The journey to the Shrouded Vale was long and grueling, the land growing more desolate with every step they took. The Broken Hills were as barren as the heart of the world, jagged peaks rising like the ribs of some ancient, forgotten beast. The earth was cracked and dry, and the wind carried a faint, eerie whistle that seemed to echo in the distance, like the wails of lost souls.
Kael and Sylara had been traveling for days, their bodies weary from the harsh terrain and the constant pressure of their quest. The world around them felt wrong, as though it were watching them, waiting for them to make a mistake. Each night, they camped beneath the cold, starless sky, their sleep haunted by strange dreams and distant whispers.
"I don't like this place," Sylara said one evening, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared out into the darkness beyond their campfire. "It feels like we're being hunted."
Kael didn't answer immediately. He, too, could feel it—the strange, unnatural presence that seemed to press in on them from all sides. The land was alive with something ancient and malevolent, a force that seemed to be drawn to their every move.
"Stay alert," Kael said, his tone sharp. "We're close now. Ralen's map pointed to this area. The Vale is hidden in the mists that lie ahead."
Sylara nodded, but Kael could see the unease in her eyes. Even she, with her years of training and experience, could sense the darkness that lurked just beyond the edge of the light.
They had reached the base of the Broken Hills by the second day of their journey. The air had grown thicker, colder, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to shift as if it were alive, like the earth itself was reacting to their presence. Kael had expected some kind of danger to greet them at the Vale's entrance, but what they encountered instead was far more unsettling than he could have imagined.
The mist.
It was thick and oppressive, swirling in unnatural patterns as if it were alive. It seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting like some monstrous lung. The closer they came to the entrance, the thicker it became, until they could barely see a few feet in front of them. It was as though the world itself was being smothered, suffocated by the fog.
"This is it," Kael said quietly, his voice barely audible over the eerie silence. "The Shrouded Vale."
Sylara didn't respond, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade as she scanned the surrounding darkness. The mist seemed to devour everything, turning the world into a shadowy nightmare where nothing was quite as it seemed.
They stepped into the mist together, moving cautiously, every footfall muffled by the thick fog. The air grew colder with each step, the ground beneath them slick and treacherous. Kael's instincts screamed at him to turn back, but he pushed the thought aside. They had come too far to turn back now.
The further they ventured into the Vale, the more twisted the world around them became. The mist clung to their skin, making it feel as though they were walking through a living nightmare. The trees, twisted and gnarled, reached out like skeletal hands, their branches cracking and creaking in the wind. The ground was uneven, full of holes and sharp rocks that threatened to trip them at every turn.
"What kind of place is this?" Sylara murmured, her voice strained with the growing tension.
"I don't know," Kael replied, his eyes scanning the dense fog. "But it's not natural. There's something wrong here."
Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet shifted violently. Kael barely had time to react before the earth cracked open, sending them both tumbling into a dark pit below.
The fall felt endless, like they were falling into the very bowels of the world itself. Kael tried to brace himself for impact, but before he could react, the ground beneath him vanished entirely. He tumbled through the air, disoriented and unable to focus, until he landed with a harsh thud on cold stone.
For a moment, everything was still. The air was heavy, thick with an oppressive silence that seemed to swallow all sound. Kael pushed himself to his feet, his body aching from the fall.
"Sylara?" he called out, his voice rough and hoarse.
A faint groan answered him from the darkness, followed by the sound of shifting stone. Kael spun around, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword, but it was then that he saw her—Sylara, lying on the ground a few feet away.
She was motionless, her body pale and limp, the familiar glint of her blade no longer in her grasp. Kael rushed to her side, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Sylara!"
He knelt beside her, his hands trembling as he checked for signs of life. She was breathing, but faintly, and her skin was cold to the touch. Something was wrong.
A low, guttural laugh echoed through the darkness, and Kael's heart skipped a beat.
He whipped his head around, his eyes scanning the dark, but there was nothing—only the oppressive silence of the Vale. The laugh, however, continued, growing louder, echoing off the walls of the cavern. It was a sound full of malice, a sound that made his blood run cold.
"You've walked right into my domain," a voice rasped from the shadows. "And now, you shall pay the price for your arrogance."
Kael's instincts kicked in, and he pulled Sylara into his arms, lifting her effortlessly despite the weight of the situation. "Who are you?" he shouted, his voice trembling with anger and fear.
The laughter died down, replaced by a deep, almost mournful sigh. Slowly, a figure emerged from the mist that filled the cavern. It was a tall, gaunt man, his eyes glowing a sickly green. His long, dark cloak fluttered as though it had a life of its own, and his skin was pale, almost translucent.
The figure's lips curled into a smile, revealing sharp teeth. "I am a keeper of the Vale," he said, his voice a whisper that seemed to slither into Kael's mind. "And you have trespassed in my realm. Those who seek to claim the Oathbreaker Blade must prove their worth, and I will be your judge."
Kael tightened his grip on Sylara and stood firm, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don't care who or what you are," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "We came for the blade, and we will leave with it."
The keeper's smile widened. "Ah, so confident. Very well. Let us see if you are truly worthy."
Before Kael could react, the keeper raised his hands, and the very ground beneath them shifted violently. The walls of the cavern seemed to close in, and Kael could feel the air growing thick with pressure, the weight of the Vale itself pressing down on him.
"We shall see if your will is strong enough to survive this test," the keeper intoned, his voice filled with dark amusement.
Kael gritted his teeth, his hand tightening around his sword. He didn't know what this creature was or what it wanted, but he knew one thing for certain: He was not going to let it stand between him and the Oathbreaker Blade.
End of Chapter 7