The camp's unease was palpable the next morning. The explosion from the core had left the Twilight Expanse blanketed in an oppressive stillness. The usual distant calls of beasts were absent, replaced by an eerie silence that set everyone on edge.
Ryn stood at the edge of the camp, the Mistborn Stalker at his side, its glowing eyes scanning the horizon. Lyra joined him, Eclipse hovering nearby, while Ryn's Nightshade Hare nestled on his shoulder.
"The mist feels different," Lyra said, her voice hushed.
Ryn nodded, reaching up to gently stroke the hare's soft fur. "It's heavier, more... alive. Whatever the core was holding back, it's waking up."
Kael approached, his expression grim. "We've got a problem. The Guild is pulling rank—they're forcing us to leave the Twilight Expanse immediately."
"What?" Ryn asked, his fists clenching.
"They claim it's too dangerous to stay," Kael continued. "They'll send a larger team to secure the area, but for now, all independent tamers are being evacuated."
...
At the center of the camp, Commander Saria addressed the gathered tamers. Her Thunderclad Sabertooth loomed beside her, its fur crackling with residual energy.
"As of now, the Twilight Expanse is under Guild jurisdiction," she announced. "No unauthorized tamers are permitted to remain. This is for your own safety."
A murmur of discontent rippled through the crowd, but no one dared challenge her directly.
Elric, standing near Ryn and Lyra, muttered under his breath. "Typical Guild. They act like they're protecting us, but all they care about is keeping the best discoveries for themselves."
Ryn's jaw tightened. He knew Elric was right, but there was little he could do.
"Pack your things," Saria continued. "We leave at dawn."
...
As night fell, Ryn sat by the fire, his mind racing. The Mistborn Stalker rested nearby, its ears twitching as though listening to something beyond human hearing. The Nightshade Hare nuzzled closer to his neck, sensing his unease.
Lyra approached, sitting across from him. "You're not leaving, are you?"
Ryn hesitated, then shook his head. "I can't. There's too much at stake. The core, the mist, the beasts—they're all connected. If the Guild controls this place, we'll never know the truth."
Lyra smiled faintly. "I had a feeling you'd say that. Guess I'll have to stay too."
"You don't have to," Ryn said. "This isn't your fight."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? Someone has to keep you out of trouble."
Ryn chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "Thanks, Lyra."
Kael joined them, his expression serious. "If you're planning to stay, you'll need to be careful. The Guild doesn't tolerate disobedience."
Ryn nodded. "We'll manage. But we can't let them bury the truth."
...
Before dawn, Ryn and Lyra slipped away from the camp with their beasts, careful to avoid the Guild's patrols. The Mistborn Stalker led the way, its movements purposeful and swift. The Nightshade Hare rested silently on Ryn's shoulder, its sharp senses keeping them alert.
As they ventured deeper into the Twilight Expanse, the mist grew denser, swirling around them like a living thing.
"Do you even know where we're going?" Lyra asked, her tone half-joking.
"Not exactly," Ryn admitted. "But the Stalker does. It's following something—something important."
Hours passed as they traversed the expanse. The terrain shifted from marshy lowlands to jagged cliffs, the mist thinning just enough to reveal faint runic patterns etched into the rocks.
Ryn's ability activated, flooding his mind with fragmented information.
Ancient Pathway Detected
Purpose: Transportation and Containment
"Containment?" Lyra repeated when Ryn explained. "That doesn't sound good."
"It means whatever the core was connected to, it's not just a resource," Ryn said. "It's a key—and something's trying to unlock it."
...
As they reached the top of a cliff, the Mistborn Stalker suddenly stopped, growling low in its throat.
"What is it?" Ryn asked, scanning the area.
The answer came in the form of a beast emerging from the mist—a massive, serpentine creature with scales that shimmered like liquid silver. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its movements were eerily smooth.
Entity: Mist Revenant Serpent
Rank: Rare Elite
Abilities: Mist Manipulation, Hypnotic Gaze, Regenerative Scales
Weakness: Core-based energy disruption
"It's guarding something," Lyra said, her voice tense.
"Or hunting us," Ryn muttered.
The Mist Revenant Serpent lunged, its coils slicing through the air with terrifying speed. The Mistborn Stalker darted to intercept, its ethereal claws slashing at the serpent's flank.
"Eclipse, blind it!" Lyra shouted.
The owl-like beast unleashed a burst of light, momentarily disorienting the serpent.
"Stalker, aim for its eyes!" Ryn commanded.
The Stalker leapt onto the serpent's head, clawing at its glowing eyes. The serpent roared, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake off its attacker.
Ryn's ability activated again, providing a crucial insight.
Tactic: Use runic patterns to destabilize the mist and weaken the Revenant Serpent.
"Lyra, the runes on the rocks—they're part of a containment system. We can use them!"
Lyra nodded. "How?"
"Channel energy into them," Ryn said. "It'll disrupt the mist and weaken the serpent."
...
Lyra directed Eclipse to hover over the nearest rune, its light activating the ancient pattern. The rocks began to hum with energy, and the mist around the serpent thinned noticeably.
The Nightshade Hare joined in, releasing bursts of dark energy that amplified the effect.
The serpent faltered, its movements sluggish as the mist weakened.
"Now, Stalker! Go for its core!" Ryn shouted.
The Mistborn Stalker leapt forward, its claws glowing with a faint light. It struck the serpent's chest, shattering a hidden crystalline structure embedded in its scales.
The serpent let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing, its body dissolving into harmless mist.
...
As the mist cleared, a hidden passageway was revealed beneath the serpent's remains. The runes along its edges glowed faintly, leading deeper into the expanse.
Lyra stared at the opening, then at Ryn. "Looks like your instincts were right."
Ryn smiled wryly, stroking the Nightshade Hare. "Let's hope they don't get us killed."
The Mistborn Stalker stepped forward, its gaze fixed on the passage.
"This isn't just a fight for resources," Ryn said. "It's a fight for understanding. And we're only scratching the surface."
Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then let's dig deeper. Together."