Chapter 15:
The tension between Kieran and Alina was palpable as they descended the Riftspire Mountains. The faint glow of dawn painted the horizon, but the unease in Kieran's heart weighed heavier than the pack carrying the artifacts.
Nyx padded silently beside him, her golden eyes flickering to Alina and Lyric with a wary intensity. Kieran could feel her mistrust through their bond, echoing his own doubts.
"We need to stay focused," Alina said, breaking the silence. "The fourth artifact is in the Abyssal Grove. If we don't move quickly, Malgrave will beat us there."
Kieran shot her a sharp look. "And why should I trust anything you say? Malgrave seemed pretty confident that you've got secrets."
Alina hesitated, her expression pained. "I can't explain everything right now, but I'm not your enemy, Kieran. You'll have to trust me—at least until we stop Malgrave."
"Trust?" Kieran scoffed. "That's a lot to ask when you've done nothing to earn it."
---
The path to the Abyssal Grove was treacherous. The rocky mountains gave way to dense, foreboding forests, where the sunlight barely pierced the canopy. Strange noises echoed through the trees, and the air was thick with a sense of unease.
The crystal Aetherion had given Kieran glowed faintly, pulsing like a heartbeat. It guided them deeper into the grove, where the shadows seemed almost alive.
"Stay close," Kieran warned, his voice low.
Nyx's ears twitched as she sniffed the air, her body tense. Lyric mirrored her movements, his crystalline eyes scanning the underbrush.
As they ventured farther, the forest seemed to twist around them. The trees grew gnarled and twisted, their bark etched with symbols that pulsed with faint, ominous light.
"This place feels... wrong," Alina said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's the artifact," Kieran said. "The energy from the rifts is warping the grove."
---
The crystal's glow led them to a clearing where the fourth artifact hovered in midair, surrounded by a swirling vortex of dark energy. The artifact was a jagged amulet, its surface etched with shifting runes that seemed to pulse in time with the grove's unnatural rhythm.
Kieran reached for the amulet, but before he could touch it, the ground trembled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the clearing, and from the shadows emerged a massive beast unlike any they had faced before.
Its form was constantly shifting, its body composed of twisting roots and shadowy tendrils. Glowing green eyes fixed on Kieran, and the beast let out a deafening roar that sent a shockwave through the clearing.
"It's protecting the artifact!" Alina shouted, drawing her weapon.
Kieran stepped forward, the dragon scale glowing brightly in his hand. "Nyx, let's end this!"
The battle was chaotic. The beast moved with unnatural speed, its tendrils lashing out like whips. Nyx darted around it, her sleek form a blur of motion as she struck at its vulnerable points.
Alina and Lyric fought alongside them, their attacks precise and coordinated. Despite his anger, Kieran couldn't deny that Alina was a skilled fighter.
As the beast lunged at Nyx, Kieran channeled the energy of the artifacts, creating a burst of light that momentarily stunned it.
"Now!" he shouted.
Nyx leapt onto the beast's back, her claws tearing through its shadowy form. With a final roar, the creature dissolved into a cloud of black mist, leaving the clearing silent once more.
---
Kieran approached the artifact cautiously, his heart pounding. When he touched it, a surge of energy coursed through him, and visions flooded his mind.
He saw the rift realms collapsing, consumed by a swirling vortex of darkness. At the center of the chaos was a figure shrouded in shadow, its form barely distinguishable but unmistakably powerful.
*"The shadow grows stronger,"* a voice whispered. *"Every artifact you claim brings it closer to awakening."*
Kieran staggered back, the amulet clutched tightly in his hand.
"What did you see?" Alina asked, concern flickering in her eyes.
"The shadow," Kieran said, his voice trembling. "It's tied to the artifacts. We're not just gathering them to stop it—we're making it stronger."
Alina's expression darkened. "Then we need to act fast. If Malgrave gets the last artifact…"
"He won't," Kieran said firmly. "But we need to figure out how to use these without unleashing the shadow."
---
As they left the grove, the tension between Kieran and Alina remained unresolved.
"Back there," Kieran began, his voice cold. "You fought well. But I still don't trust you."
Alina sighed. "I didn't expect you to. But I'm not giving up, Kieran. I'll prove to you that I'm on your side."
Nyx growled softly, her golden eyes narrowing at Alina.
"We'll see," Kieran said, his tone dismissive.
---
The crystal Aetherion had given them flared brightly, pointing them toward their next destination: the Stormspire, a towering peak surrounded by perpetual lightning storms.
"The final artifact is there," Kieran said, his resolve hardening.
"And so is Malgrave," Alina added grimly.
Kieran looked at the artifacts they had gathered, each one pulsing with ominous energy. The weight of their mission pressed heavily on his shoulders.
"We're running out of time," he said. "Let's move."
Together, they set off, their path shrouded in uncertainty and danger, with the shadow looming ever closer.
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A/N: so sorry for late updation I was busy in preparation of exams that I forget about book ...(◠‿◕)