Kael's footsteps crunched against the gravel path as he and Mara approached Duskfield. The village was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of wind through the leaves. Normally, the air buzzed with life farmers tending to their crops, children playing, villagers gossiping but now, it felt as though the whole place was holding its breath.
"Something's wrong," Mara said, her voice low. She clutched the hem of her cloak, her knuckles pale.
Kael nodded, his senses sharper than ever. He could feel the shard's faint pulse in his palm, and with it, a peculiar awareness of his surroundings. The wind carried whispers that weren't quite there, and the shadows seemed to twist unnaturally when no one was looking.
As they entered the village square, a group of elders stood huddled near the well, their faces grave. Among them was Elder Halric, the head of the council, his long silver beard flowing like a river of frost. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Kael and Mara the moment they appeared.
"Kael," Halric called, his voice booming despite his frail appearance. "What happened in the forest?"
Kael hesitated, glancing at Mara. Her eyes pleaded with him to stay silent, but he knew lying wasn't an option. "There was… something in the forest," he began cautiously. "A shard, glowing with strange energy. I touched it, and"
"You touched it?!" Halric's voice rose sharply, and the other elders murmured among themselves.
Kael nodded. "It wasn't like anything I've ever seen before. I didn't mean to, but it… called to me."
Halric's expression darkened. "Do you have any idea what you've done, boy?"
The shard's pulse quickened, as if reacting to Halric's anger. Kael felt a flicker of annoyance rise within him. "I didn't ask for this," he snapped. "It's not like I wanted to bring a cursed relic into the village!"
"That's enough," Halric said, raising a hand to silence him. "You don't understand the danger you've brought upon us. The forest has been restless for weeks, and now you've awakened something far worse."
"What are you talking about?" Mara asked, stepping forward. "What danger?"
Halric sighed, the weight of years visible in his weary eyes. "The shard he found is no ordinary object. It's a fragment of the Abyss a force older than the gods themselves. Long ago, the Abyss was sealed away to protect our world. But if that shard has surfaced…"
"Then the seal is weakening," Kael finished, his voice quiet.
Halric nodded. "Exactly. And if the seal breaks entirely, it will unleash horrors beyond imagination. Shadows that devour light. Beasts that thrive on chaos. Abyssal Kings that seek to conquer all."
The villagers who had gathered around gasped, their whispers growing louder. Kael's chest tightened. He didn't want to believe it, but the memories of the Abyss the beasts, Morvath's voice were too vivid to dismiss.
"What do we do now?" Mara asked, her voice trembling.
Halric hesitated, then spoke with grim determination. "Kael must leave the village."
"What?!" Mara and Kael exclaimed in unison.
"It's the only way," Halric said firmly. "The shard is bonded to him now. As long as he remains here, the village is in danger. The Abyss will come for him, and when it does, we cannot protect him or ourselves."
Kael clenched his fists. "So you're just casting me out? After everything I've done for this village?"
"This isn't about fairness, Kael," Halric said. "It's about survival."
"Wait," Mara interjected, stepping between them. "If Kael leaves, he'll be hunted by the Abyss. You can't send him out there alone."
Halric's gaze softened. "It's not a punishment, Mara. It's a chance for him to find answers. There are those beyond this village who know more about the Abyss and its secrets. Perhaps they can help him."
Kael took a deep breath, his emotions swirling like a storm. He wanted to argue, to shout, but deep down, he knew Halric was right. Staying would only put the village at risk.
"Fine," he said at last. "I'll go. But don't think I'm doing this for you."
Halric nodded solemnly. "We'll prepare supplies for your journey. Leave at first light."
Later That Night
Kael sat on the roof of his small house, staring at the distant horizon. The shard rested in his palm, its glow faint but steady. He could feel its power, like a caged beast waiting to be unleashed.
"Kael?"
He turned to see Mara climbing up to join him. She settled beside him, her fiery hair catching the moonlight.
"You don't have to do this alone," she said softly.
Kael shook his head. "I don't want you getting hurt, Mara. You've always been there for me, but this… this is bigger than us."
She placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know. But you're not the only one who cares about this village. If you think I'm going to let you march into danger without backup, you're wrong."
Kael looked at her, searching for the right words. Instead, he sighed and handed her the shard. "Do you feel it? The power?"
Mara hesitated, then touched the shard. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pulled her hand away. "It's… alive. It feels like it's watching me."
Kael nodded. "And it's bonded to me now. I don't know what that means, but I need to figure it out. If the Abyss is coming for me, I need to be ready."
"And you will be," Mara said, her voice firm. "But not alone."
Kael smiled faintly. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
"Someone has to be," she replied with a grin.
As they sat in silence, the shard's glow seemed to brighten, casting long shadows against the village rooftops. Somewhere in the distance, the wind carried a faint, ominous whisper.
The journey was only beginning.