The camp buzzed with quiet conversation as the expedition prepared for another day of exploration. Despite the constant pressure of the Twilight Expanse, morale was high—especially after Ryn returned with the Mistborn Stalker by his side.
The new beast had garnered significant attention. Its glowing, ethereal fur and sharp gaze made it clear that this was no ordinary creature. Even Kael had taken notice, though he said little beyond his usual gruff compliments.
Still, not everyone was impressed.
Darian, the cocky tamer from before, approached Ryn while the camp was packing up. "A Mistborn Stalker, huh? You sure you can handle something like that? Seems wasted on a newbie."
Ryn didn't rise to the bait. "It's not about handling it. It's about growing together."
"Let's see how far that philosophy takes you," Darian muttered, walking away with a sneer.
...
Kael divided the tamers into teams again. This time, Ryn was paired with a quiet but observant tamer named Elric, whose beast—a sleek Steelbeak Falcon—perched silently on his shoulder.
"Stick close," Elric said as they moved into the mist. "The deeper we go, the less predictable the terrain becomes."
Ryn nodded, his Nightshade Hare and Mistborn Stalker flanking him on either side.
As they walked, the ground grew uneven, and the mist thickened until even Eclipse, Lyra's owl, struggled to see far ahead. But the Mistborn Stalker seemed unaffected. Its glowing eyes pierced through the fog, guiding them toward a faint trail.
"You picked a good partner," Elric said, watching the Stalker's movements.
"It picked me," Ryn replied.
...
Hours later, the group stumbled upon a jagged rock formation that jutted out of the ground like broken teeth. At its base was a narrow cave entrance, shrouded in mist.
"This wasn't on any map," Elric said, crouching to examine the entrance.
Kael called the group together. "This cave could hold valuable resources or clues about the mist. We'll investigate, but stay sharp. These places are never as empty as they seem."
Ryn felt his heart race. The Stalker growled softly, its body tense.
...
The cave was cold and damp, its walls covered in strange, glowing moss. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the environment felt. Faint whispers echoed through the air, though no one was speaking.
"Something's not right," Elric muttered.
The whispers grew louder as they reached a large chamber. At the center stood a massive crystal formation, its surface pulsing with light. Surrounding it were runes similar to those on the tablet Ryn and Lyra had found earlier.
Kael frowned. "This... isn't natural. Beasts don't create things like this."
Ryn's ability activated, and his mind flooded with fragmented information.
Artifact: Core of the Veil
Description: A central node tied to the Twilight Expanse's mist. Its destruction could alter the region's balance.
Before Ryn could explain, a low growl echoed from the shadows.
...
From the edges of the chamber emerged three massive beasts, each larger than anything Ryn had faced before. Their bodies shimmered with mist, and their eyes glowed with unnatural light.
Kael cursed under his breath. "Mist Warden Beasts. They're protecting the core."
Ryn analyzed them quickly.
Beast: Mist Warden Wolf
Attributes: Pack coordination, enhanced senses.
Weakness: Vulnerable when isolated.
"Divide and conquer!" Kael shouted. "Take them down one by one!"
...
The tamers sprang into action. Ryn and Elric focused on one of the wolves, while Kael and Lyra handled the others.
The Mistborn Stalker lunged at their target, its claws tearing into the wolf's misty form. But the wolf retaliated, its powerful jaws snapping dangerously close to the Stalker's neck.
"Steelbeak, distract it!" Elric commanded.
The falcon dove in, slashing at the wolf's eyes and forcing it to turn away. The Stalker took the opportunity to pounce, landing a decisive blow on the wolf's flank.
"Keep the pressure on!" Ryn shouted, his Nightshade Hare darting in to strike at the wolf's legs.
The battle was intense, but their coordinated efforts paid off. The wolf collapsed, dissipating into the mist.
...
One by one, the Mist Warden Wolves fell. The chamber grew quiet, save for the hum of the crystal core. Kael approached it cautiously, his Ironclad Boar standing guard.
"This thing is the source of the mist," Kael said. "If we destroy it, the expanse might return to normal—but we don't know what else it might affect."
Ryn hesitated. Destroying the core could disrupt the balance of the region, but it might also reveal the truth behind the mist.
"We need to make a decision," Lyra said, her owl perched on her shoulder.
Kael turned to the group. "This is bigger than us. We'll report back to the Guild and let them decide. For now, mark its location and fall back."
...
As the tamers left the cave, Ryn couldn't shake the feeling that the mist was watching them, adapting to their presence. The Stalker stayed close to him, its glowing eyes scanning the shadows.
Elric broke the silence. "This isn't the end. Whatever's behind that core... it's just the beginning."
Ryn nodded, clutching the Mistcore Shard in his pocket. The Twilight Expanse held more secrets than he'd anticipated, and he was determined to uncover them all.