Chapter 9: Into the Wastes
Dawn broke over the city, casting long shadows across the abandoned district. Kaylen tightened the straps of his makeshift pack, his eyes scanning the empty streets as Eryn led the way. The map they carried detailed a route to the Wastes, a desolate expanse of ruins and danger that few dared to traverse. If Solas was there, it was for a reason—and that reason likely wasn't good.
Eryn glanced back at him as they approached the city's edge. "Stay close. The Lower Quarter is bad, but the Wastes will eat you alive if you're not careful."
"Comforting," Kaylen muttered, adjusting the Ember Core in his pocket. Its faint hum had become a constant companion, a reminder of the power—and danger—it carried.
As they left the crumbling city walls behind, the landscape changed abruptly. The urban decay gave way to barren plains littered with rusted machinery and broken structures. The air was thick with dust, and the wind howled through the skeletal remains of what had once been a thriving civilization.
"What happened here?" Kaylen asked, his voice muffled by the scarf he had pulled over his face.
"War," Eryn replied. "Centuries ago, before the world was rebuilt around Signatures. This was one of the first places to fall."
Kaylen frowned, his gaze sweeping over the desolation. "And people still live out here?"
"Some," Eryn said. "Outcasts, scavengers, people who don't fit into the city's hierarchy. Solas is one of them."
Kaylen tightened his grip on his pack. He wasn't sure what kind of person willingly lived in a place like this, but he had no choice but to find out.
---
The first day of their journey passed without incident, though the oppressive silence of the Wastes set Kaylen on edge. Eryn moved with purpose, their every step calculated as they navigated the treacherous terrain. Kaylen followed closely, his eyes darting to every shadow and crevice, half-expecting danger to leap out at any moment.
By nightfall, they found shelter in the hollowed-out shell of an old transport vehicle. The interior was cramped and cold, but it offered protection from the biting wind.
As they sat around a small flame Kaylen had conjured, Eryn broke the silence. "You did well today. No complaints, no hesitation. You're learning."
Kaylen snorted. "I'm just trying not to die."
"That's a good start," Eryn said with a faint smirk. "But it's not enough. The Wastes are unpredictable. You'll need to think on your feet if you want to survive."
Kaylen's expression darkened. "I didn't ask for this, you know. The Core, the Hunters, any of it. I just wanted to survive in the city."
Eryn's gaze softened slightly. "No one asks for power. But it's what you do with it that matters. You're here now. You've made it this far. That means something."
Kaylen stared into the flame, its light flickering in his eyes. He didn't respond, but Eryn's words lingered.
---
The second day brought new challenges. The terrain grew more unstable, with shifting sands and jagged rocks that made every step treacherous. By midday, they reached the edge of a massive ravine, its depths obscured by swirling dust.
Eryn crouched at the edge, studying the map. "We'll have to cross here. There's a bridge farther up, but it's... unreliable."
Kaylen peered into the ravine, his stomach churning. "Unreliable how?"
Eryn stood, folding the map. "Unstable, and possibly guarded. But it's the fastest route."
Kaylen sighed. "Great. Let's hope it holds."
The bridge came into view an hour later, a precarious structure of rusted metal and frayed cables. It swayed in the wind, groaning under its own weight.
Eryn tested the first few steps, their movements cautious. "One at a time. Move quickly, but don't panic."
Kaylen nodded, waiting until Eryn reached the halfway point before stepping onto the bridge. The metal creaked beneath his boots, and the wind tugged at his scarf. He focused on his footing, ignoring the dizzying drop below.
Halfway across, the wind picked up, and the bridge lurched violently. Kaylen froze, his knuckles white as he gripped the cable railing.
"Keep moving!" Eryn called, their voice barely audible over the howling wind.
Kaylen forced himself to take another step, but a sudden snap stopped him cold. One of the cables had broken, and the bridge tilted dangerously.
"Run!" Eryn shouted.
Kaylen broke into a sprint, the bridge swaying wildly beneath him. The Ember Core pulsed in his pocket, its energy surging as if responding to his fear. He reached the other side just as the bridge gave way, collapsing into the ravine with a deafening crash.
He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. Eryn offered a hand, pulling him to his feet.
"Well done," they said. "You didn't fall."
Kaylen glared at them. "You call that well done? I almost died!"
Eryn smirked. "Almost isn't dead."
Kaylen shook his head, muttering curses under his breath as they continued onward.
---
By nightfall, they reached the outskirts of a ruined settlement. The buildings were half-buried in sand, their skeletal frames casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. Eryn motioned for Kaylen to stay close as they approached a crumbling tower at the center of the settlement.
"This is it," Eryn said, their voice low. "Solas is here."
Kaylen's heart raced as they climbed the tower's spiral staircase. The Ember Core pulsed steadily, its warmth a strange comfort. At the top, they found a heavy door marked with strange symbols. Eryn knocked three times, the sound echoing through the tower.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing a figure cloaked in tattered robes. Their face was hidden behind a mask, but their voice was firm and commanding.
"You've brought trouble, Eryn," the figure said, their gaze shifting to Kaylen. "I hope you're ready for what comes next."
Kaylen swallowed hard, the weight of the journey settling on his shoulders. He had come this far, but he had no idea what awaited him inside—or what Solas would demand in exchange for the answers he sought.