The storm lessened as they moved through the ruins, though the air remained heavy with the acrid stench of charred stone and decay. Kael scanned the surroundings with practiced precision, his free hand never straying far from Eidolon's hilt. The girl stumbled beside him, her pale skin almost translucent under the dim light of the stormy sky.
"What do you remember?" Kael asked, breaking the tense silence.
The girl hesitated, her violet-silver eyes fixed on the ground. "Flashes," she murmured. "A room filled with light… voices shouting… then darkness."
Kael's jaw tightened. He'd heard similar accounts from survivors of Shattered raids—those fortunate enough to escape with their minds intact. "And the Shattered? Why were they after you?"
She shook her head, her white hair falling over her face. "I don't know. I just… woke up here."
Kael frowned but said nothing. Her presence unnerved him. She didn't feel like a typical survivor, yet she lacked the telltale madness of the Shattered. If she wasn't one of them, what was she?
They reached the outskirts of the ruins, where a jagged path wound through the forest. The storm clouds parted slightly, letting pale sunlight filter through the trees. Kael stopped, his eyes narrowing as he studied the path ahead.
"This way leads to Fallreach," he said. "It's a Keeper outpost. You'll be safe there."
The girl froze. "No," she said, her voice sharp. "I can't go there."
Kael turned to her, his brow furrowing. "Why not? It's the safest place for someone like you."
She backed away, her thin frame trembling. "They'll lock me up. Experiment on me. That's what Keepers do, isn't it? Treat people like tools?"
Kael's grip on Eidolon tightened, but he kept his voice calm. "Not all of us."
"Then why do you carry that blade?" she shot back, her gaze dropping to Eidolon. "It feeds on memories, doesn't it? How many lives has it stolen?"
The accusation hit harder than Kael expected. He exhaled slowly, glancing down at the weapon. "I don't have a choice," he said. "The blade doesn't just take. It protects."
"From what?"
"From things worse than the Shattered."
The girl stared at him for a long moment, then sighed. "I don't trust your outpost. But I'll go with you—for now."
Kael nodded, deciding not to push further. "Stay close, and don't wander. The woods aren't safe."
They started down the path, the forest closing in around them. The air grew colder, and the faint whispers of the wind took on an unnatural tone. Kael felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Do you hear that?" the girl whispered.
Kael nodded, drawing Eidolon. The blade flared to life, its glow piercing the shadows. The whispers grew louder, though the words were impossible to make out.
"Stay behind me," Kael said, his voice low.
The girl obeyed, clutching the hem of his cloak. As they moved deeper into the woods, the whispers coalesced into a single voice—a deep, resonant tone that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
"Bearer of the blade," the voice intoned, each word vibrating through the air. "You tread upon forbidden ground."
Kael stopped, his eyes scanning the trees. "Show yourself," he demanded.
The shadows ahead twisted and warped, forming a figure draped in tattered black robes. Its face was obscured, but its presence exuded malice.
"You carry Eidolon," the figure said, its voice a rasping hiss. "Do you know the price of wielding such power?"
Kael raised the blade, its light intensifying. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled, a hollow sound that sent shivers down Kael's spine. "A fragment of what was. A reminder of what will be. That blade you cling to—it will devour you, as it has devoured countless before you."
Kael tightened his grip. "If you're trying to scare me, it's not working."
"Brave words," the figure said, its form shifting closer. "But bravery won't save you when the Void calls."
At the mention of the Void, Kael felt a chill run through him. The girl tugged at his cloak, her voice trembling. "We need to leave. Now."
The figure's form began to dissolve, its laughter echoing in the trees. "Run if you must, Keeper. The Void is patient. It will consume all, in time."
As the figure vanished, the forest grew silent. Kael sheathed Eidolon, his mind racing.
"What was that?" the girl asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kael didn't answer immediately. He stared into the shadows where the figure had stood, his thoughts heavy. "A warning," he finally said.
Without another word, they continued down the path, the weight of the encounter pressing down on them both.