The deeper Kaelin ventured into the forest, the more the air felt alive, charged with a presence that made his skin crawl. The faint glow of his sword cut through the oppressive shadows, illuminating twisted roots and gnarled branches that loomed like skeletal sentinels. Every step he took seemed to echo, as though the forest itself was watching, waiting.
Ahead, the flickering light he had seen earlier grew brighter, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. It wasn't fire—Kaelin was certain of that now. The light was cold, its glow unnatural and unwelcoming, casting the trees in an eerie, bluish hue. He slowed his pace, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword as he approached.
The light emanated from a clearing, its source a large crystalline structure embedded in the ground. The shard-like formation pulsed with energy, its jagged edges glinting in the dim glow. Strange symbols were etched across its surface, their shapes shifting and twisting as Kaelin's eyes tried to focus on them. The air around the structure was thick with tension, vibrating faintly as though alive.
Kaelin's sword hummed in resonance, its glow intensifying as he stepped closer. His breath caught as he felt the shard's energy ripple through him, pulling at something deep within his chest. The sensation was both familiar and alien, a tether to the Forge shard now bound to his blade.
He stopped at the edge of the clearing, his instincts screaming at him to proceed with caution. The forest was silent, unnaturally so, as if holding its breath. Kaelin's gaze swept over the clearing, searching for any signs of movement. The crystalline structure stood alone, its light unwavering, but the sense of unease gnawed at him.
A soft whisper broke the silence.
Kaelin turned sharply, his sword flashing as he scanned the darkness. The whisper came again, faint and indistinct, like the rustle of leaves in the wind. But there was no wind. The air was still, heavy with the metallic tang that clung to his tongue.
The whisper grew louder, more distinct, forming words he couldn't understand. Kaelin's grip on his sword tightened, his pulse quickening. The sound seemed to come from all directions, surrounding him, pressing in on him. His eyes darted between the trees, but there was nothing there—only shadows shifting in the pale blue light.
And then, they emerged.
Figures stepped out from the darkness, their forms cloaked in shadow, their movements unnervingly fluid. They were humanoid in shape but wrong—too tall, too thin, their limbs elongated and twisting unnaturally. Their faces were featureless, smooth and black like polished stone, and their eyes glowed faintly with the same cold blue light as the crystal.
Kaelin raised his sword, the blade's glow cutting through the gloom. The figures stopped at the edge of the clearing, their heads tilting in unison as if studying him. The whispering ceased, replaced by a low, resonant hum that vibrated through the ground.
"Drawn to the shard," Kaelin muttered, his voice steady despite the tension in his body. "Just like the creature."
One of the figures stepped forward, its movements slow and deliberate. It raised an arm, and Kaelin's breath hitched as he saw its hand—long and spindly, with fingers that ended in sharp, crystalline tips. The figure gestured toward the shard, its voice a hollow echo as it spoke.
"Give it back."
Kaelin's brow furrowed. The voice didn't seem to come from the figure but from the air itself, vibrating in his chest like a distant drumbeat. He shifted his stance, his sword held at the ready. "I don't have it," he said. "It's bound to me now."
The figure tilted its head, and the hum grew louder. "The shard does not belong to you, Eternal."
Kaelin's breath caught at the word. Eternal. The same title the Elder had used, the same title that tied him to the Forge and its fragments. He stared at the figure, his mind racing. "What are you?"
The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised its arm, and the hum intensified, the air vibrating with an energy that made Kaelin's teeth ache. The other figures moved in unison, stepping closer, their glowing eyes fixed on him.
Kaelin's jaw tightened. "Of course," he muttered. "You can't just talk it out, can you?"
The first figure lunged, its movements unnaturally fast. Kaelin barely had time to react, his sword flashing as he parried the attack. The crystalline tips of the figure's fingers clashed against the blade, sending sparks flying as the hum grew deafening.
Kaelin twisted his sword, driving the figure back, but the others surged forward, their movements synchronized and relentless. He ducked as one swiped at his head, his blade slashing upward to carve a glowing gash across its chest. The figure staggered, its body dissolving into shards of light that scattered into the air.
But there was no time to celebrate. The remaining figures pressed in, their attacks precise and coordinated. Kaelin moved on instinct, his sword a blur as he parried and countered. The blade's glow intensified with each strike, its hum resonating in harmony with the shard's energy.
One of the figures lunged for his back, and Kaelin spun, his sword cutting through its midsection. The figure let out a hollow wail as it dissolved, its light fading into the shadows. Another swiped at his legs, but Kaelin leapt back, his blade arcing downward to sever its arm. The figure stumbled, and Kaelin finished it with a swift strike to its chest.
The last figure stood at the edge of the clearing, its glowing eyes locked on Kaelin. It didn't move, didn't attack. It simply stood there, its head tilted as though considering him. Kaelin's chest heaved as he pointed his sword at the figure, the blade pulsing with light.
"Come on, then," he said, his voice low. "Let's finish this."
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it turned and melted back into the shadows, its form dissolving into the darkness. The clearing fell silent, the hum of energy fading into a faint whisper.
Kaelin lowered his sword, his breath ragged. The crystalline structure still pulsed faintly, its glow unwavering, but the tension in the air had lifted. He sheathed his sword and approached the shard, his gaze fixed on its shifting symbols.
"What are you hiding?" he murmured, his hand brushing the surface.
The shard's glow intensified, and Kaelin felt a surge of energy ripple through him, pulling at the Forge shard bound to his sword. His vision blurred, and for a brief moment, he saw something—fractured images of a dying world, a sky filled with fire, and figures locked in battle over a massive forge.
The vision faded, leaving Kaelin gasping for breath. He staggered back, his mind racing. The shard wasn't just a fragment of the Forge—it was a piece of something far greater, something that tied the multiverse together.
And whatever it was, it wasn't done with him yet.