The rain had been falling for hours, the cold drops soaking through Kael's cloak as he trudged through the muddy landscape. The air was thick with moisture, and the scent of earth and wet leaves clung to him. He barely noticed the discomfort; his mind was elsewhere, wrapped in the tangled web of his thoughts.
The group had left the Library of Telmaris in a hurry, after Kael's vision. Tess had insisted on quick, silent travel, fearful of the Council's agents following their trail. Aro had led them through secret paths, winding through the forested outskirts of the capital, and now they were on the road to Verdant Reach.
The Verdant Reach was a region of untamed beauty, a place where ancient trees towered above, and the land seemed to pulse with life. It was dominated by earth and plant shards, and the druids who guarded them were known for their deep connection to nature. But the druids were also secretive and protective, not easily trusting of outsiders, let alone a band of rogue Shardborn.
"I can feel the weight of the forest here," Aro said, his voice soft but resonating with something deeper. He paused, sensing the shift in the atmosphere. The wind had picked up, a gentle breeze whispering through the trees, but it carried with it an undercurrent of magic—strong, ancient, and untamed.
"We're close," he continued, his gaze scanning the horizon where the great spires of ancient trees loomed. "The temple is deeper within. But we need to be careful. If the druids are hiding, they may not welcome us."
Kael nodded, the familiar tension knotting in his stomach. He had seen how fiercely the druids protected their territory, their magic, their way of life. The idea of a broken world and the ruin of the ancients was anathema to them. What would they think of Kael's purpose? What would they do if they learned what the True Shard was capable of?
"We'll be careful," Kael said, his voice firm. "But we need answers. The Council is going to find us, and they'll stop at nothing to take the shard. We need to find a way to stop them before it's too late."
Tess, who had been walking silently beside him, shifted her weight, the air around her growing warmer as her fire shard flared in response to her unease. "I still don't like this. We're heading straight into the heart of their territory, and we have no idea who we can trust. What if the druids are already working with the Council?"
Aro shook his head, his brow furrowing. "That's a risk we'll have to take. But I don't believe that's the case. The druids are protectors of the natural order. If they knew what the shards were truly capable of, they would want to stop the Council just as much as we do."
Kael's thoughts lingered on the True Shard. He had felt it in his chest, its strange pull toward the Verdant Reach, as though it knew this was where its journey began. The vision had been clear—these lands were the birthplace of the shard system. But what did that mean? And why was his sister, Lyra, tied to all of this? The questions gnawed at him, threatening to consume his every thought.
As they walked deeper into the forest, the dense canopy overhead darkened the path, casting long shadows that stretched like fingers across the earth. The air smelled of rich soil and the faint, earthy scent of ancient magic. Kael could almost feel the presence of the druids watching them, but whether they were friends or foes, he couldn't tell.
It was late afternoon when they finally reached the clearing, a quiet, secluded glen where the trees opened up to reveal a stone structure covered in moss. The temple was old, far older than anything Kael had ever seen. Its walls were carved with intricate runes, the markings of the ancients, faded with time but still powerful in their silent language.
"This is it," Aro whispered, his eyes gleaming with reverence. "The Temple of the Root."
Kael's heart quickened as he stepped forward, the presence of magic palpable in the air. Every instinct told him that this was a place of deep power, a place where the answers they sought could lie hidden among the stone and soil.
Tess stood at the entrance, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Are you sure this is safe?" she asked, her voice low.
Aro hesitated, then nodded. "It's safe for those who respect it. But the druids are not likely to welcome strangers unless they have a good reason to be here."
Kael nodded in understanding. "Then we'll make our reason clear. We need answers about the True Shards. We need to know what the Council is hiding, and we need to know what happened to Lyra."
The words were out before Kael could stop them. He hadn't meant to say her name, not yet. He had barely allowed himself to believe that Lyra was tied to all of this—so intricately, so inescapably.
Tess glanced over at him, her expression softening for just a moment before she spoke. "I know, Kael. I know."
The entrance to the temple was guarded by a set of large stone pillars, each one engraved with symbols that seemed to pulse faintly with ancient power. Kael approached, feeling a strange warmth radiate from the stones as he drew closer. His shard—his True Shard—responded to the presence of the temple, its energy flickering beneath his skin.
Without a word, Kael stepped forward, pushing through the heavy vines that had grown over the entrance. The air inside the temple was cool, filled with the scent of old incense and earth. The walls were lined with stone reliefs depicting the early days of the world, the rise of the Shardborn, and the great battle between the ancients and the forces that had torn the world apart.
"This place…" Aro murmured, his voice reverent. "It holds more knowledge than most can ever comprehend."
Kael's eyes scanned the walls, his heart heavy with the weight of the truth they were about to uncover. They had come here for answers, but he feared what they would find. The True Shard's connection to the world, to the fall of the ancients, and to Lyra—could they stop the Council from using it? And what if the druids had been guarding this secret for far too long?
Suddenly, a rustling sound broke the silence, and a figure stepped out from the shadows. A druid—tall, with long, dark hair and robes woven from the very fabric of the forest. Her eyes were sharp, alert, but there was no hostility in them.
"Why have you come here?" she asked, her voice carrying the weight of centuries. "What is it that you seek?"
Kael stood tall, his chest rising with determination. "We seek the truth about the True Shards. We need to understand what happened to the world, and we need to stop the Council from using this power to reshape reality. We need to know what happened to my sister."
The druid studied him for a long moment, her gaze shifting to the True Shard on his chest. Her eyes narrowed, but her expression softened just slightly.
"Then you have come to the right place," she said, stepping aside to reveal a hidden passage deeper within the temple. "But beware, for the answers you seek are not without consequence."