---
The temple lay in ruins. Smoke rose from shattered walls and crumbled arches, the once-pristine hallways now littered with debris and fallen bodies. Kael stood amid the chaos, his sword heavy in his hand. The Voidmaster's words echoed in his mind: "The darkness will claim you in the end."
Around him, survivors moved through the wreckage, tending to the wounded and mourning the dead. Caden, battered and bloodied, approached Kael, his expression grim.
"You're still standing," Caden said, forcing a weak smile. "That's something, I guess."
Kael glanced at him, guilt gnawing at his chest. "This happened because of me."
Caden grabbed his shoulder, forcing Kael to meet his gaze. "No. This happened because the Voidmaster wanted to send a message. And trust me, he's done worse to people who had nothing to do with him."
Kael wanted to believe him, but the weight of the destruction was too much to ignore. "If I hadn't come here—"
"We'd still be targets," Caden interrupted. "The Voidmaster doesn't need a reason to destroy. But now, we know what we're up against."
Kael nodded, though the knot in his chest refused to loosen.
---
A Grim Assembly
The remaining council members convened in the inner sanctum, a chamber that had miraculously survived the attack. Kael and Caden stood at the back as the elders debated their next move.
"The Voidmaster's power is growing," one elder said, her voice trembling. "Even the combined strength of our wards couldn't stop him."
"We must abandon the temple," another argued. "Regroup elsewhere and plan our counterattack."
"And leave our dead to rot?" an older man growled. "Have we fallen so far that we forsake our own?"
The arguments grew louder until the head of the council raised his hand, silencing the room. His gaze fell on Kael, sharp and calculating.
"This attack was no coincidence," he said. "The Voidmaster came for you."
Kael stepped forward, his heart pounding. "Then let me face him. If I'm the reason he attacked, I'll draw him out and end this."
The elder chuckled darkly. "You? You barely survived his underlings. Do you truly believe you can defeat him?"
"I don't have a choice," Kael said, his voice firm. "If I don't fight him, more people will die. I won't let that happen."
The elder studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. But if you are to face the Voidmaster, you must be prepared. There is a weapon—an ancient relic, forged in light and shadow. It may be the only thing that can destroy him."
Kael frowned. "Where is it?"
"In the Shattered Expanse," the elder replied. "A place where even the bravest warriors fear to tread."
Caden groaned. "Of course it's in the Expanse. Why wouldn't it be?"
---
A Dark Vision
That night, as Kael tried to rest, the whispers of the Void grew louder. He closed his eyes, only to be pulled into a vivid, horrifying dream.
He stood in a field of ash, the sky above him a swirling vortex of darkness. Around him, bodies littered the ground—faces he recognized from the temple, their lifeless eyes staring up at him.
"You can't save them," a voice said.
Kael turned to see the Voidmaster standing a few paces away, his shadowy form shifting like smoke.
"This is your destiny, Kael. No matter how hard you fight, you will always belong to the Void."
Kael gritted his teeth. "I'll never join you."
The Voidmaster laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "You already have. Every time you call upon the shadows, you grow closer to me. Closer to your true nature."
As the Voidmaster spoke, the ground beneath Kael's feet began to crumble. He fell into the abyss, the Void swallowing him whole.
Kael woke with a start, his heart racing. The shadows in his room seemed to shift, watching him.
---
Preparations for the Journey
The next morning, Kael found Caden in the training yard, sparring with one of the temple guards.
"You look like hell," Caden said, wiping sweat from his brow.
"Didn't sleep much," Kael admitted.
Caden sheathed his sword and gave Kael a long look. "You sure about this? The Shattered Expanse isn't just dangerous—it's suicidal."
Kael nodded. "If this relic is the only way to stop the Voidmaster, then I have to find it."
Caden sighed. "Fine. But you're not going alone. If you're going into the Expanse, you're going with someone who knows how to keep you alive."
"You?" Kael asked.
"Me," Caden said. "And maybe a few others if we can find anyone stupid enough to join us."
Kael managed a small smile. "Thanks."
Caden smirked. "Don't thank me yet. If the Voidspawn don't kill us, the Expanse probably will."
---
A Mysterious Ally
As they gathered supplies for the journey, a hooded figure approached them in the temple courtyard. The figure moved with an almost unnatural grace, their presence commanding attention.
"You're Kael," the figure said, their voice low and melodic.
Kael tensed, his hand on his sword. "Who's asking?"
The figure lowered their hood, revealing a woman with piercing green eyes and long, silvery hair. A strange mark, glowing faintly, adorned her forehead.
"My name is Seris," she said. "And I've been waiting for you."
Caden frowned. "Waiting for him? Why?"
Seris glanced at him, then back at Kael. "Because you're the only one who can stop the Voidmaster. And I'm here to make sure you don't fail."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "How do you know about the Voidmaster?"
Seris smiled faintly. "Because I've faced him before. And I survived."