With the third fragment now in their possession, Van and Lyria left the Frostveil Tundra and returned to Snowhearth to recover their strength. However, the shadow of danger continued to follow them. The Cult of Revival, knowing that Van now possessed more than one fragment, would not sit idly by.
In the small village of Snowhearth, Van began to sense an increasingly tense atmosphere. The villagers, who had previously been friendly, now seemed restless and avoided eye contact. Something was wrong, and it was only a matter of time before the truth was revealed.
---
Suspicion in Snowhearth
In the small inn where they were resting, Van sat by the window, watching the snow continue to fall. Lyria, busy examining the fragments, noticed Van's alert expression.
"You feel that something's off, don't you?" Lyria asked, pausing her work.
Van nodded slowly. "The villagers are too quiet. They look like they're hiding something."
Before they could discuss further, the inn's door burst open, and a child ran in, panic-stricken.
"Help! The people in the village... they're being taken away by people in black robes!" he cried.
Van and Lyria exchanged glances. "The Cult of Revival," Lyria whispered.
---
An Ambush in the Village
Van and Lyria rushed outside to investigate. The village of Snowhearth was now eerily silent, with only the sound of the wind. In the middle of the village square, a group of Cult of Revival members in black robes could be seen tying up the villagers.
"We have to stop them," Van said, unsheathing his sword.
"Are you sure? This might be a trap," Lyria warned.
Van shook his head. "We can't let them harm innocent people."
Without hesitation, Van charged forward, attacking the cultists with his newfound strength. Lyria followed close behind, providing magical support. The battle unfolded amidst the snowy square, but Van and Lyria's skills gave them the upper hand.
However, in the midst of the fight, one of the cultists laughed. "You're too easy to lure."
Suddenly, a large magic circle appeared beneath their feet. It was an energy trap designed to drain the power of the fragments.
---
The Betrayer Revealed
From the shadows, a man in luxurious clothing emerged. It was Jareth, the leader of a small faction in Terra Marvell who had previously aided them. His calm demeanor was now filled with arrogance.
"So, Van Vallaga. We meet again," Jareth said, folding his arms. "Thank you for doing all the dirty work for us. The fragments are mine now."
Van was stunned. "Jareth? You've allied yourself with the Cult of Revival?"
Jareth chuckled softly. "Of course. This world only needs power. And the fragments are the key to that. You were nothing but a tool to bring me here."
Lyria attempted to attack Jareth with magic, but the energy circle beneath them caused Van's fragment power to destabilize, weakening his body.
"We need to get out of this circle!" Lyria exclaimed.
Van gritted his teeth, trying to stand despite his drained energy. "I won't let you take these fragments, Jareth."
---
The Fight Against Jareth
The battle between Van and Jareth began. Even in a weakened state, Van used all his combat skills to fight Jareth, who turned out to possess high-level magical abilities. The fragments within Van started to resonate, but the unstable energy made them difficult to control.
Meanwhile, Lyria worked to break the magic circle with her spells. However, Jareth had brought additional Cult of Revival followers, forcing her to fend them off while still protecting Van.
"You have incredible power, Van," Jareth said as he attacked. "But without control, you'll only destroy yourself."
Filled with anger, Van launched a final strike. The resonance of the fragments caused his sword to glow red, and he managed to break through Jareth's attack, leaving the man severely injured.
However, before Van could deliver the finishing blow, Jareth gave a faint smile and used teleportation magic to escape.
---
The Consequences of the Trap
With the magic circle now destroyed, Van and Lyria stood amidst the wreckage of the village. The villagers, who had been rescued, expressed their gratitude, but Van felt something was amiss.
"We let Jareth escape," Van said in frustration. "He knows too much about us."
Lyria tried to console him. "We've stopped their plans this time. But we'll need to be more cautious moving forward."
Van clenched his fists. He knew this wasn't the end, and the fragments he possessed would continue to be targeted by various parties. Still, he also knew that he had to keep moving forward to fulfill the mission entrusted to him.