The Ashen Peaks loomed above the group like silent sentinels, their jagged peaks cutting into the sky. The air was thinner here, tinged with the acrid scent of sulfur. Kael felt a sense of foreboding as they ascended the rocky trail, the weight of the Heart in his chest growing heavier with each step.
"This place feels... wrong," Varyn muttered, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
Marlen chuckled, his tone light despite the tension. "It's not exactly a vacation spot."
Seris, who led the group, paused to study the path ahead. "The Peaks are volatile. Earthquakes, sudden eruptions, unstable ground—you name it. And if the Shard of Dominion is here, it's not going to be unguarded."
Kael tightened his grip on his sword. "We've dealt with worse."
"Have we?" Varyn quipped.
The trail wound higher, the temperature dropping as they climbed. Soon, the air was filled with the faint rumble of shifting earth, and small jets of steam hissed from cracks in the rocks.
"We're getting close," Seris said, her voice steady. "Stay sharp."
The trail eventually led to a plateau overlooking a vast canyon. In the distance, Kael could see a massive stone structure carved into the mountain itself. Its architecture was ancient, its walls adorned with the same carvings they had seen in the Emberwood sanctuary.
"That's it," Marlen said, his grin widening. "The Shard is inside."
Kael frowned. "And so are its guardians."
As if on cue, a low growl echoed through the canyon. From the shadows emerged creatures unlike anything they had faced before. Their bodies were composed of molten rock, their eyes glowing with an otherworldly light.
"Elementals," Seris said, drawing her weapons. "They're bound to the Shard's energy. If we want to get inside, we'll have to go through them."
Kael nodded, his resolve firm. "Then let's not waste time."