Chapter 21: The Aftermath
The chamber was quiet, save for the distant echoes of their battle. The energy in the room felt heavy, saturated with the lingering resonance of the fragment and the Ember Core. Kaylen sat on the cold stone floor, the Core still warm in his hand. It pulsed faintly, its glow dimming as if satisfied with its newfound power.
Eryn leaned against a crumbling wall, wiping the blood from a shallow cut on their arm. "They'll regroup," they said, their tone serious. "Hunters don't just give up."
Kaylen nodded, his body still trembling from the strain. "I know. But we held them off—for now."
Solas paced near the center of the chamber, their gaze fixed on the pedestal where the fragment had rested. "This was only a skirmish. They'll come back stronger, more prepared. And now that the Core has absorbed the fragment, it'll be an even bigger target."
Kaylen stood shakily, his legs protesting every movement. "Then we need to keep moving. There are more fragments out there, and we can't let them get to them first."
Eryn sheathed their blade with a faint smirk. "You're starting to sound like a leader."
Kaylen glanced at them, his expression softening into a faint grin. "Don't get used to it."
---
As they left the tower, the air felt lighter, though the city of Thalgris remained a somber ruin. The streets were eerily quiet, the shadows of their fight still lingering in every corner. Kaylen felt the Core's energy steadying within him, but its weight was heavier than ever. The fragment's power had amplified its reach, but it came with a cost he couldn't yet understand.
"We need to regroup," Solas said as they reached the outskirts of the city. "There's an outpost not far from here—neutral ground. We can rest there and plan our next move."
Kaylen frowned. "Neutral ground? That doesn't sound safe."
"It's safer than being out here," Eryn replied. "Trust me, the Hunters won't follow us into an outpost like this. Even they have rules."
Kaylen wasn't convinced, but he didn't argue. His body ached, and his mind felt like it was unraveling. The Core's whispers had returned, faint but persistent, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. He needed time to recover, to figure out what the fragment had done to him.
---
The outpost was little more than a collection of makeshift shelters and tents, hidden among the rocks at the edge of the wasteland. Traders and mercenaries moved about, their voices low and wary. The atmosphere was tense, but it was a welcome change from the suffocating silence of Thalgris.
Solas led them to a small tent near the center of the outpost. Inside, a man with a patchwork coat and a heavily scarred face greeted them with a nod.
"Solas," the man said, his voice gravelly. "Didn't think I'd see you again."
"Desperate times, Callen," Solas replied. "We need a place to rest."
Callen studied the group, his gaze lingering on Kaylen and the Core in his hand. "You've been busy."
Kaylen shifted uncomfortably, but Solas stepped in. "We'll keep to ourselves. Just a few hours, and we'll be gone."
Callen nodded, gesturing toward the back of the tent. "Stay as long as you need. But keep that thing out of sight," he said, pointing at the Core. "Some people around here would kill for less."
Kaylen tucked the Core into his cloak, its warmth pressing against his chest. "Thanks."
---
As night fell, the group gathered around a small fire inside the tent. The flickering flames cast long shadows on the walls, their light doing little to dispel the tension in the air.
"We need to talk about what's next," Solas said, breaking the silence. "The Hunters won't stop, and the Core's power is growing. If we're going to survive, we need to be smarter."
"What about the other fragments?" Kaylen asked, his voice low. "Do we know where they are?"
Solas nodded, pulling out the map Cassian had given them. "There are three left. One is in the Crystal Depths, a cavern system known for its energy distortions. Another is in the Shattered Spire, deep in the mountains. The last… we don't know."
Kaylen frowned. "How can we not know?"
Eryn shrugged. "Some fragments are more hidden than others. It's not like they're sitting out in the open with signs pointing the way."
Solas tapped the map. "We'll start with the Crystal Depths. It's the closest, but it's also the most unpredictable. The energy distortions make navigation almost impossible, and the creatures there are… unique."
"Sounds like fun," Kaylen muttered, leaning back against the tent wall.
Eryn smirked. "Look on the bright side—you've got the Core. That thing will light the way."
Kaylen didn't respond. He could feel the Core's hum growing stronger, its energy wrapping around him like a second skin. The fragment's power had awakened something within it, something he couldn't fully control.
"Get some rest," Solas said, their tone softer. "We leave at first light."
---
As the others drifted off to sleep, Kaylen stared at the Core, its glow pulsing faintly. The whispers had quieted, but they hadn't disappeared. He could feel the fragment's presence deep within the artifact, its energy intertwining with his own.
"You carry the weight of creation," the figure in his dream had said.
Kaylen clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. The Core was a burden, but it was also his responsibility. If he could master its power, he could stop the Hunters. He could protect the fragments and keep the world from falling into chaos.
But as he drifted into uneasy sleep, one thought lingered in his mind:
How much of himself would the Core take before it was over?