The sanctuary was still, save for the occasional crackle of embers in the remnants of the campfire. The first rays of dawn filtered through the ancient stone structure, illuminating the weary faces of Eryon and his companions. Despite their victory against the Voidspawn, the air remained tense. Eryon stared at the shard in his hand, its faint glow flickering as if alive.
"You need rest," Althea said softly, her voice cutting through the silence. She approached Eryon, her staff glowing faintly with residual magic. "The shard's power takes a toll. You've pushed yourself too far."
Eryon shook his head, his jaw clenched. "If I rest, who protects the others? That… thing almost broke through." His gaze drifted to Tia, who slept fitfully against the statue of the ancient warrior.
Althea sighed. "That's why we're here—to share the burden. You're not alone in this, Eryon."
Lorin, who had been keeping watch near the entrance, spoke up. "She's right. You can't protect anyone if you collapse from exhaustion." He turned his sharp eyes to the forest beyond. "And we don't have the luxury of staying here much longer. The hunter is out there, regrouping. It'll track us again soon."
Eryon hesitated but finally nodded. "Wake me in an hour," he said, settling against the cool stone wall. Despite his protests, sleep claimed him almost immediately.
Eryon's dreams were chaotic—a swirling vortex of light and shadow. He stood in a vast void, the shard glowing brightly in his hand. The air was heavy, pressing against him like an invisible force.
"You carry a power you do not understand," a voice echoed, low and resonant. Eryon turned, but the void revealed no source for the voice. "The Void hungers, and you are its beacon."
"I didn't ask for this!" Eryon shouted into the emptiness. "Why me?"
The voice seemed to surround him, growing colder. "The shard chooses its bearer, not for their strength, but for their resolve. The path ahead will demand everything of you. Will you rise, or will you fall?"
Before Eryon could respond, the void shattered like glass, and he jolted awake, his breath ragged.
Althea knelt beside him, her brow furrowed. "Another dream?" she asked quietly.
He nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "A voice… it said the Void hungers, and I'm the beacon. It also said the shard chose me."
Althea's expression darkened. "The shard's magic is ancient, tied to forces we barely understand. It's possible it's trying to communicate—or warn you."
Lorin interrupted, his voice sharp. "We've got company."
Eryon scrambled to his feet, adrenaline surging through his veins. Lorin stood at the sanctuary's entrance, his bow drawn and an arrow notched. In the distance, the faint sound of footsteps and guttural growls echoed through the forest.
"They're here," Lorin said, his tone grim.
Althea's staff flared to life, casting a protective barrier over the sanctuary. "This ward won't hold for long," she warned. "We need to move."
Tia, now awake and clutching Eryon's arm, looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes. "Where can we go? They'll find us again."
Eryon knelt to her level, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll keep moving. We'll figure it out."
The group gathered their belongings quickly. Althea led the way, her staff illuminating the dense forest as they slipped through the sanctuary's rear entrance. The growls grew louder, the Voidspawn closing in.
"They're faster than before," Lorin muttered, glancing over his shoulder. "They're learning."
Eryon felt the shard pulse in his pocket, as if responding to the danger. His grip tightened around the hilt of his borrowed sword. "Then we need to stay ahead of them."
The forest seemed alive with menace, the shadows shifting unnaturally as the Voidspawn pursued them. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs set their nerves on edge. The group moved as quickly as they could, weaving through the dense undergrowth.
Althea suddenly stopped, her eyes narrowing. "There's a river up ahead. If we cross it, it might mask our trail."
They reached the riverbank just as the first of the Voidspawn emerged from the trees—a hulking, insect-like creature with jagged limbs and glowing eyes. Lorin fired an arrow, striking it in the chest. The creature shrieked but didn't fall.
"Go!" Lorin shouted, firing another arrow. "I'll cover you!"
Eryon hesitated, his instincts screaming to stay and fight, but Althea grabbed his arm. "We can't afford to lose you. Move!"
The group waded into the river, the icy water biting at their skin. Eryon carried Tia on his back as the current threatened to sweep them away. On the opposite bank, they turned to see Lorin holding his ground, his arrows glowing with Althea's magic.
"Lorin, come on!" Eryon shouted.
The archer loosed one final arrow before sprinting into the river. The Voidspawn hesitated at the water's edge, their movements jerky and uncertain. One of them stepped forward, only to recoil with a hiss as the current touched its limbs.
"They can't cross," Althea said, relief evident in her voice.
Lorin reached the group, panting but unscathed. "That won't stop them for long," he said. "They'll find another way."
"We need to keep moving," Althea agreed. "There's a village a day's journey from here. They might have information—or at least supplies."
As the group pressed on, Eryon's mind raced. The dreams, the shard, the relentless pursuit of the Voidspawn—it all pointed to something far bigger than himself. The elder's warning echoed in his mind: They will come for you.
He glanced at Tia, who walked beside him with quiet determination. Despite her fear, she didn't complain. Her resilience strengthened his resolve.
"We'll make it," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "We have to."
Far behind them, deep in the shadows of the forest, the Void hunter watched. Its glowing eyes narrowed as it observed the group's retreat. For now, it would let them run. The hunt had only just begun.