Chapter 24: The Collapse
The crystalline walls of the maze trembled, cracks spreading across their shimmering surfaces as the fragment's removal destabilized the cavern. The ground beneath Kaylen's feet shifted violently, sending him stumbling into Solas, who caught his arm and pulled him upright.
"Run!" Solas shouted over the roar of collapsing stone and shattering crystals.
Kaylen didn't need to be told twice. He bolted after Eryn, who was already weaving through the crumbling corridors with practiced agility. The Ember Core pulsed erratically in his hand, its energy reacting to the chaos around them. The fragment's integration into the Core had intensified its power, and Kaylen could feel its pull like a second heartbeat, insistent and unyielding.
The maze fought back, its walls shifting and reforming in an attempt to trap them. Crystal tendrils erupted from the ground, reaching for Kaylen as he ran. He dodged left, narrowly avoiding a jagged spike that shattered inches from his face. The whispers in his mind returned, louder and more frantic, filling his thoughts with fragmented words and images.
"This place is falling apart!" Eryn called, glancing back. "Can we even make it out?"
"We don't have a choice!" Solas shouted, their relics glowing as they deflected a burst of energy from a nearby crystal. "Keep moving!"
---
The group skidded to a halt as the corridor ahead of them collapsed, leaving a chasm that plunged into darkness. Kaylen's heart sank as he stared at the gap, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The Core pulsed in his hand, its light casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"There's no way across!" Kaylen said, panic creeping into his voice.
Solas stepped forward, their gaze sharp. "There's always a way. The Core's power has increased—it can help you."
Kaylen shook his head, his hands trembling. "I don't know if I can control it."
"You don't have a choice," Solas said firmly. "The Core responds to intent. Trust it."
Eryn stepped beside him, their expression serious. "We've got your back. Just don't fry yourself, okay?"
Kaylen closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The Core's warmth spread through him, its energy wild but not overwhelming. He focused on the gap, imagining a path across. Slowly, the Core's glow intensified, and the whispers in his mind coalesced into a single, clear thought: Leap.
Without hesitation, Kaylen sprinted forward and jumped. The Core's energy surged, enveloping him in a burst of light. For a moment, he felt weightless, the world around him blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors. When his feet hit solid ground on the other side of the chasm, he stumbled but remained upright.
He turned back, his chest heaving. "It worked!"
"Don't celebrate yet!" Eryn shouted, their blade flashing as they deflected a tendril of crystal. They and Solas leapt across the chasm one after the other, the Core's lingering energy creating a faint bridge that guided their steps.
---
The group continued through the collapsing maze, the roar of destruction growing louder. The exit was close—Kaylen could feel the Core pulling him toward it, its energy resonating with the open air beyond. But the maze wasn't finished with them yet.
Ahead, a massive crystalline creature emerged from the shifting walls, its jagged body glowing with the same energy as the fragment. Its eyes locked onto Kaylen, and it let out a guttural roar that shook the cavern.
"Another Warden!" Eryn said, raising their blade. "This one's bigger!"
Solas stepped forward, their relics flaring to life. "Kaylen, get to the exit. We'll hold it off!"
Kaylen hesitated, the Core's hum vibrating through his chest. "I'm not leaving you!"
"You don't have time to argue!" Solas snapped. "The fragment has destabilized the entire cavern. If you don't leave now, none of us will."
Kaylen clenched his fists, his gaze shifting between the Warden and the distant light of the exit. He could feel the Core's power building within him, but using it again so soon felt like tempting fate.
"Go!" Eryn shouted, slashing at the Warden as it lunged forward. "We'll catch up!"
Kaylen nodded reluctantly, turning and sprinting toward the light. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered, but he didn't slow down. The Core's warmth guided his steps, its energy steadying his movements as the cavern collapsed around him.
---
He burst into the open air just as the cavern behind him gave way, a deafening crash echoing through the wasteland. Kaylen stumbled to his knees, gasping for breath as dust and debris billowed out from the entrance.
"Eryn! Solas!" he called, his voice hoarse.
For a moment, there was only silence. Then, through the swirling dust, two figures emerged, battered but alive. Eryn grinned despite the blood streaking their face, and Solas gave a faint nod, their expression calm but exhausted.
"Didn't think we'd let you have all the fun, did you?" Eryn said, clapping Kaylen on the shoulder.
Kaylen let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding through him. "I thought—"
"We don't go down that easily," Solas interrupted, their tone firm but soft. "But next time, listen when we tell you to run."
Kaylen nodded, his grip tightening on the Core. Its glow had dimmed, but its presence was stronger than ever. The fragment's power was now his, but the cost of wielding it was becoming clearer with every step of their journey.
As the dust settled, the group looked back at the collapsed cavern, its entrance now sealed by rubble and crystalline shards. The Crystal Depths were behind them, but the road ahead promised even greater challenges.
"We've got two more fragments to find," Solas said, their voice steady. "And the Hunters won't stop until they have them."
Kaylen stood, his resolve hardening. "Then we won't stop either."
Eryn smirked, their blade resting on their shoulder. "That's the spirit. Let's see how far this Core can take us."
With the Core's hum steady in his hand and the fragment's power coursing through him, Kaylen turned toward the horizon. The journey was far from over, but he was ready for whatever came next.