The chasm stretched wide before them, the wind roaring through its depths like an unrelenting beast. Lyric's map confirmed the stronghold lay just beyond the rocky expanse, its exact location hidden by layers of magical wards.
"This is where we split," Aria said firmly. Her voice carried over the wind as she surveyed her friends. "Kael and I will infiltrate the stronghold. The rest of you stay here and wait for our signal. If we don't come back by sunrise—"
"We'll come after you," Finn interrupted, his usual humor gone, replaced by an edge of worry.
Lyric folded the map and tucked it into her satchel. "Don't take unnecessary risks. If the stronghold is warded as heavily as Cyran implied, we'll only get one chance."
Quinn, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since their encounter with Cyran, offered a tight nod. "Just… don't get caught."
Kael adjusted the straps of his gear, his expression unreadable. "Let's move. The longer we wait, the harder this gets."
Aria glanced back at her friends one last time before following Kael toward the stronghold. The pendant beneath her shirt pulsed faintly, its warmth a steady reminder of the stakes.
---
The stronghold loomed like a fortress of despair, its walls streaked with cracks and decay yet radiating an aura of power. Every shadow seemed alive, shifting as if the stone itself was watching them.
Aria and Kael moved silently, slipping past the outer defenses with practiced ease. They avoided the main gates, instead following a narrow ledge that led to a side entrance half-hidden by overgrown vines.
Inside, the air was stifling, thick with the scent of old stone and the faint hum of warding spells. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long, dancing shadows.
Kael's hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his every movement precise and measured. "This place feels wrong," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Aria nodded, her own senses heightened. "We stick to the plan. Find what we can and get out."
They turned a corner and froze.
Standing in the center of the corridor was a figure cloaked in dark robes, the Wardens' sigil stitched in silver across their chest.
"You shouldn't be here," the figure said, their voice smooth and commanding.
---
The figure stepped into the torchlight, revealing a young man with angular features and piercing green eyes. His dark hair was pulled back, and his posture exuded confidence.
"I am Ashar," he said, his voice calm but laced with menace. "Lady Saraphine anticipated your meddling. She sent me to deal with you."
Kael shifted slightly, placing himself protectively in front of Aria. "Deal with us how?"
Ashar smirked, drawing a slender blade from his side. Its surface shimmered with runes, the magic within it palpable. "That depends on how much of a fight you put up."
Aria raised her hands slightly, her voice steady despite her racing heart. "We're not here to fight. We're here to stop the Wardens from causing more harm."
Ashar tilted his head, his expression almost amused. "Ah, the self-proclaimed saviors of the realm. Do you even understand what you're interfering with?"
Kael's grip on his sword tightened. "We understand enough."
---
Ashar moved without warning, his blade a blur of motion. Kael met him head-on, their weapons clashing with a sound that echoed through the corridor.
Aria stepped back, her mind racing as she searched for an opening. Her pendant pulsed against her chest, the warmth spreading through her body like a beacon.
Ashar was fast, his strikes precise and relentless. Kael struggled to keep up, his frustration mounting with every narrowly avoided blow.
"You're outmatched," Ashar taunted, his voice calm despite the intensity of the fight. "Give up now, and I might let you live."
Kael gritted his teeth, his focus unshaken. "Not happening."
Aria's gaze darted to the walls, her eyes catching on a series of faint runes etched into the stone. They glowed softly, their light almost imperceptible against the flickering torches.
"Kael, keep him busy!" she shouted, rushing toward the runes.
---
Kael threw himself into the fight, forcing Ashar to focus solely on him. The clashing of steel filled the corridor as Aria reached the runes and placed her hands against the cool stone.
The pendant around her neck pulsed again, its rhythm syncing with the runes' faint glow. Closing her eyes, Aria focused on the connection, letting the pendant guide her.
The runes flared to life, their light flooding the corridor in a blinding wave. Ashar staggered, momentarily disoriented.
Kael seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful strike that knocked Ashar's blade from his grasp.
Aria turned, her voice firm. "Stand down, Ashar. You've lost."
Ashar straightened, a thin line of blood trailing from his lip. Despite his defeat, he smirked. "Impressive. Perhaps Lady Saraphine underestimated you after all."
---
Ashar raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "I'll let you go—for now. But know this: the Wardens are already three steps ahead of you. Whatever you think you're preventing, it's too late."
Kael scowled, his sword still raised. "Why should we believe anything you say?"
Ashar reached into his robes and withdrew a small, sealed scroll. He tossed it at Aria's feet. "A message from Lady Saraphine. Consider it… a parting gift."
Before they could react, Ashar muttered an incantation. Shadows coiled around him, and he disappeared, leaving only the echo of his laughter behind.
---
Aria picked up the scroll, her hands trembling as she broke the seal. The parchment inside was marked with Saraphine's sigil, the ink shimmering faintly in the dim light.
Kael placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "Whatever it says, we'll face it together."
Aria nodded, her resolve hardening. The Wardens were more dangerous than she'd imagined, and Saraphine's influence stretched further than they had feared.
The path ahead was darker than ever, but Aria's grip on the pendant tightened. For her mother. For the Shard. For the truth.