The courtyard erupted in chaos as the first of the shadows lunged from the darkness, its form shifting and amorphous, yet menacingly tangible. Kaelin barely had time to react as Riven's dagger flashed through the air, striking true and scattering the creature into a cloud of black mist.
"Stay behind me!" Riven shouted, his stance firm and unwavering.
Kaelin clutched the shard tightly, its pulsing light now brighter, almost blinding in the encroaching gloom. Lysara, standing motionless at the edge of the fountain, raised her hands. A ripple of silvery light cascaded from her fingertips, creating a barrier that slowed the advancing shadows but did not stop them entirely.
"They're not corporeal yet," Lysara said, her voice sharp but calm. "But their presence will grow stronger. We need to leave this place."
"How?" Kaelin asked, her voice trembling as another shadow reformed and lunged, only to be struck down by Riven again.
Lysara's gaze turned skyward. "Through the veil. There's a gateway nearby—one that leads deeper into the Forgotten Realm's influence. It's dangerous, but staying here is certain death."
Kaelin's stomach churned. Another shadow darted toward her, its inky form twisting unnaturally. On instinct, she thrust the shard forward. The light from the shard flared, piercing the creature, which dissolved with an agonized wail. She stared at the shard in disbelief.
"You're more connected to it than I thought," Lysara murmured, a note of awe in her voice. "The shard's power is responding to you directly. But that also makes you a target."
"Good to know," Kaelin muttered, her grip tightening.
Riven spun around to face them, his expression grim. "This way!" He pointed toward a narrow archway that led deeper into the twisting alleys.
As they ran, the air grew colder, each breath turning to mist. The shadows pursued them, relentless and growing in number. Kaelin's legs burned, but she refused to slow down, the shard's pulse now matching the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat.
They emerged into a larger square, the edges of the space shrouded in a mist so thick it felt alive. At the center stood an ancient monolith, its surface etched with symbols that glowed faintly with a pale, greenish light.
"This is the gateway," Lysara said, her tone urgent. "But it's dormant. Kaelin, you'll need to activate it with the shard."
Kaelin hesitated, staring at the monolith. The shard seemed to hum in her hand, its warmth spreading up her arm. She approached slowly, the echoes of distant whispers filling her ears.
"Hurry!" Riven urged, slashing at a shadow that lunged at him. "We don't have time!"
Taking a deep breath, Kaelin placed the shard against the monolith. The moment they touched, the symbols flared to life, the green light intensifying until it was almost blinding. A low, resonant tone filled the air as the monolith began to shift, its surface rippling like water.
The mist around them surged forward, the shadows within growing bolder. Riven and Lysara moved to flank Kaelin, their weapons and spells keeping the creatures at bay.
"It's open!" Lysara shouted. "Step through—now!"
Kaelin turned to Riven. "What about you two?"
"We'll follow," he said, his gaze locked on the advancing shadows. "Just go!"
Kaelin hesitated for only a moment before stepping into the light. The sensation was disorienting, like being pulled through a rushing tide. When she emerged, she was standing in a vast, unfamiliar landscape. The sky above was a swirling canvas of dark clouds and streaks of vibrant color, as though the fabric of reality itself was unraveling.
Lysara and Riven appeared beside her moments later, both breathing heavily.
"Where are we?" Kaelin asked, her voice shaking.
"The Forgotten Realm," Lysara said, her expression solemn. "Or at least the edge of it. We're beyond the barriers now."
Kaelin looked around, the weight of their situation pressing down on her. The shard in her hand felt heavier than before, its light dimming but still present.
Riven sheathed his dagger, his face pale but determined. "We need to keep moving. If the shadows followed us here, they'll only get stronger."
Lysara nodded. "But this is also where answers lie. If we're to understand the shard's true purpose, we must venture deeper."
Kaelin swallowed hard, steeling herself. The Forgotten Realm stretched out before them, vast and foreboding, yet strangely alive.
She tightened her grip on the shard and took a step forward. There was no turning back now.