The mine was collapsing around them. The destruction of the shard had sent shockwaves through the earth, cracking stone and splitting the ground. Caius stumbled forward, his legs barely holding him upright as he followed the faint light of the tunnel ahead.
"Faster!" the stranger called, their voice echoing in the chaos. They darted ahead with uncanny agility, their silver runes glowing faintly as they deflected falling debris.
"Elara, watch your left!" Caius shouted, his black flames flickering weakly in his hand.
Elara dodged a massive chunk of falling stone, her sword still drawn despite the chaos. She grabbed Caius's arm, helping him keep pace. "We're not dying here," she said through gritted teeth, her voice laced with determination.
The tunnel twisted and turned, the air growing thicker with dust and heat. Every step felt heavier, the weight of the shards pressing down on Caius like a suffocating cloak. The whispers had receded for now, but their absence was almost as unnerving as their presence.
"Are we even going the right way?" Elara demanded, her breath coming in short gasps.
The stranger glanced back, their face shadowed but calm. "Do you have a better idea? Because I'd love to hear it."
Before Elara could retort, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern, its ceiling dotted with glowing crystals that cast an eerie, bluish light. The ground here was uneven, littered with broken weapons and decayed bones—remnants of a long-forgotten battle.
"This wasn't here before," Elara muttered, her eyes narrowing. She drew closer to Caius, her free hand gripping her sword tightly.
The stranger knelt by one of the bones, brushing aside dirt and ash. "It seems the Keepers fought their final stand here." They picked up a rusted blade, examining it with a grim expression. "And lost."
Caius moved cautiously, his senses on high alert. The cavern felt wrong, as if the very air carried the weight of centuries of suffering. His footsteps echoed unnaturally loud, each sound amplified until it seemed like whispers surrounded them once more.
"Don't stop," he said, his voice shaky. "We need to find a way out."
As they moved deeper into the cavern, the light from the crystals began to dim, casting long, flickering shadows. Caius couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every so often, he thought he saw movement out of the corner of his eye—a flicker of dark mist that vanished as soon as he turned his head.
"Elara," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Do you see—?"
"Yes," she interrupted, her tone cold and sharp. She had seen it too.
The stranger stood a few steps ahead, their runes glowing brighter in response to the oppressive energy. "We're not alone. Be ready."
From the shadows, shapes began to coalesce—figures made of smoke and ash, their forms barely humanoid. Thralls. Dozens of them. But these were different from the ones they had fought before. Their movements were sharper, more deliberate, and their eyes glowed a sinister crimson.
"They're getting stronger," Elara muttered, raising her sword.
Caius ignited his flames, though they burned weaker than usual. The exhaustion from shattering the shard still weighed on him. "We can't take them all," he admitted, his voice heavy with frustration.
The stranger stepped back, positioning themselves between Caius and the advancing thralls. "We don't have to. This way." They gestured toward a narrow passage at the far end of the cavern.
"Lead the way!" Elara shouted, lunging forward to cleave through the first thrall that attacked.
The group moved quickly, cutting down the thralls that got too close. Caius's flames sputtered and flared inconsistently, each strike taking more effort than the last. He felt the shards within him stirring, whispering promises of strength if he would just let go, but he forced himself to resist.
As they reached the passage, a guttural roar echoed through the cavern. Caius turned to see a massive figure emerging from the shadows—a behemoth, its hulking form wreathed in dark energy. Its claws scraped against the stone, and its glowing red eyes locked onto Caius.
"Go!" Caius shouted, pushing Elara and the stranger toward the passage. "I'll hold it off!"
"Are you insane?" Elara yelled, grabbing his arm. "You're not doing this alone!"
The stranger hesitated, their expression unreadable. "We'll cover you," they said finally, summoning a shimmering barrier of light to slow the behemoth's advance.
Elara stood her ground beside Caius, her sword gleaming in the faint light. "We do this together, or not at all."
Caius didn't have the strength to argue. The behemoth charged, its massive claws slicing through the barrier as if it were paper. Caius raised his hand, summoning his flames into a concentrated burst that struck the creature's chest. It roared in pain but didn't stop.
Elara darted forward, her blade cutting into the creature's leg. The behemoth stumbled, giving Caius a brief opening to attack again. His flames flared brighter, fueled by desperation, but the strain was taking its toll. His vision blurred, and his legs felt like they could give out at any moment.
"Caius, fall back!" Elara shouted, narrowly dodging a swipe from the behemoth's claws.
"I'm fine," he lied, his voice strained. He summoned another burst of flames, but they sputtered weakly, barely singeing the creature's hide.
The stranger stepped in, their runes blazing as they drove a lance of light into the behemoth's shoulder. The creature howled, its movements growing more erratic. "It's weakening," the stranger said. "Push it back!"
Summoning the last of his strength, Caius focused all his energy into a final attack. The black flames roared to life, engulfing the behemoth in a blazing inferno. The creature thrashed and roared, but the fire consumed it, leaving only ash in its wake.
Caius collapsed to his knees, his breathing ragged. The shards within him pulsed faintly, their whispers quiet but ever-present.
Elara knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did it."
The stranger approached, their expression unreadable. "We should keep moving. That thing wasn't the only danger here."
Caius nodded weakly, allowing Elara to help him to his feet. The passage ahead was narrow and dark, but it offered a glimmer of hope—a way out of the cursed mine and the nightmare it had become.
As they walked, Caius couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had taken more from him than just energy. The shards within him felt heavier, their pull stronger. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever.
"Elara," he said quietly, his voice barely audible. "If I lose myself... promise me you'll stop me."
She stopped in her tracks, her green eyes locking onto his. "Don't ask me that."
"Promise me," he insisted, his gaze unwavering.
Elara hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I promise."
The words hung heavy in the air as the group pressed on, the weight of their journey bearing down on them all.