The morning was colder than usual, the air crisp and biting as Kaelin stepped out of the inn. The village square was quiet, its usual hum of activity replaced by an uneasy stillness. The villagers who crossed paths with him avoided his gaze, their fear palpable even in their silence. The events of the past nights had left a scar on this place—one Kaelin knew would take time to heal.
Jorin stood near the well in the center of the square, his arms crossed as he watched Kaelin approach. The innkeeper's face was set in a grim expression, though there was no hostility in his gaze—only resignation.
"Heading out?" Jorin asked, his tone clipped but not unkind.
Kaelin nodded, adjusting the strap of his pack. "The shard's power isn't dormant. If I stay, this place will keep drawing trouble."
Jorin exhaled sharply, his breath visible in the cold air. "Not the farewell I'd hoped for, but I understand." He glanced around the square, his brow furrowing. "The villagers… They don't know what to make of you. Some think you're a savior. Others think you're a curse."
Kaelin's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Not the first time I've heard that."
Jorin met his gaze, his expression serious. "What do you think?"
Kaelin was silent for a moment, his eyes drifting toward the edge of the forest. "I think it doesn't matter," he said finally. "I am what I am. What they think won't change that."
Jorin nodded slowly, though his frown didn't ease. "Still, you saved this place. That's worth something, even if they don't know how to show it."
Kaelin adjusted his sword at his side, its faint hum resonating in time with his heartbeat. "Keep them safe," he said. "And if anything strange happens—anything that feels wrong—don't wait. Leave."
Jorin's expression darkened, but he nodded. "We'll manage. And you?"
Kaelin's gaze was distant, his voice quiet. "I'll keep walking."
The path out of the village wound through the dense forest, the towering trees casting long shadows that danced in the faint morning light. Kaelin moved with purpose, his steps steady but unhurried. The shard's pull was faint now, its energy settling into a quiet hum that guided him forward like a compass.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted to the guardian and the battle in the clearing. The shards weren't just pieces of the Forge—they were tests, challenges meant to measure his worth. But worthiness to whom? The Forge itself? Or something older, something darker?
Kaelin's hand brushed the hilt of his sword, its presence a steadying force. The weapon was more than steel now; it was a part of him, an extension of his will. The shard's energy coursed through it, binding them together in a way Kaelin couldn't fully explain.
"You've carried me this far," he muttered, his voice low. "Let's see where this road leads."
The forest gradually gave way to rolling hills, the trees thinning as the horizon stretched wide before him. Kaelin stopped at the crest of a hill, his gaze sweeping over the landscape. In the distance, he could see a small town nestled in a valley, its rooftops glinting faintly in the sunlight.
But it wasn't the town that caught his attention. Beyond it, rising like a jagged scar against the sky, was a massive structure—part fortress, part ruin, its dark silhouette unmistakable even from this distance. The shard's hum grew stronger, resonating in Kaelin's chest as he stared at the imposing sight.
"That's where you're leading me," he said quietly, his jaw tightening. "Of course it is."
The fortress loomed like a challenge, its very presence a warning Kaelin knew better than to ignore. But he also knew he had no choice. The Forge's light called to him, and wherever it led, he would follow.
The journey to the town was uneventful, the road winding through quiet fields and sparse woodland. By the time Kaelin reached the outskirts, the sun was high in the sky, its warmth doing little to chase away the lingering chill in the air. The town was larger than the village he had left, its streets bustling with activity and its market square alive with the chatter of merchants and customers.
Kaelin kept his head low as he entered, his hood pulled up to shadow his face. He moved through the crowded streets with practiced ease, his presence drawing little attention despite the sword at his side. The shard's hum was quieter here, its energy masked by the noise and movement around him.
He stopped at a stall selling bread and dried meat, the vendor—a stout, middle-aged man with a booming voice—eyeing him curiously. "Traveler, eh?" the man said as Kaelin handed over a few coins. "Haven't seen your kind around here in a while."
Kaelin arched a brow. "My kind?"
The vendor chuckled, his hands busy wrapping the food. "The wandering type. Always passing through, never staying long. You headed for the keep?"
Kaelin's hand stilled as he reached for the food. "The keep?"
The man nodded, jerking his chin toward the fortress visible on the horizon. "Only reason folk like you come through here. Not much else out that way but trouble."
Kaelin took the package, his gaze drifting toward the distant silhouette of the fortress. "What kind of trouble?"
The vendor's expression darkened, his jovial tone fading. "Bandits, mostly. But there's been talk of worse things—strange lights, missing travelers, even the dead walking. Folk say the keep's cursed."
Kaelin's grip tightened on the package, his jaw clenching. "Thanks for the warning."
The vendor snorted, though his tone was lighter. "Don't thank me, traveler. Just keep your sword sharp."
Kaelin nodded and turned away, his steps purposeful as he made his way toward the edge of town. The shard's hum grew stronger with each step, its pull unmistakable now. The fortress wasn't just a destination—it was the next trial, the next piece of the Forge's puzzle.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, Kaelin found himself at the base of the hill leading to the fortress. The structure loomed above him, its jagged towers casting long shadows that stretched across the barren landscape. The air here was heavy, thick with an unnatural stillness that set Kaelin's nerves on edge.
His sword pulsed faintly at his side, the shard's energy resonating with the fortress's presence. Kaelin took a deep breath, his gaze steady as he began the ascent.
The road ahead was uncertain, the shadows deep and the danger palpable. But Kaelin Veynar was no stranger to uncertainty, and as long as the Forge called to him, he would answer.