The storm broke over the Shattered Isles with sudden violence, the wind howling like an enraged beast. Kael pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders as he made his way down the cliffside to where Tess waited by a small, weathered boat. The sea churned below, waves crashing against jagged rocks with a relentless fury, as though the ocean itself resented the land.
"You're certain about this?" Kael asked, his voice barely audible over the storm's roar.
Tess glanced up at him, her eyes narrowed against the rain. "The Shard Council has been hiding things for a long time, Kael. The True Shards aren't just some myth; they're real. And I know exactly where we need to start looking."
Kael hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of her words press down on him. He didn't fully trust Tess—how could he, after everything she'd been a part of?—but there was one undeniable truth. She knew the Council better than anyone. And if anyone had a lead on Lyra, it was her.
"I just want answers," Kael muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Tess. His hand instinctively brushed against the small shard he kept at his side—a translucent fragment of the Mind Shard that allowed him a glimpse into others' emotions. He'd only recently acquired it, and it hadn't yet settled into his system. His control over it was shaky, but in moments like this, it calmed the restlessness within him.
Tess set her jaw and motioned toward the boat. "Then come on. We don't have much time."
The boat rocked as they climbed into it, Tess taking the rudder with a practiced hand. Kael sat beside her, keeping a steady eye on the roiling sea around them. The Shattered Isles were notorious for their volatile waters, and the storm would only make things worse. But they had no choice but to press forward.
As Tess steered them into the open sea, Kael's thoughts drifted back to his sister. Lyra had always been different from him. While Kael had struggled with his unpredictable shard affinity, unable to focus on a single shard for long, Lyra had always been sure of her path. She'd chosen the Water Shard, and had excelled in its mastery in a way Kael could never hope to.
He remembered how she'd once told him that the ocean was a mirror—a reflection of the world's hidden currents and deep, unseen forces. "There's always something beneath the surface, Kael," she had said, her voice soft yet certain. "You just have to know where to look."
He had always thought she was talking about the ocean itself, but now, in the midst of this storm, he wondered if she had been speaking of something deeper. Something far more dangerous.
The boat shuddered as a particularly violent wave struck it, sending a spray of water over the sides. Tess cursed under her breath, but she held firm to the rudder, guiding the boat through the churning waters with ease. Kael gripped the sides, feeling the surge of the sea beneath them.
As they sailed deeper into the heart of the storm, the weather began to grow even more intense. Flashes of lightning illuminated the black sky, casting brief, eerie shadows on the water. It was as if the storm itself was trying to swallow them whole.
"How much further?" Kael asked, his voice tense.
"Not far," Tess replied, her eyes scanning the horizon. "We're almost there."
Kael glanced at her, brow furrowing. "How do you know? You've never been to the island, have you?"
Tess didn't answer right away. The wind howled, pulling at her dark cloak, but Kael could see the flicker of unease in her eyes. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady despite the storm's fury.
"I know because I've studied the maps, Kael. The island where the Shards of the Ancients are kept—where the True Shards are hidden—isn't just a place on a map. It's... something else. It's tied to the heart of this world. And the Shard Council has been protecting it for centuries."
Kael's heart skipped a beat. "The True Shards… they're real, then?"
Tess nodded. "They are. And they're more dangerous than you could possibly imagine. The Council keeps them hidden because they don't just have the power to control time or space. They can control everything. Reality itself is at risk if they fall into the wrong hands."
Kael felt a chill run down his spine as Tess's words sank in. He had known the stakes were high, but he hadn't realized just how dangerous the True Shards could be. If they had the power to reshape the very fabric of existence, what kind of power were they truly holding?
"Then why are we going there?" Kael asked, his voice low. "What makes you think we can control them if we find them?"
Tess's eyes flickered toward him, a hint of uncertainty flashing in her gaze. For a moment, it seemed as if she was about to say something else, but the storm cut through her thoughts, and she remained silent.
They sailed on in tense silence, the storm growing stronger as they neared the island. The sky overhead was dark and swirling, as if something ancient and malevolent was awakening. Kael could feel the pressure building in his chest, as if the weight of the world itself was bearing down on him.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Tess pointed toward a jagged silhouette on the horizon. "There it is."
The island loomed before them, its black cliffs rising from the sea like the teeth of some great, slumbering beast. The wind howled around them, and the sea seemed to churn with an unnatural intensity. Kael's heart raced in his chest. He could feel it—the pull of something ancient, something powerful.
Tess guided the boat toward a small cove, sheltered from the worst of the storm. As they made landfall, Kael could see the remnants of an ancient structure half-buried in the sand—broken pillars and shattered statues that spoke of a time long forgotten. The island was steeped in mystery, its secrets hidden beneath layers of centuries-old rubble.
"Stay close," Tess warned, as they disembarked from the boat. "The Shard Council isn't the only one interested in this place. There are others—those who would do anything to unlock the power of the True Shards. And they're not friendly."
Kael nodded, his pulse quickening. The journey was only just beginning, and already, he could feel the weight of what was to come. The deeper they ventured into this forgotten island, the more they would uncover. And the more they uncovered, the more dangerous the path ahead would become.
Tess led the way through the ruins, her eyes scanning the darkness as they moved deeper into the heart of the island. The air was thick with magic, ancient and primal, and Kael could feel the shards within him stir restlessly, as if calling out to something older than anything he had ever known.
He had no idea what they would find here, but one thing was certain: it would change everything.