Caius, Aurelia and Zephyr fled through the ruins, heartbeats loud in their ears as the ground trembled beneath their feet. The Shadewalker wasn't far behind, its power shifting the very air around them.
"We need to hide," Aurelia gasped, pulling Caius and Zephyr through a narrow passageway. "We can't keep running."
"yes genius even if we just ran it'll catch up on us it's not like the other shadewalkers… fuck i'm pretty sure we can't kill it" Zephyr said
"yeah it can move quickly and the ruins are collapsing" Aurelia sighed
"I know a place," Caius said between breaths. "A hidden vault beneath the city. It's old—only the Aetherion Council knows about it."
They made their way through the crumbling streets, their every footstep echoing in the quiet as the wind howled through the empty ruins. When they reached the entrance to the vault, Caius hesitated. His mind raced—should he trust this hidden place? But they had no choice. Zephyr was sceptical about the whole place but just kept walking. "cius if we die i'll kill you"
"First of all it's Caius and-" Zephyr shushed caius placing his finger on caius' lips…
As the heavy stone doors closed behind them, the world outside seemed to fade. The air was cooler here, but the oppressive darkness still clung to them. They were safe—at least for the moment.
Zephyr walked around in the vault inspecting the walls..
Aurelia turned to Caius. "What was that thing? A Harbinger?"
Caius's expression darkened. "The Abyssal Order. They've been hunting the Skyshards for centuries. They believe the Aetherion will grant them the power to reshape the world, but at a terrible cost. We have to stop them."
"I thought the Aetherion Council was the one pulling the strings," Aurelia said. "Why haven't they done anything to stop the Abyssal Order?"
"They've been blinded by their own ambition," Caius said quietly.
"I don't trust them either." Zephyr whispered "they are power-starved dogs, sometimes I wish Celestria could fall then it will be over for your little kingdom…" Zephyr sighed
Aurelia knew Zephyr wasn't in to save Celestria.. But then what is he after?
As they ventured deeper into the vault, the dim glow of the shard illuminated intricate carvings on the walls. Caius's fingers traced the ancient symbols."This is an ancient archive," he murmured. "It's more than just a vault—it's a repository of knowledge about the Aetherion."
Aurelia's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Why hasn't anyone found this before?"
"The Aetherion Council doesn't want anyone to know about it," Caius replied, his voice low. "It holds the truth about the shards, about their origins. If we can unlock it…"
Suddenly, a low rumble shook the ground, and the walls seemed to shift, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside, a large stone pedestal stood, the surface cracked and weathered with age. On it rested a second Skyshard, pulsing with a darker, more ominous glow.
Aurelia felt a chill as she stepped closer. "What is it?"
"Stay back princess it might be dangerous" Zephyr said stepping in front of Aurelia and pulling her behind him
"It's one of the original shards," Caius said, his voice heavy with realization. "It's been here, hidden away, since the time before Celestria."
He reached forward, his fingers brushing the surface of the shard. For a moment, nothing happened, but then, the room seemed to come alive. A wave of energy surged through the vault, filling the air with power.
"What have you done?" Zephyr asked, his voice sharp with alarm.
"I didn't mean to," Caius said, stepping back as the energy crackled around them. "But I think we've just awakened something."
Aurelia pulled Caius back
"If I die here I'll kill you Caius I swear!!!" Zephyr yelled his voice sharp with panic.
Is the vault collapsing too?