The morning came too quickly. Eren sat by the cold embers of the campfire, his thoughts a tangled mess. The mysterious figure's words from the night before lingered in his mind like a shadow. Prove your worth. But what did it mean? And why had the figure disappeared without giving any real answers?
Kael's voice cut through his thoughts. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Eren glanced up to see Kael stretching, his greatsword slung casually over his shoulder. Liora was nearby, tying her hair back and inspecting her arrows. Both of them seemed oblivious to the tension that had settled over Eren.
"Didn't sleep," Eren muttered.
Kael smirked. "Join the club. Between the fragments humming like an angry swarm and the constant threat of Revenants, I'm surprised any of us get any rest."
Liora frowned as she approached. "What's wrong?" she asked, her tone softer. She had learned to recognize when Eren was carrying something heavier than usual.
Eren hesitated, glancing at the ruins around them. The figure had seemed so real, but in the harsh light of day, it almost felt like a dream. Finally, he spoke. "There was someone here last night. They... they knew about the fragments."
Kael stiffened, his grip tightening on his weapon. "What do you mean 'someone'? A Revenant?"
"No," Eren said quickly. "It was... different. They didn't attack. They just—talked. Said something about proving my worth."
Liora exchanged a worried glance with Kael. "And you didn't wake us?"
"I didn't have time," Eren replied, a touch of frustration in his voice. "They disappeared before I could do anything."
Kael let out a low whistle. "Well, that's not ominous at all."
Liora stepped closer, her expression serious. "Eren, you need to be careful. If this... person is connected to the fragments, they could be dangerous. They might be working with Malrik."
"Or against him," Eren countered. "They seemed... different. Like they had their own agenda."
"Great," Kael said dryly. "Because we really needed more people trying to kill us."
---
A New Path
Despite the lingering tension, the group pressed on. The map Liora had recovered from the archives pointed them toward an ancient temple deep within the Whispering Woods, a place said to house another fragment. The journey was long and arduous, the dense forest pressing in on all sides. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set them on edge.
By midday, they came upon a clearing where an ancient stone bridge stretched over a deep ravine. The bridge was cracked and weathered, its edges crumbling into the abyss below. A faint mist clung to the air, swirling ominously around their feet.
"This looks safe," Kael muttered, eyeing the structure warily.
"We don't have a choice," Liora said, stepping forward. "The temple is on the other side."
Eren followed, his grip tightening on his sword as they crossed single file. The bridge groaned under their weight, each step sending small stones tumbling into the void. Halfway across, a chill ran down Eren's spine, and he froze.
"Something's wrong," he said, his voice low.
Liora turned to him, her bow at the ready. "What do you mean?"
Before Eren could answer, the air around them seemed to shift. The mist thickened, coiling like a living thing, and a low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows.
"Revenants," Kael hissed, drawing his greatsword.
From the mist emerged figures cloaked in darkness, their forms twisted and unnatural. Their glowing red eyes locked onto the group as they closed in from both sides of the bridge.
"We're surrounded!" Liora shouted, loosing an arrow that struck one of the creatures, causing it to dissolve into shadow.
"Keep moving!" Eren commanded, stepping to the front. His sword flared with the faint glow of the fragment, illuminating the mist.
---
The Battle on the Bridge
The fight was chaotic and brutal. Eren's sword clashed with the Revenants' claws, each strike sending bursts of light and shadow scattering. Kael fought like a whirlwind, his greatsword cleaving through the creatures with raw power. Liora moved with precision, her arrows finding their marks even in the dense mist.
But the Revenants kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. The bridge shuddered under the strain of the battle, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface.
"We're not going to make it!" Kael shouted, his voice strained.
Eren gritted his teeth, the fragment at his side pulsing violently. The whispers in his mind grew louder, urging him to use its power. He glanced at Liora and Kael, both struggling to hold their ground. If he didn't act, they wouldn't survive.
He closed his eyes, focusing on the fragment's energy. It surged through him, filling him with a blinding light. When he opened his eyes, the sword in his hand burned brighter than ever.
"Get down!" he shouted.
Kael and Liora obeyed instinctively as Eren unleashed a wave of energy that swept across the bridge. The Revenants shrieked as they were consumed by the light, their forms dissolving into nothingness. The mist cleared, leaving only silence.
---
A Costly Victory
The three of them stood in the aftermath, the bridge now dangerously unstable. Large sections had crumbled away, leaving only a narrow path to the other side.
"Remind me to never cross a bridge again," Kael muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Liora approached Eren, her eyes searching his face. "Are you okay?"
Eren nodded, though he felt anything but. The fragment's power still lingered in his veins, leaving him drained and unsteady. "I'm fine. Let's keep moving."
Kael frowned but didn't argue. The group pressed on, their steps cautious as they reached the far side of the ravine. The entrance to the temple loomed ahead, its massive stone doors etched with runes that pulsed faintly with light.
"Is this it?" Kael asked, his voice filled with a mix of awe and dread.
Liora nodded. "The temple of Taryon. If the map is right, the fragment is inside."
Eren stared at the doors, the weight of the fragments pressing on him once more. The vision of the mysterious figure flashed in his mind, their words echoing. Prove your worth.
"Let's find out," he said, stepping forward.
As the doors groaned open, the group was met with a wave of cold air and the faint hum of power. Whatever lay inside, it was waiting for them.