The riverlands stretched out before them, a stark contrast to the dark, oppressive forest they had just left behind. The terrain was flatter here, with patches of tall grass swaying gently in the breeze. The river itself cut through the landscape like a gleaming ribbon, its waters reflecting the pale afternoon sun. For a moment, it almost felt peaceful—almost.
"We're exposed," Delphine said, her tone sharp as she scanned the open terrain. "No cover, no high ground. If the darkness attacks here, we're at a disadvantage."
"Fantastic," Sam muttered, gripping the box tightly. "Because things weren't already hard enough."
"Don't worry," Calder said with his usual grin, though his movements were slower than usual. The gash on his side had been hastily wrapped with a piece of fabric, but Sam could see the blood seeping through. "If anything shows up, I'll scare it off with my charm."
"Your charm might need backup," Sam said dryly, glancing at the gauntlet on their hand. Its golden light was faint, flickering like a dying ember. "Because I'm running on empty here."
"Then let's keep moving," Delphine said, her daggers glinting as she started toward the riverbank. "The conduit won't wait for us."
The path to the river was deceptively quiet, the only sounds the soft rustle of grass and the distant murmur of flowing water. Sam's nerves were on edge, every shadow in the tall grass feeling like a potential threat. The box in their hands pulsed faintly, its light steady but subdued.
"This place is too quiet," Sam said, their voice barely above a whisper. "It's like the calm before the storm."
"Probably because it is," Calder said, his grin faltering. "The darkness isn't subtle. If it's watching, it'll strike soon."
Delphine stopped suddenly, raising a hand. "Quiet."
Sam froze, their heart pounding. The gauntlet on their hand hummed faintly, its energy syncing with the box's pulses. "What is it?" they whispered.
Delphine's eyes narrowed, her focus on the river ahead. The water's surface rippled unnaturally, as though something massive moved beneath it. A low, resonant hum began to rise, sending a chill down Sam's spine.
"Something's in the water," Delphine said, her voice tight.
Calder unsheathed his blade, his grin gone. "Shadowbeast?"
"No," Delphine said. "Something worse."
The water erupted in a spray of foam and shadow as a massive, serpentine figure emerged. Its body was covered in jagged scales that seemed to drink in the light, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent red. The creature let out a deafening roar, its serpentine form coiling and twisting as it loomed over the group.
"That's worse?" Sam yelled, stumbling back. "What is that?"
"A guardian," Delphine said, her daggers gleaming as she stepped forward. "The darkness must have set it to guard the conduit."
"Fantastic," Sam muttered, raising the gauntlet. "Because everything else we've faced has been a cakewalk."
The guardian lunged, its massive jaws snapping shut where Delphine had been moments before. She dodged with practiced precision, her daggers flashing as she struck at the creature's side. The blades glanced off its scales, leaving only faint scratches.
"Not good," Delphine said, retreating.
Calder charged forward, his blade slicing through the air. "Let's see how it likes steel!"
The guardian whipped its tail, striking Calder mid-charge and sending him flying into the tall grass. Sam's stomach lurched as they saw him land hard, groaning but alive.
"This is bad," Sam muttered, the gauntlet flaring as the guardian turned its attention to them. "This is really, really bad."
The guardian lunged, its glowing red eyes locked onto the gauntlet. Sam raised their hand, unleashing a burst of golden light that struck the creature square in the face. The guardian recoiled, letting out an enraged roar as the light burned its shadowy scales.
"It's vulnerable to the gauntlet!" Delphine shouted, dodging another strike from the creature's tail. "Focus your energy on it!"
"I'm trying!" Sam yelled, the gauntlet flaring again as they unleashed another burst of light. The guardian writhed, its massive body thrashing in the water as the light struck it. But the attacks seemed to only slow it down, not stop it.
The box in Sam's hands pulsed urgently, its light growing brighter. Sam glanced down, their chest tightening. "The box—It's doing something!"
"Then use it!" Delphine shouted, striking at the guardian's side again. This time, her daggers pierced between its scales, drawing a spray of inky black ichor. The creature roared, its movements growing more erratic.
Sam raised the box, its light syncing with the gauntlet. The artifact pulsed, releasing a wave of energy that cut through the air like a shockwave. The guardian let out a deafening wail, its body convulsing as the light engulfed it. The water around it boiled and hissed, steam rising in thick plumes as the creature's form began to dissolve.
Finally, with one last, guttural roar, the guardian collapsed into the river, its shadowy form melting away. The water stilled, the unnatural ripples fading as silence returned to the riverlands.
Sam collapsed to their knees, the box slipping from their hands as the gauntlet's glow dimmed. "Please tell me that's the last one."
"For now," Delphine said, though her voice was tinged with rare exhaustion. She sheathed her daggers, her sharp gaze scanning the riverbank. "But the conduit is still ahead. We're not finished yet."
"Of course we're not," Sam muttered, their body trembling as they tried to catch their breath.
Calder staggered out of the tall grass, his grin faint but intact. "That wasn't so bad," he said, wincing as he clutched his side. "I mean, I'm still alive, so I'll call it a win."
Sam shot him a look. "Define 'win,' because I'm not seeing it."
Delphine ignored their banter, her focus on the river. The water near the far bank shimmered faintly, and Sam noticed a cluster of glowing runes etched into a rocky outcrop.
"The conduit's there," Delphine said, motioning toward the runes. "It's weakened, but it's still active. We need to destroy it."
Sam groaned, forcing themselves to their feet. The box pulsed faintly at their feet, its light steady but subdued. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
As they crossed the river toward the conduit, Sam couldn't shake the feeling that something worse was waiting for them. The guardian had been strong, but it felt more like a test than a final challenge. The darkness wasn't done with them yet.
"Plan B for destiny," Sam muttered under their breath. "Let's hope it's enough."