The sun was just beginning to rise, its pale light filtering through the smog that blanketed Caldera. Kael, Seren, and Jorik gathered around a cluttered workbench in the wrecked workshop, their faces set with determination.
"We're going to need leads," Kael said, glancing at Seren. "If this Key is so important, where do we even start looking?"
Seren reached into her satchel, pulling out a battered leather journal. "We start here. This belonged to my mentor, a scholar who spent his life studying the Arcanum Pact and their creations. Before he was killed by the Covenant, he left me clues to the Key's location."
She flipped through the pages, revealing sketches of ancient ruins, maps, and cryptic symbols. One map caught Kael's attention—a detailed drawing of a valley surrounded by jagged peaks.
"This is the Valley of Lareth," Seren explained. "An old Guardian outpost is hidden there, said to hold records of all their artifacts. If the Key was ever mentioned, we'll find it there."
"Lareth's a week's journey on foot," Jorik said, frowning. "And that's if you avoid the Shard Plains. You'll need a faster way."
Kael smirked. "Still got that old skimmer in the back?"
Jorik rolled his mechanical eye. "It's held together with duct tape and prayers, but it'll get you there. Probably."
"I'll take it," Kael said.
Jorik turned to Seren. "You sure you want to do this, lady? Riven's not just some thug—he's the kind of guy who'll burn whole cities to get what he wants."
"I don't have a choice," Seren replied, her voice steady. "The Covenant will tear this world apart if they get the Key. Stopping them is all that matters."
Jorik grunted, muttering something under his breath as he walked away.
---
The Shard Plains
Hours later, Kael and Seren stood on the edge of the Shard Plains, the skimmer's engines humming softly behind them. The landscape stretched out before them like a broken mirror, jagged shards of crystalline rock jutting from the ground in irregular patterns. The air shimmered with residual magic, a faint hum filling the silence.
"This place looks... inviting," Kael said dryly, scanning the horizon.
Seren stepped forward, her gaze distant. "The Shard Plains were created during the Mage Wars. The magic used here was so powerful it fractured the land—and the balance of magic itself."
Kael adjusted his crossbow. "Any other fun facts about this place I should know?"
Seren glanced at him. "The magic here can interfere with technology and amplify spells unpredictably. And there are... creatures."
"Creatures?"
Before Seren could answer, a guttural growl echoed across the plains. Kael raised his crossbow, eyes narrowing as a massive, wolf-like beast emerged from behind a cluster of shards. Its fur glistened like glass, and its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light.
"Great," Kael muttered. "I was hoping for something horrifying."
The creature charged, its crystalline claws tearing into the ground. Kael fired a bolt, the projectile striking the beast's shoulder and shattering into sparks.
"Not good!" Kael shouted, diving aside as the beast swiped at him.
Seren raised her hands, chanting under her breath. A sphere of glowing light formed between her palms before she hurled it at the creature. The orb struck its chest, exploding in a burst of energy that sent it reeling.
"Go for the legs!" Seren yelled, summoning another orb.
Kael nodded, rolling to his feet and firing at the creature's foreleg. The bolt struck true, and the beast stumbled, letting out a deafening roar. Seren's second spell hit it moments later, enveloping it in a flash of light. When the glow faded, the creature lay still, its crystalline form dissolving into shards of harmless glass.
Kael let out a breath, lowering his crossbow. "Please tell me that was the worst this place has to offer."
Seren gave him a faint smile. "I'd love to, but I try not to lie."
Kael groaned, shaking his head. "Let's get moving before something bigger shows up."
---
Next Steps
The duo continues their journey to the Valley of Lareth, but dangers escalate as Riven's forces close in. Meanwhile, Riven himself prepares to unleash a secret weapon to tip the balance in his favor.