The morning air in Emberwood was heavy with smoke and silence. The village had endured yet another attack, but the scars it left behind were evident. Burned-out houses lined the dirt paths, and the wounded rested in makeshift cots outside the elder's hut. Shion sat on a wooden bench near the edge of the village, staring at his hands. His fingers twitched involuntarily, still feeling the phantom pull of the threads he had severed during the battle.
Lyria approached quietly, her boots crunching on the gravel. She carried her sword across her back, and her expression was unreadable. "You're thinking too much again," she said, breaking the silence. "That's not always a good thing."
Shion looked up, startled. He hadn't heard her coming. "Is it wrong to think about what happened?" he asked. "Those people got hurt because of me."
Lyria sighed and leaned against the fence. "People got hurt because of the Abyss," she said firmly. "Not you. You saved this village, Shion. Don't let guilt blind you to that."
Her words carried weight, but they didn't ease his turmoil. Shion ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "If I hadn't used the threads, maybe there would have been another way. Maybe—"
"There wasn't," Lyria cut him off. "You need to stop doubting yourself. You have power, Shion, but second-guessing every choice you make will only get you killed."
The harshness in her tone stung, but it was also oddly reassuring. Shion nodded slowly, though the doubts lingered. "Where do we go from here?" he asked.
Lyria straightened, her expression hardening. "We head to the ruins of Eryndor," she said. "It's a few days' journey south of here. There's someone there who might know more about your abilities—and about the Abyss."
"Eryndor?" Shion repeated. The name sounded familiar, though he couldn't place why.
"It was my home," Lyria said, her voice quiet. "Before it fell."
The weight of her words hung between them, and Shion didn't press further. Instead, he stood and slung his makeshift pack over his shoulder. "Let's go, then."
The path south of Emberwood was a winding trail through dense forests and rocky clearings. The golden leaves of the trees swayed gently in the breeze, casting dappled shadows on the ground. It was beautiful, but the beauty felt hollow. Every rustle of leaves or distant cry of an animal set Shion on edge. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
"Relax," Lyria said as they walked. Her sharp eyes scanned the horizon, but her tone was calm. "You'll burn out if you stay tense the entire journey."
"It's hard not to," Shion admitted. "What if more Abyss Hunters come?"
"Then we fight them," Lyria said simply. "And you'll do what you did before."
Shion frowned. "Pulling those threads… it feels wrong. Like I'm messing with something I shouldn't."
Lyria glanced at him, her expression softening slightly. "That's because you are," she said. "But sometimes, breaking the rules is the only way to survive."
Shion didn't have a reply to that. Instead, he focused on the trail ahead, trying to push the doubts from his mind. They walked in silence for a while, the only sounds the crunch of their boots and the occasional chirp of birds.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they came upon a clearing. In the center stood a lone figure, leaning against a massive, weathered sword that was plunged into the ground. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his face shadowed by the fading light. His dark cloak billowed slightly in the breeze, revealing a battered set of armor beneath.
Lyria's hand went to her sword immediately. "Stay back," she warned Shion.
The man looked up, his piercing gray eyes locking onto them. He straightened, pulling his sword from the ground with ease. The blade was enormous, almost as tall as he was, and jagged along the edges like a saw.
"Another traveler," the man said, his voice deep and rough. "And a Fateweaver, no less. I can feel it from here."
Shion froze. "How do you know?" he asked.
The man ignored him, turning his gaze to Lyria. "And you. A knight of Eryndor. I thought they were all dead."
Lyria's grip on her sword tightened. "Who are you?" she demanded.
The man chuckled, a low, humorless sound. "Kael Dravanos," he said. "Once a swordsman of some renown. Now just a man cursed to wander this broken world."
Lyria's eyes narrowed. "The Cursed Blade," she murmured. "I've heard of you."
Kael tilted his head slightly. "Have you? Then you know what happens to those who cross my path."
The tension in the air was palpable. Lyria shifted her stance, preparing for a fight. Shion, unsure of what to do, took a cautious step back.
"I'm not here to fight you," Kael said after a moment. He lowered his sword, though he didn't sheath it. "But if you intend to pass through these lands, you'll need to earn that right."
"And how do we do that?" Lyria asked, her voice cold.
Kael gestured to the forest behind him. "There's a beast that's been terrorizing this area for weeks," he said. "A shadow warg, spawned from the Abyss. Kill it, and I'll let you pass."
Shion glanced at Lyria. "Can we trust him?" he whispered.
Lyria didn't take her eyes off Kael. "No," she said flatly. "But we don't have a choice."
Kael smirked. "Wise answer," he said. "The warg makes its den in the caves to the east. I suggest you prepare yourselves. It won't go down easily."
With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the forest. Lyria sheathed her sword and exhaled sharply.
"A shadow warg," she muttered. "This just keeps getting better."
Shion frowned. "What's a shadow warg?"
"A creature of the Abyss," Lyria said. "Faster and stronger than the Hunters we've faced so far. It's going to take everything we've got to bring it down."
Shion's stomach churned. He wasn't sure if he was ready for another fight so soon, but he didn't see any other option. "Let's get this over with," he said, trying to sound braver than he felt.
Lyria nodded, and together they headed east, toward the shadow warg's lair.
The journey to the shadow warg's den was grueling. The forest grew denser as they moved east, the trees closing in like silent sentinels. The golden glow of the leaves had dimmed, replaced by an eerie gray light that seemed to come from nowhere. The air felt colder here, heavier, as though the forest itself were aware of the Abyss's corruption.
Shion stumbled over a root for the third time, cursing under his breath. "Does everything in this world have to feel like it's trying to kill me?"
"Welcome to Aurelia," Lyria replied without a hint of humor. She kept her sword drawn, the blade gleaming faintly even in the dim light. Her movements were careful but steady, each step placed with precision. "Keep your eyes forward. The warg could be watching us already."
Shion swallowed hard and nodded, though his nerves were frayed. He clutched the hilt of the small knife Lyria had given him earlier, its weight unfamiliar in his hand. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
As they neared the cave's entrance, a low growl rumbled through the air, so deep it seemed to vibrate the ground beneath their feet. Shion froze, every muscle in his body tensing.
"Did you hear that?" he whispered.
"Of course I heard it," Lyria replied, her voice tense. She pointed ahead with her sword. "The cave's just up there. Stay close, and don't do anything stupid."
The cave entrance was a jagged maw in the hillside, dark and foreboding. Tendrils of shadow seemed to seep out from within, twisting and writhing like living things. The growl came again, louder this time, and Shion's heart felt like it might leap out of his chest.
"Whatever happens," Lyria said, her voice low but firm, "focus. You've faced the Abyss before, and you'll face it again. Remember what Mirelle said—every thread you pull has consequences. Be ready for them."
Shion nodded, though his hands were clammy, and his pulse roared in his ears. Together, they stepped into the darkness.