The deeper they ventured into the Blackwater Ruins, the heavier the air grew. The faint hum of prismatic energy in the environment became a pulsing rhythm, vibrating through the stone beneath their feet.
Elara stayed close to Oran, her eyes darting between the shifting shadows. Lyra led the way, her bow nocked with a gleaming arrow that seemed to draw light from the mist. Kael brought up the rear, his sharp gaze scanning for threats.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Oran asked, his voice low but tense.
"Answers," Lyra replied without turning.
Oran rolled his eyes. "Helpful."
Kael chuckled softly. "Specific enough for you? No? Too bad."
The faintest smirk tugged at Lyra's lips, but she didn't look back.
Elara ignored their banter, focusing instead on the strange symbols carved into the walls. They seemed to shift as her eyes moved over them, as though alive. "These runes…they're old. Way older than anything from our time."
Lyra nodded. "Pre-Cataclysm."
Elara blinked. "You mean…before the continents were divided?"
"Yes," Kael said, his voice quieter now. "When Prismatic Energy wasn't bound by geography or factions. Back when it was…pure."
A chill ran down Elara's spine. Stories of the Pre-Cataclysm age were more legend than history. Some said it was a time of unity and unparalleled power; others claimed it was the beginning of the end, a golden age that collapsed under its own weight.
"Whatever's left here," Lyra added, her tone grave, "is dangerous. That's why Lucius wants it."
The group pressed on, the ruins growing darker and more oppressive. Elara's unease deepened. She could feel something…off. The energy here wasn't just abundant—it was fractured, unstable, like a barely contained storm.
They reached a massive chamber at the heart of the ruins. A circular dais sat at its center, surrounded by crumbled pillars etched with glowing runes. Veins of prismatic energy converged at the dais, forming a swirling vortex of light above it.
"What is this?" Oran asked, stepping closer despite the obvious danger.
Kael's hand shot out, grabbing his shoulder. "Careful. That's no ordinary Zone."
Lyra narrowed her eyes, scanning the chamber. "It's a Convergence Point. A place where Prismatic Energy pools unnaturally." She motioned toward the swirling vortex. "That's raw, untethered power. Dangerous to anyone who doesn't know how to control it."
"Lucius probably does," Kael muttered.
Elara felt a pull toward the dais, an almost magnetic draw. The energy called to her, whispering promises of strength and clarity. She shook her head, trying to dispel the intrusive thoughts. "This…feels wrong."
Lyra glanced at her, her expression unreadable. "Good. It means you're not stupid."
Before Elara could respond, a deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber.
The group tensed, weapons drawn as shadows detached themselves from the walls. Three figures emerged, their forms flickering like half-formed nightmares.
More abominations.
"Same drill as before," Kael said, his tone calm but firm. "Go for the cores."
The first creature lunged, its clawed hand swiping at Oran. He dodged and countered with his threads, binding its arm. "Elara, now!"
She focused, her ability humming to life as she disrupted the energy in the creature's chest. The core flickered, but the abomination resisted, thrashing against Oran's hold.
Lyra's arrow struck true, shattering the core and reducing the creature to ash.
The second abomination turned its attention to Kael, who swapped positions with a fallen pillar, crushing the creature under the rubble.
Elara turned to face the third, her heart pounding. This one was faster, its movements erratic and unpredictable. It closed the distance in a heartbeat, its claws raking toward her.
She dove to the side, the claws grazing her shoulder. Pain flared, but she gritted her teeth and focused on the core. She reached out, her ability crackling as she destabilized the energy within the creature.
"Finish it!" Lyra shouted.
Elara grabbed her dagger, lunging forward and driving it into the core. The creature let out a piercing shriek before disintegrating.
The chamber fell silent again, save for the faint hum of the Convergence Point.
"You're improving," Lyra said, her tone almost…approving.
Elara wiped sweat from her brow, the compliment catching her off guard. "Thanks, I guess."
"We need to keep moving," Kael said, his eyes fixed on the swirling vortex. "If this is what Lucius is after, we're running out of time."