The skies darkened as the group pressed onward, leaving the safety of Evershade far behind. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and an ominous wind swept through the trees, carrying with it the scent of ash and decay. Aleron could feel the tension thickening with every step they took deeper into the wilderness. Their destination lay to the north—an ancient ruin said to be steeped in magic, a place where the next heir might be hidden.
The ruin was known as Aetherfall, a fortress built atop a nexus of power long since abandoned. Legends claimed it had once been a sanctuary for sorcerers who sought to harness the essence of creation itself. But now, it was a broken shell, its halls haunted by memories and shadows.
"We're nearing cursed ground," Aidan muttered, his hand resting on the bow slung across his back. "I've heard stories of men who entered Aetherfall and never returned."
Aleron glanced at the hunter, his brow furrowed. "What kind of stories?"
Aidan's eyes darkened, his tone grim. "They say the magic there has twisted into something unnatural. The Void may not be the only danger waiting for us."
Seraphina stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "We can't afford to turn back. If the next heir is trapped in that ruin, we're their only hope."
The group fell into a tense silence as they continued their march. The air grew colder, and Aleron's breath misted in front of him. He could feel the pull of magic, a whispering hum that vibrated in his bones. The closer they came to Aetherfall, the heavier the air became, as if the ruin itself was aware of their approach.
When they finally reached the edge of the ruins, Aleron felt a chill creep down his spine. The fortress loomed before them, its once-majestic towers now reduced to jagged spires that clawed at the sky. Vines choked the walls, and the stones themselves seemed to pulse faintly with an eerie blue glow.
Dorian knelt by the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the ground. "Footprints," he said quietly. "Someone's been here recently."
"Friend or foe?" Aleron asked.
Dorian's expression was unreadable as he straightened. "We're about to find out."
They entered the ruin cautiously, weapons drawn and senses alert. The interior was a labyrinth of crumbling corridors and collapsed archways, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and ancient magic. Strange symbols, half-erased by time, adorned the walls, and the faint glow of runes flickered like dying embers.
Aleron felt the weight of history pressing down on him, as if the very stones remembered the sorrows of those who had walked these halls before. Every step echoed with a sense of dread, and the shadows seemed to shift and writhe, watching them with unseen eyes.
"Stay together," Seraphina whispered, her voice a sharp command. "Whatever happens, don't lose sight of each other."
They moved deeper into the heart of the ruin, the tension tightening like a noose. Suddenly, a low, guttural growl echoed through the darkness, and Aleron felt his heart lurch. He gripped his sword, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"Something's here," he whispered.
From the shadows, a creature emerged—an abomination of twisted flesh and dark magic. It stood on hind legs, its eyes glowing with malevolent hunger, and its claws sharp as razors. A voidbeast.
"Defend yourselves!" Seraphina shouted.
The voidbeast lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Aleron barely managed to dodge, feeling the rush of wind as the strike missed him by inches. He countered with a swift strike of his own, his blade biting into the creature's hide, but it barely flinched.
Jareth was already moving, his twin daggers a blur as he danced around the beast, slashing at its vulnerable joints. Dorian fired a bolt from his crossbow, the shaft embedding itself in the voidbeast's shoulder. The creature roared in fury, its cry reverberating through the ruin.
Aidan loosed an arrow, the tip glowing with a faint enchantment. The shot struck true, piercing the beast's eye, and it howled in agony.
"Keep pressing!" Aleron yelled, his voice steady despite the fear pounding in his chest.
The battle raged on, the clash of steel and the snarl of the beast filling the air. Every strike, every movement, felt like a desperate dance against an unstoppable force. Aleron fought with everything he had, the weight of destiny heavy on his shoulders.
Finally, with a final thrust, Seraphina drove her blade deep into the voidbeast's heart. The creature shuddered, a terrible scream tearing from its throat as it dissolved into a swirling mass of darkness before vanishing into nothingness.
Breathing heavily, Aleron wiped sweat from his brow. "What was that?"
"A servant of the Void," Seraphina said grimly. "A reminder of what we're truly up against."
As the echoes of the battle faded, a soft, ethereal light began to glow from deeper within the ruin. Aleron felt drawn to it, an inexplicable pull that he couldn't resist. He stepped forward, his heart pounding as he followed the light to a small, hidden chamber.
There, lying on a pedestal of stone, was a figure shrouded in a cocoon of magic. Aleron's breath caught in his throat as he gazed upon the slumbering form.
The next heir.