthly cries before dissolving into smoke, their forms unable to sustain themselves without the conduit's power.
Sam collapsed to their knees, the gauntlet's glow fading. "Please tell me that's the last one."
"It's not," Delphine said, her voice flat as she wiped her daggers clean. "But it's one less."
Calder dropped onto a nearby rock, his grin returning. "You did good, kid."
Sam glared at him. "Stop calling me that, too."
Delphine ignored their bickering, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "We need to keep moving. The darkness won't wait for us to recover."
Sam sighed, their exhaustion settling over them like a heavy blanket. "Yeah, sure. Let's just keep walking toward the next disaster."
The box pulsed faintly, its light steady and reassuring. Sam glanced at it, their resolve hardening. The journey was far from over, but for the first time, they felt a spark of determination.
"Plan B for destiny," they muttered under their breath. "One step at a time."