Chapter 16: Heart of Chaos
Cassian pulled out a worn map from one of the shelves, its edges frayed and stained with age. He spread it across the desk, his cybernetic eye flickering faintly as he examined it. Kaylen, Eryn, and Solas leaned in, the map's intricate details pulling their attention. It showed a vast region beyond Ashmark, marked by jagged lines and ominous symbols.
"This," Cassian said, tapping a section of the map, "is the Red Veil. It's where you'll find the next fragment—or so the stories say."
Kaylen frowned, his gaze shifting to Cassian. "What's the Red Veil?"
Cassian leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. "A wasteland within a wasteland. The air is thick with residual energy, the result of a cataclysm centuries ago. People say it's cursed—filled with illusions, traps, and creatures twisted by the artifact's power."
"Sounds lovely," Eryn muttered, crossing their arms. "And how do you know there's a fragment there?"
Cassian tapped his cybernetic eye. "I've been tracking energy signatures for years. The Veil has a pulse—a resonance that matches the Ember Core. If a fragment's there, you'll feel it the moment you step inside."
Kaylen stared at the map, his chest tightening. The Red Veil sounded like a death trap, but he didn't have a choice. If the fragment was there, he had to find it. "How do we get through it?" he asked.
Cassian smirked. "Carefully. The Veil messes with your mind. You'll see things—memories, fears, desires. It'll try to twist you, make you lose yourself. The only way through is to keep moving. Don't stop, don't question what you see. Trust each other."
Kaylen glanced at Solas and Eryn. "That's easier said than done."
Eryn shrugged. "We've made it this far. What's a cursed wasteland compared to everything else?"
Cassian stood, his expression turning serious. "One more thing. The Veil isn't just dangerous—it's alive. The energy there isn't just a remnant of the past. It's something… aware. If you're not careful, it'll consume you."
Kaylen felt the Ember Core pulse faintly in his pocket, as if responding to Cassian's words. "Then we'll have to be careful."
Cassian nodded, handing Solas a small device. "This tracker will help you navigate the Veil. It won't show you a path, but it'll keep you oriented. And if you make it out alive, maybe you'll finally start to understand what you're carrying."
---
The journey to the Red Veil took another two days. The barren wasteland seemed to stretch on forever, the air growing colder and heavier with each step. By the time they reached the outskirts of the Veil, the sun was low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the jagged terrain.
Kaylen stared at the swirling mist that marked the Veil's edge. It shimmered with a faint, unnatural light, its depths obscured by shifting shapes and shadows. The air crackled faintly, the Ember Core pulsing in response.
"This is it," Solas said, their voice steady. "No turning back now."
Eryn drew their blade, their expression unreadable. "What's the plan?"
"Stick together," Solas replied. "And remember what Cassian said—don't trust anything you see."
Kaylen swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the Core. "Let's do this."
They stepped into the Veil, the mist swallowing them whole. The air grew thick and oppressive, the light dimming until it felt like they were walking through a dream. Shapes moved at the edges of their vision, indistinct but unsettling.
Kaylen felt a shiver run down his spine. "Anyone else seeing—"
"Yes," Eryn interrupted, their voice sharp. "Ignore it. Keep moving."
The further they ventured, the stranger the Veil became. The ground shifted beneath their feet, the landscape twisting and warping with each step. Kaylen saw flashes of his past—his parents, his childhood, moments of joy and pain. They felt real, almost tangible, but he forced himself to look away.
"It's trying to distract us," Solas said, their voice cutting through the haze. "Stay focused."
But the Veil wasn't just showing memories—it was testing them. A figure emerged from the mist ahead, their face familiar yet wrong. It was Kaylen himself, but twisted, his eyes glowing with the same light as the Ember Core.
"You don't belong here," the figure said, its voice a distorted echo of Kaylen's own. "The Core will destroy you."
Kaylen froze, his breath catching in his throat. The figure stepped closer, its movements fluid and unnatural. "Turn back," it hissed. "Before it's too late."
"Kaylen!" Eryn's voice snapped him out of his trance. The figure dissolved into mist, leaving nothing but the faint echo of its words.
"I'm fine," Kaylen said, though his voice wavered. "Let's keep moving."
---
The deeper they went, the more intense the Veil's illusions became. The mist seemed to close in around them, pressing against their minds like a vice. Kaylen felt the Core's pulse growing stronger, its warmth a beacon in the chaos.
"We're close," Solas said, their relics glowing faintly. "The fragment's resonance is getting stronger."
But the Veil wasn't done with them yet. As they neared the center, the mist coalesced into a massive, shifting form. It towered over them, its body made of swirling energy and jagged shards of light.
"Is that—" Kaylen began, his voice trembling.
"The Veil itself," Solas said, stepping forward. "It's protecting the fragment."
The creature let out a low, guttural roar, its form twisting and expanding. The ground shook as it lashed out, forcing them to scatter.
"Stick together!" Eryn shouted, their blade flashing as they deflected one of the creature's strikes.
Kaylen felt the Core's energy surge, its pulse matching the rhythm of the creature's attacks. He clenched his fists, summoning a flicker of fire in his hands. "We have to break through!"
Solas nodded, their relics flaring to life. "Aim for its core! That's where the fragment is!"
Kaylen focused, the Core's warmth spreading through him. The creature loomed above, its body a storm of energy and chaos. With a deep breath, he charged forward, the fire in his hands blazing bright.
This was it—the heart of the Veil. And Kaylen wasn't going to stop until he claimed the fragment.