Journal Entry
Day 14 of Exile.
The Voidscar Wastes don't just test strength. They test patience, willpower, and sanity. Even the land itself is hostile, with its cracked earth, jagged rocks, and the ever-present whispers that seep into your mind when you let your guard down. Yet there are moments of respite—places where the danger doesn't feel so immediate.
Today, I found one of those places: a solitary trading post, its existence almost a defiance of the Wastes. But even here, I know better than to trust what appears safe.
---
Present Action: First-Person Narration
The trading post was a strange sight, standing defiantly on the edge of the Wastes like a lone tree in a barren desert. Its wooden structure was weathered but sturdy, with smoke rising from a stone chimney that promised warmth and food.
It didn't make sense for a place like this to exist here, yet there it was.
I approached cautiously, my hand never straying far from my dagger. The whispers were quieter here, subdued but still present, as if they were watching and waiting.
The door creaked open before I could knock, and a man stepped into view. He was tall and lean, his face marked with faint scars that suggested a life of hard lessons. His eyes, however, were sharp and calculating, like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Well, now," the man said, leaning against the doorframe. "Not every day a traveler wanders out of the Voidscar looking like he's still breathing. You must be either lucky or dangerous."
"Maybe both," I replied, keeping my tone neutral.
The man smirked. "I like that. Come in, stranger. The Wastes aren't kind to those who linger too long in the open."
---
The interior of the trading post was cramped but functional. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with an eclectic assortment of goods: dried meats, herbs, crude weapons, and vials of what I assumed were low-grade potions. A single table sat in the center of the room, its surface cluttered with maps and ledgers.
The man gestured for me to sit as he took a seat across from me. "Name's Korrin," he said, lacing his fingers together. "Trader, occasional guide, and all-around problem-solver. And you are?"
"Caldrin," I said simply.
Korrin raised an eyebrow. "No surname? No sect to name-drop? That makes you... interesting."
I didn't respond, and his smirk widened.
"Fair enough," he said. "You don't look like someone who needs small talk anyway. Let's get to it. What brings you this deep into the Wastes?"
---
The Bargain
I leaned back slightly, keeping my expression guarded. "Information," I said. "Specifically about the Rift and Void Shards."
Korrin whistled softly. "Now there's a dangerous topic. Most people hear about the Rift and decide to run the other way. You? You're chasing it."
I didn't deny it. "What do you know?"
Korrin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Plenty. The Rift's been a blight on this land for centuries, but lately, its influence has been spreading. Void-touched beasts are wandering farther, the whispers are getting louder, and—" He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, let's just say you're not the only one interested in it."
"The Void Cult," I said.
Korrin nodded. "Among others. They're not subtle about their intentions, either. If you're after Void Shards, you'll be stepping on their toes sooner or later."
"I'm already prepared for that," I said.
"Confident. I like that," Korrin said with a chuckle. "But confidence won't get you far without guidance. Lucky for you, I happen to know a thing or two about where you can find your next shard."
I narrowed my eyes. "And what's your price?"
Korrin spread his hands innocently. "Nothing too steep. Just a favor. There's a little problem that's been causing me trouble lately—Void-touched bandits have been raiding my supply routes. Take care of them for me, and I'll point you toward the shard."
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The Bandit Ambush
Korrin's directions led me to a narrow pass flanked by jagged cliffs. The path was littered with debris—broken carts, shattered crates, and the occasional bloodstain that suggested the bandits' handiwork.
I didn't have to wait long for them to show themselves.
They emerged from the shadows of the cliffs, five of them in total. Their appearances were as twisted as the land they inhabited, their features warped by prolonged exposure to Void Qi. Glowing violet veins ran across their skin, and their weapons pulsed faintly with dark energy.
"Traveler!" one of them called, his voice rough and grating. "You're carrying something valuable, aren't you? Drop it now, and we'll let you leave with your life."
I didn't respond, instead letting Void Qi flow through my veins, sharpening my senses.
The leader sneered. "Quiet, huh? That's fine. We'll just take it off your corpse."
The bandits charged, their movements wild but unnervingly fast.
---
The Fight
The first bandit swung a jagged blade toward me, but I activated Voidstep, reappearing behind him in a ripple of distorted space. Before he could react, I drove my dagger into his back, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Another bandit lunged at me from the side, her weapon glowing with unstable energy. I extended my hand, Void Qi forming into a barrier just in time to block her strike. The impact sent a jolt through my arm, but the Void Shield held firm.
'I can't drag this out,' I thought, pushing the shield forward and knocking her off balance.
Channeling my Qi, I summoned a Void Spear, the energy coalescing into a jagged weapon in my hand. With a sharp thrust, I impaled the second bandit, her body dissolving into black mist as the Void consumed her.
---
The remaining three bandits hesitated, their confidence wavering. One of them tried to flee, but I wasn't about to let him escape.
I focused on the fleeing bandit, channeling my Qi outward. The air around him shimmered as I activated Spatial Lock, freezing him mid-step. He struggled against the invisible chains, his movements jerky and panicked, but it was useless.
I hurled another Void Spear, the weapon striking him cleanly and ending his struggle.
The last two bandits made a final, desperate charge. I sidestepped their attacks, Void Qi surging through me as I activated Spatial Severance. With a single swing, the invisible blade cut through both of them, their bodies collapsing into mist.
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The Aftermath
The pass was silent once more, save for the faint hum of Void Qi lingering in the air. I stood there for a moment, catching my breath as the adrenaline faded. My head buzzed faintly, a familiar warning that I'd pushed my abilities close to their limit.
'That was close,' I thought, wiping the sweat from my brow.
I turned back toward the trading post, the faint glow of the Rift on the horizon reminding me of the path ahead.
---
The Return to Korrin
Korrin was waiting for me when I returned, leaning casually against the doorframe of his trading post. His smirk widened as he saw me approach, bloodied but victorious.
"Well, now," he said. "You're alive. I didn't expect that."
"You underestimated me," I said, tossing a bloodstained bandit badge onto the table.
Korrin picked it up, examining it with a raised eyebrow. "Efficient. I like that. A deal's a deal, then."
He unfurled a map, his finger tracing a path toward a marked location deep within the Wastes. "This is where you'll find your next shard," he said. "But be warned—the Void Cult's got their eyes on that one. You'll be walking straight into their territory."
I nodded, rolling up the map. "I've handled worse."
Korrin chuckled. "You've got guts, Caldrin. Let's hope they don't get spilled along the way."
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Journal Entry (That Night)
The Voidscar Wastes don't give without taking. Today proved that again. But the bandits were nothing compared to what's waiting for me deeper in this land. Korrin's information better be good, because the cost of power keeps rising.
Still, I don't regret it. I can feel the Void's pull growing stronger, and I won't stop until I've claimed what's mine.