The summoning mark glowed faintly as the group stood around it, the weight of its presence pressing down on them like an invisible hand. The circle, jagged lines, and central eye pulsed faintly, as if alive, resonating with an energy Caius could feel deep in his chest.
Elara straightened, her expression grim. "This isn't just any summoning mark. It's recent." She gestured to the faint scorch marks around the edges of the drawing. "Whoever made this was here not long ago. They're moving faster than we thought."
The stranger crouched near the mark, their silver eyes narrowing as they traced the jagged lines with one finger. "This is no ordinary summoning circle. It's old—very old. The kind that calls things that aren't meant to be summoned."
Caius watched the mark, his flames flickering faintly around his hands as the shard pulsed in his satchel. "It feels like the shard… but different. Like the same energy, but twisted."
The stranger smirked faintly. "That's because whoever drew this mark wasn't just calling for help. They were calling for power. Something to tip the scales."
Elara stepped closer, her emerald eyes narrowing. "And you think the masked figure did this?"
"Who else?" the stranger said, standing and brushing off their hands. "If their group couldn't take us by force, they'll try something worse."
Caius clenched his fists, his flames burning brighter. "Then we need to destroy this mark. Whatever they're trying to summon, we can't let it succeed."
Before anyone could move, the air around the clearing grew heavy, thick with an unnatural stillness. The faint rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of insects fell silent, replaced by a low, rhythmic hum that seemed to emanate from the mark itself.
Elara tightened her grip on her sword, her gaze darting around the clearing. "What's happening?"
Caius stepped back, his flames flaring to life as the shard's pulse grew stronger, almost overwhelming. "The mark—it's reacting to something."
The stranger's silver runes flared faintly, their tone losing its usual levity. "We're not alone."
From the edge of the clearing, a shadow began to take form, coalescing into a tall, cloaked figure. Its face was hidden beneath a hood, but its glowing blue eyes burned through the darkness like twin embers.
"Too late," the figure said, its voice hollow and echoing. "The mark has been cast, and the gate has been opened. You cannot stop what is coming."
Caius stepped forward, his flames burning brighter. "Who are you? What do you want with the shards?"
The figure tilted its head slightly, its glowing eyes narrowing. "We are the harbingers of what was and what will be. The shards belong to us—to the one who will rise again."
Elara stepped beside Caius, her sword raised. "If you mean the Demon King, he's not coming back. Not while we're here."
The figure let out a low, hollow laugh. "You cannot stop fate, child. The shards will return to their master, and your efforts will be nothing but ash in the wind."
Without warning, the figure raised its hand, and the summoning mark flared to life. A wave of dark energy surged outward, striking the group with enough force to send them stumbling back.
Caius caught himself, his flames coiling around his arms as he lunged forward. He sent a burst of fire toward the figure, but the energy dissipated against an unseen barrier.
Elara charged in next, her sword slicing through the air with precision. The blade struck the barrier, sending sparks flying but leaving the figure unharmed.
The stranger stood back, their silver runes glowing as they unleashed a pulse of energy that struck the mark itself. The jagged lines flickered and hissed, but the circle remained intact.
"It's protected!" the stranger called. "We need to break the mark before we can touch them!"
Caius nodded, his flames surging as he turned his attention to the mark. He unleashed a wave of fire that engulfed the circle, the heat causing the lines to warp and distort.
The figure let out a sharp hiss, their glowing eyes narrowing. "You will not undo what has been set in motion!"
They raised both hands, and from the shadows, twisted forms began to emerge—creatures with glowing blue eyes and jagged, smoke-like bodies that moved with unnerving speed.
"Shadowborn," Elara muttered, her grip tightening on her sword.
Caius stepped forward, his flames burning brighter. "I'll handle the mark. Keep them off me."
Elara and the stranger exchanged a glance before nodding. "You'd better hurry," Elara said, her blade flashing as she intercepted the first creature.
Caius knelt by the mark, his flames coiling around him as he focused his energy. The shard's hum grew louder, resonating with the circle as if resisting his efforts to destroy it.
The creatures closed in, their glowing eyes locked on Caius, but Elara and the stranger held them at bay. Elara's sword cut through the smoke-like forms with precise, fluid movements, while the stranger's energy blasts sent them scattering.
"Hurry up, boy!" the stranger called, their silver eyes darting to Caius.
Caius gritted his teeth, the flames around his hands burning hotter. The lines of the mark hissed and cracked, but the circle remained intact, its energy pulsing like a heartbeat.
"You cannot escape what you are."
The whispered words echoed in Caius's mind, but he pushed them aside, focusing on the mark.
With a roar, Caius unleashed a surge of fire that engulfed the mark entirely. The lines warped and twisted before finally shattering, the glowing energy dissipating into the air.
The shadowy creatures let out unearthly shrieks before dissolving into smoke, leaving the clearing silent once more.
The cloaked figure staggered, their glowing eyes flickering. They let out a low growl before retreating into the shadows, their voice echoing through the clearing. "You cannot delay the inevitable. The shards will return to their master."
As the figure vanished, Caius collapsed to one knee, his flames flickering out.
Elara was at his side in an instant, her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Caius nodded, though his chest felt tight. "I'm fine. It's over."
"For now," the stranger said, their silver eyes scanning the clearing. "But they'll try again. Whatever they're planning, it's not going to stop here."
Caius clenched his fists, the shard's faint hum a reminder of the battle yet to come. "Then we'll be ready."
As the group left the clearing, the weight of the encounter lingered. Caius's resolve grew stronger, but so did the shard's influence. The fight was far from over, and the path ahead was more uncertain than ever.