The city of Vareth seemed to press down on them with every step. Though the courtyard was now silent and the shadow-touched were gone, the weight of the battle lingered. Aric felt as if the ground itself watched him, unseen eyes lurking in every crumbling arch and abandoned doorway.
Selene moved ahead of the group, her golden eyes sharp and unwavering. "We can't stay here much longer. The shadow-touched were only the beginning. This place has other guardians."
Kael, inspecting his nearly depleted quiver, grunted in agreement. "Those things don't roam without reason. Something draws them—probably the same thing that cursed this city to begin with. I say we leave while we still can."
Aric trudged after them, the satchel holding the veil slung across his back. His muscles ached with a fatigue that went beyond his body. The veil's power still hummed in the back of his mind, faint and insistent, like a whisper he couldn't silence. You are mine, it seemed to say, though he tried to ignore it.
"How far to the Sanctum?" Aric asked, his voice hoarse.
Selene didn't turn as she replied, "If we're lucky, two days. But the Wastes are merciless, and the veil has drawn attention. The closer we get, the worse it will become."
Kael shot her a look. "And you're only telling us this now?"
Selene stopped and turned to face him, her expression calm but cold. "Did you think the Shadowborn would allow us to march into the Sanctum unchallenged? The veil's light burns them. They will come."
Kael's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He glanced at Aric, then scanned the ruins ahead. "We need to get moving. The sooner we leave this cursed place, the better."
The group pressed on through the streets of Vareth. The silence was deeper now, broken only by the crunch of their boots on broken stone. The buildings seemed to lean closer the farther they went, their jagged edges casting strange, twisted shadows in the pale light of morning. Aric kept his gaze forward, unwilling to look too closely at the remnants of what had once been a grand city.
After an hour, they emerged into what must have been the city square. Here, the ruins were worse—the buildings reduced to rubble, the ground torn and uneven. In the center of the square stood a statue, blackened and half-destroyed, of a woman holding a sun-shaped emblem above her head.
Selene stopped, her eyes narrowing. "Ylthea," she murmured, her voice soft with reverence.
Aric glanced at the statue. Though most of its features were weathered beyond recognition, the woman's posture was unmistakable—arms raised, the emblem clutched as though offering it to the heavens.
"Who was she?" Aric asked.
"The last High Priestess of Eldara," Selene replied. "Ylthea sealed the veil's power after the first war with the Shadowborn. It was said she sacrificed everything to protect this land."
Aric looked down at the satchel, his throat tight. "Why does it feel like no one remembers any of this? The veil, the war… even Ylthea's name is forgotten."
Selene's gaze lingered on the statue. "Because time is cruel. The Shadowborn have waited in silence, eroding both the land and its history. The veil is all that remains."
Kael, ever practical, cut through the solemnity. "We can't stay here. Something's wrong." He gestured to the edges of the square, where faint wisps of shadow curled like smoke against the broken walls.
Selene tensed. "We're not alone."
A low rumble echoed through the ruins, vibrating the ground beneath their feet. Aric staggered back, his hand instinctively going to the veil. The air thickened, and the light dimmed as though a cloud had swallowed the sun.
From the shadows emerged a figure, tall and cloaked in black. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, and its hands, long and skeletal, clutched a staff carved from black stone. At its feet, shadows coiled and writhed, living things bound to its will.
"A shade," Selene hissed, her dagger flashing into her hand. "A servant of the Shadowborn."
The shade lifted its head slightly, revealing nothing but a void beneath its hood. When it spoke, its voice was a rasping whisper that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"The veil does not belong to you."
Aric felt a chill crawl up his spine. The shade's words burrowed into his mind, heavy with malice.
"Stay back!" Kael growled, notching an arrow and letting it fly.
The shaft struck the shade but passed harmlessly through, embedding itself in the rubble behind it. The creature tilted its head, as though amused, and then slammed its staff against the ground.
The earth trembled. Black tendrils burst from the ground, writhing and lashing out. Kael dove to the side, narrowly avoiding one, while Selene spun and slashed, her dagger cutting through the shadows like fire through smoke.
"Aric!" Selene shouted. "The veil!"
Aric's heart pounded. The satchel burned against his back as if the veil itself was awake, demanding to be unleashed. He fumbled with the straps, his hands shaking, as the tendrils closed in around them.
The shade stepped forward, its presence pressing against Aric like a physical weight. "It belongs to the dark. Give it to me, and I will grant you mercy."
"No!" Aric shouted, pulling the veil free.
The tendrils lashed toward him, but the moment his fingers touched the veil, a burst of light exploded outward. The shadows recoiled, hissing and writhing as they burned. The shade staggered back, raising its staff to shield itself.
"Focus, Aric!" Selene called, her voice urgent.
Aric gripped the veil tightly, his breaths coming fast. The light was wild, like a storm barely contained within his hands. He could feel it pulling at him, urging him to let it loose.
"Do not let it overwhelm you!" Selene shouted.
The shade recovered, its voice a low snarl. "You cannot wield it, boy. The veil will consume you."
Aric gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body trembling. He closed his eyes and focused—not on the fear, but on the light itself. He felt its hum, its rhythm, like a heartbeat.
It's not just power. It's alive.
The light flared brighter, blinding even through his closed eyes. Aric opened his mouth, and though he didn't understand the words, they poured forth like a torrent.
"Anorai selathar!"
The light erupted in a searing wave, crashing into the shade with the force of a hurricane. The creature screamed—a sound that seemed to tear at the air itself—as the shadows disintegrated around it. Its staff shattered, and its form unraveled, sucked into the very darkness it had summoned.
When the light faded, the square was silent once more.
Aric dropped to his knees, the veil slipping from his trembling fingers. The air smelled of ash and ozone, and the shadows that had lingered were gone.
Kael stumbled forward, his face pale. "What in the depths was that?"
Selene knelt beside Aric, her expression unreadable. "The veil revealed its will. And you, Aric, spoke its language."
Aric stared at her, his body still trembling. "What did I say?"
Selene's golden eyes softened. "You called it forth. The veil has begun to teach you. Whether you like it or not, it is a part of you now."
Aric looked down at the veil, its silver threads dim once more. He couldn't deny the truth of her words. The power wasn't just within the veil anymore—it was within him.
Kael exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "We need to leave. Now. That thing might be gone, but there's no way it came alone."
Selene nodded. "We've pushed the veil's power too far. Others will feel it. We must reach the Sanctum before it's too late."
Aric rose unsteadily to his feet, the weight of the veil suddenly heavier than ever. As they moved on, leaving the ruins of Vareth behind, he couldn't shake the shade's final words:
"The veil will consume you."
And for the first time, he feared they might be true.
The Wastes stretched endlessly ahead, their cracked and desolate ground glowing faintly under the pale light of a muted sun. It was as if the land itself reflected the veil's shifting balance—a place caught between light and shadow. Aric's steps were heavy as they moved forward, the weight of the veil growing with each mile.
Selene led the way, her crimson cloak snapping in the wind as though defying the grim landscape. Kael followed close behind, his sharp gaze scanning every direction. Despite his stoic demeanor, Aric noticed how tightly Kael's fingers gripped his bow, knuckles white with tension.
It had been hours since the attack the night before. Aric's mind still buzzed with the pulse of magic he'd unleashed, and Ylthea's voice from the dream haunted him. To wield it is to walk the edge of shadow. What had she meant? He thought of the power he'd summoned, so vast and brilliant it felt like standing on the edge of a roaring waterfall, just moments from being swept away.
The group had walked in silence since dawn, the ominous gray clouds rolling above them like a ceiling of soot. Finally, Kael broke the silence.
"We're being watched."
Selene paused and turned her head slightly, her golden eyes narrowing. "How do you know?"
Kael gestured with his chin toward the distant hills, where the jagged shapes of stone outcroppings rose like teeth. "There. Movement. Twice now."
Aric followed Kael's gaze but saw nothing but shadows and stone. "You think it's the Shadowborn?"
"No," Selene said, her voice low. "This feels… different."
Aric frowned, glancing around uneasily. He could feel something too, though it wasn't fear. It was the veil. Ever since the attack, its power felt more aware. It was as if the veil itself had become attuned to him—or perhaps he had become attuned to it.
"Should we go around?" Aric asked.
Kael shook his head. "We don't have time. If there's something out there, we deal with it when it comes."
Selene nodded. "Keep moving. Stay alert."
Hours passed, and the Wastes grew harsher. The wind picked up, carrying with it a faint howl, as though the land itself were alive and lamenting. Aric pulled his cloak tighter around him, the chill sinking deep into his bones.
Then, the first raindrops fell.
They were not like ordinary rain. The drops were thick and black, falling from the clouds like ink. They struck the ground with heavy splashes, staining the cracked earth. Aric looked up in shock, his heart pounding.
"What is this?"
"Shadow rain," Selene answered grimly. "It's a curse upon this land, a remnant of the Shadowborn's influence."
Kael cursed under his breath, pulling his hood up. "We need to find shelter. Fast."
The group quickened their pace, the shadow rain falling harder now, soaking their cloaks and stinging against exposed skin. The earth beneath their feet grew slick and muddy, the black water pooling into unnatural puddles that seemed to swallow light.
Aric stumbled, his boots sliding in the muck. Selene grabbed his arm, pulling him upright. "Hurry!" she urged.
Ahead, a faint structure emerged from the rain, its dark silhouette growing sharper as they approached. It was an old watchtower, half-collapsed but still standing tall against the ruinous horizon.
"This way!" Selene shouted over the rising wind.
They reached the base of the tower and ducked inside, the shadow rain pounding against the stone walls like fists. The interior was dark and smelled of damp rot, but it was shelter.
Aric leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "How long does this rain last?"
"Sometimes hours, sometimes days," Selene replied, her voice low. "But we'll be safe here for now."
Kael dropped his pack onto the stone floor and peered through one of the narrow windows. "We're not alone."
Aric tensed. "What do you mean?"
Kael pointed. "There. In the distance."
Aric followed Kael's gaze and saw it—a figure standing far off in the rain. It was cloaked, its form obscured by the black downpour, but it was unmistakably watching them.
"Shadowborn?" Aric whispered.
Selene moved to the window, her golden eyes narrowing. "No… not quite. I think it's one of the Wardens."
"Wardens?" Kael asked.
Selene's expression was tense. "The Wardens were once guardians of the veil, sworn to protect its power. But when the veil was shattered, many were corrupted. They became twisted servants of the Shadowborn."
Aric's stomach churned. "And now they're after us?"
Selene turned to him, her expression grave. "They are after you, Aric. You carry the veil. To them, you are either a threat… or a prize."
The hours passed slowly as the shadow rain continued to fall. The sound of it drummed against the stone, a constant, oppressive noise that made it impossible to rest. Kael sat near the entrance, his bow ready, while Selene paced the room, her unease clear.
Aric sat with his back against the wall, the veil resting in his lap. Its faint hum was louder now, its warmth spreading through his hands. He could feel it speaking to him, though its voice was still indecipherable—like a song just out of reach.
"You hear it, don't you?" Selene's voice broke the silence.
Aric looked up to find her watching him. "The veil?"
She nodded. "The more you use its power, the more it will speak to you. But you must be careful, Aric. The veil has its own will. If you listen too closely, you may lose yourself."
Aric looked down at the shimmering fabric, his brow furrowed. "Ylthea said it was a bridge. That it binds the light and the dark."
Selene's expression darkened. "She was right. The veil is not just a weapon, Aric—it is a prison. It holds the Shadowborn at bay, but it also holds a piece of them within itself. That is why its power is so dangerous. When you draw on the veil, you risk unleashing what it contains."
Aric's blood ran cold. "The Shadowborn are inside the veil?"
"In a sense," Selene replied. "The veil was created to seal their power. But seals can be broken, and prisons can be opened. That is why the veil must reach the Sanctum. It is the only place where its power can be restored."
Aric swallowed hard, the weight of the truth settling over him. "And if I fail?"
Selene's eyes locked onto his. "Then the Shadowborn will be free. And all of Eldara will fall into darkness."
Night fell, though the shadow rain showed no sign of stopping. The tower was dark, lit only by the faint glow of the dying fire. Kael had fallen into a light sleep, his bow still in his hands, while Selene sat against the wall, her dagger resting across her knees.
Aric couldn't sleep. The veil's hum had grown louder, its presence pressing against his mind like a persistent whisper.
And then he heard it—something outside the tower.
A low, rhythmic thudding, like heavy footsteps moving through the rain.
Aric stiffened and turned toward the entrance. Through the narrow window, he saw shapes moving in the darkness—figures cloaked in shadow, their eyes glowing faintly green.
"Selene," Aric whispered, his voice shaking. "They've found us."
Selene was on her feet in an instant, her dagger ready. Kael woke with a start, his eyes going wide as he saw the shapes outside.
"Shadowborn," he said, his voice grim.
Aric stood, his heart pounding as he reached for the veil. Its warmth surged through his fingers, the hum turning into a roar in his mind.
Selene turned to him, her voice urgent. "Aric, listen to me. You can't fight them all. We need to run."
Aric looked at her, then at Kael, and finally at the shadows gathering outside. The veil's power burned within him, wild and waiting.
Run, his mind screamed. Or fight.
Either way, the storm was only just beginning.