Kaelin moved through the dense forest, the light of dawn filtering weakly through the canopy above. The air was heavy with moisture, clinging to his skin and the edges of his cloak. His sword pulsed faintly at his side, its hum a low, constant rhythm that resonated deep in his chest. The shard was leading him somewhere—he could feel its pull, like a tether guiding his steps.
The forest was alive with the quiet sounds of nature: the rustle of leaves, the distant chirp of birds, and the occasional snap of a twig beneath his boots. Yet, beneath the natural sounds, Kaelin sensed something else—an undercurrent of tension, a wrongness in the air. It was faint but unmistakable, like the charged silence before a storm.
He pressed on, his senses sharp and his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. The path ahead was uneven, marked by tangled roots and jagged stones, but Kaelin navigated it with ease, his movements fluid and practiced. Each step brought him closer to the source of the shard's pull, and with it, a growing sense of unease.
Hours passed before Kaelin reached a clearing. The trees parted abruptly, revealing a wide, open space bathed in pale light. At the center of the clearing stood a towering stone monolith, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in time with the hum of Kaelin's sword. The shard's pull was stronger here, almost overwhelming, as if the monolith itself were calling out to him.
Kaelin approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the clearing for any signs of danger. The grass beneath his boots was damp and cool, the air tinged with the faint metallic tang he had come to associate with the shards. He stopped a few paces from the monolith, his hand tightening on his sword's hilt.
The runes on the monolith shifted as he drew closer, their shapes twisting and flowing like liquid light. Kaelin frowned, his gaze narrowing as he tried to decipher their meaning. The shard's energy resonated more strongly now, vibrating through the air and sending a shiver down his spine.
"What are you hiding?" he murmured, his voice low.
The monolith's runes flared suddenly, their light intensifying as a low, resonant hum filled the air. Kaelin tensed, his sword slipping free from its sheath in a smooth, practiced motion. The hum grew louder, vibrating through the ground and into Kaelin's chest. The clearing seemed to darken, the light of the runes casting long, shifting shadows that danced across the grass.
Kaelin took a step back, his grip on his sword tightening. "Show yourself," he said, his voice steady despite the tension in his body.
The hum reached a crescendo, and the air around the monolith shimmered like heat rising from stone. A shape began to emerge—a figure cloaked in shadow and light, its form indistinct and shifting. Its presence was overwhelming, pressing down on Kaelin like a physical weight.
The figure spoke, its voice a hollow echo that resonated through the clearing. "Eternal… you are drawn to the light."
Kaelin's jaw tightened, his sword raised defensively. "Who are you?"
The figure's form stabilized slightly, its edges sharpening. It was humanoid in shape, tall and imposing, with glowing eyes that pierced through the shadows. "I am the guardian of this shard," it said. "And you are its seeker."
Kaelin frowned, his grip on his sword steady. "If you're a guardian, why does your presence feel like a threat?"
The figure's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "Because the shards are not given freely. They are earned."
The ground beneath Kaelin's feet trembled, and the runes on the monolith flared brighter. The figure raised a hand, and the air around it crackled with energy. Kaelin's pulse quickened, his sword pulsing in response as he braced himself for the inevitable.
"Prove yourself, Eternal," the guardian said, its voice cold. "Or be consumed by the light you seek."
The figure lunged, its movements a blur of shadow and light. Kaelin reacted instinctively, his sword flashing upward to meet the attack. The blades clashed, sparks of golden and violet energy erupting from the impact. The force of the blow reverberated through Kaelin's arms, but he held his ground, his muscles straining against the guardian's strength.
The guardian stepped back, its movements fluid and precise. It circled Kaelin, its glowing eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his skin crawl. Kaelin shifted his stance, his sword held at the ready, his eyes tracking the guardian's every move.
The guardian struck again, its blade arcing toward Kaelin with deadly precision. Kaelin dodged to the side, his sword flashing in a counterattack that grazed the guardian's arm. The figure hissed, its form flickering slightly as golden light seeped from the wound.
"You are stronger than you appear," the guardian said, its tone tinged with curiosity.
Kaelin didn't respond. He pressed the attack, his sword a blur of motion as he struck again and again. Each blow was met with equal force, the clash of blades ringing out through the clearing. The guardian moved with an almost mechanical precision, its strikes relentless and unyielding.
Kaelin gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he searched for an opening. The guardian's movements were precise but predictable, its attacks following a rhythm he could exploit. He feinted to the left, drawing the guardian's blade wide, then pivoted sharply and drove his sword into its chest.
The guardian let out a guttural roar as golden light erupted from the wound, consuming its form in a brilliant explosion. Kaelin staggered back, his sword trembling in his hand as he shielded his eyes from the light.
When the light faded, the clearing was silent once more. The monolith stood untouched, its runes glowing faintly in the aftermath of the battle. At its base lay a small, crystalline shard, its light pulsing softly in time with the hum of Kaelin's sword.
Kaelin approached slowly, his breath ragged as he reached out to claim the shard. The moment his fingers touched its surface, a surge of energy shot through him, burning and freezing at once. His vision blurred, the world dissolving into a cascade of light and sound.
Kaelin gasped as he staggered back, the shard's light fading as it merged with his sword. He felt its power settle within him, a steady, resonant presence that hummed in his chest. The weight of the battle pressed heavily on him, but he knew this was only the beginning.
The Forge was calling, and Kaelin would answer—no matter the cost.