The towering silhouette of the Whispering Spire loomed closer, its ethereal glow bathing the surrounding forest in an eerie silver light. As the trio stepped out of the woods, a palpable tension hung in the air.
"There it is," Kade said, gesturing toward the Spire. "Aren't you glad you brought me along? I'm practically your tour guide."
Eira rolled her eyes. "If you're done congratulating yourself, maybe you could tell us the best way inside."
Kade shrugged. "Depends. Do you want subtle, or do you want fast?"
Lucas glanced at Eira, his grip tightening on his staff. "I'm guessing subtle is safer."
"Safer?" Kade chuckled. "Not really. Just takes longer."
Eira stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the Spire. "We don't have time for subtle. If Malrik knows we're here, he'll be preparing for us. We need to move now."
Kade raised an eyebrow. "Bold choice. I like it."
The trio approached the base of the Spire, where a massive set of black iron doors stood guarded by two hulking figures. The guards were Shadowbinders, their armor dark and jagged, their weapons glowing faintly with corrupted magic.
"How do we get past them?" Lucas whispered.
Kade smirked. "Leave that to me."
Before Lucas or Eira could object, Kade stepped out of the shadows, casually striding toward the guards.
"Evening, gentlemen!" he called out, his tone cheerful.
The guards stiffened, raising their weapons. "Who goes there?" one of them barked.
"Just a humble traveler," Kade said, holding up his hands. "I couldn't help but admire your impressive Spire. Mind if I take a closer look?"
The guards exchanged a wary glance. "Leave now, or you'll regret it," the second guard growled.
Kade sighed theatrically. "That's a shame. I was hoping we could do this the easy way."
In one fluid motion, he drew his bow and fired two arrows, each one striking a guard square in the chest. The enchantments on the arrows activated instantly, freezing the guards in place with tendrils of glowing ice.
Kade turned back to Lucas and Eira, a smug grin on his face. "See? Easy."
Eira glared at him. "You're reckless."
"And you're welcome," Kade shot back, gesturing for them to follow.
Inside the Spire, the air was thick with magic, every corner of the towering structure pulsing with a faint, otherworldly energy. The halls were dark, illuminated only by the flickering glow of runes carved into the walls.
"This place feels wrong," Lucas muttered, his unease growing with every step.
"It should," Eira said, her voice low. "The Spire was built to channel leyline magic, but Malrik has corrupted it. Everything here serves his will now."
Kade stopped abruptly, his hand raised in a silent signal for them to halt. "We're not alone," he whispered, his eyes scanning the shadows.
From the darkness emerged a group of Shadowbinders, their movements silent and coordinated. At their head was a woman clad in dark robes, her pale skin glowing faintly in the dim light.
"Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "What do we have here? Trespassers in Lord Malrik's domain?"
Eira stepped forward, her dagger at the ready. "We're not here for Malrik. We need access to the Spire's core."
The woman laughed, the sound cold and sharp. "And you think we'll just let you waltz in? Foolish girl."
Lucas tightened his grip on his staff, his pulse quickening. "We don't have time for this," he muttered.
The Shadowbinders advanced, their weapons drawn, and the air crackled with the promise of battle.
Eira moved first, her dagger flashing as she darted toward the nearest enemy. Kade followed suit, his arrows striking with deadly precision. Lucas stayed back, channeling his magic to create barriers and offensive spells.
The Shadowbinder leader watched the fight with a smirk, her hands weaving a spell. Dark tendrils of energy snaked toward Lucas, who barely managed to deflect them with a burst of light.
"Impressive," the woman said, her gaze narrowing. "But you're out of your depth, boy."
Lucas gritted his teeth, the mark on his wrist flaring painfully. "You don't know what I'm capable of," he said, unleashing a blast of energy.
The woman deflected the spell with ease, her smirk widening. "Oh, I know exactly what you are. The cursed one. Malrik will be pleased to meet you."
Eira and Kade fought fiercely, but the Shadowbinders were relentless. The battle raged on, the sound of clashing steel and crackling magic echoing through the halls.
In the chaos, Lucas's resolve hardened. He knew they couldn't afford to be captured—not with the Nexus Scroll in their possession. Summoning every ounce of his strength, he unleashed a wave of light that filled the room, temporarily blinding their enemies.
"Now!" he shouted. "Move!"
Eira and Kade didn't hesitate, following Lucas as he led them deeper into the Spire. Behind them, the Shadowbinder leader's furious shouts echoed through the halls.
As they ran, Lucas's mind raced. They had survived for now, but the worst was yet to come. The Spire's core awaited them, and with it, the confrontation that could determine the fate of the realm.
For Lucas, the weight of the curse had never felt heavier.