The clearing was bathed in an unnatural glow as the figure's violet blade crackled with energy. Eryon stood firm, his heart pounding but his resolve unwavering. The shard in his hand pulsed in response, its light growing brighter as if sensing the threat.
Tia clutched his arm. "Eryon, what do we do?"
He glanced at her, determination flashing in his eyes. "Stay behind me. If things go wrong, run."
The hunter tilted his head, his glowing eyes fixed on Eryon. "You think you can stand against me, boy? Surrender the shard, and I might let the girl live."
Eryon tightened his grip on the shard, feeling its energy coursing through him. "You'll have to take it from me."
The hunter chuckled darkly. "So be it."
In an instant, the hunter lunged, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Eryon barely managed to dodge, the weapon grazing his side and leaving a faint burn. The shard in his hand flared, and instinctively, he raised it, summoning a barrier of light that blocked the next strike.
The hunter hissed, recoiling from the radiant energy. "Ah, so the shard has chosen you. Interesting."
Eryon didn't wait for him to recover. He focused on the shard, willing its power to respond. A beam of light shot from his palm, striking the hunter and sending him stumbling back. The energy left Eryon momentarily drained, but he stood his ground.
Tia gasped. "Eryon, how are you doing that?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his breathing heavy. "It's like the shard is guiding me."
The hunter growled, his composure slipping. "You're meddling with forces you don't understand, boy. That power will consume you."
"I'll take my chances," Eryon shot back.
The hunter charged again, this time faster and more aggressive. Eryon dodged and countered as best he could, the shard's power flowing through him like a lifeline. But the strain was taking its toll. Each attack left him slower, weaker. He knew he couldn't keep this up for long.
Tia, watching from the sidelines, felt helpless. But as her gaze fell on the altar, an idea struck her. The symbols that had glowed earlier were still faintly visible. She ran to the altar and began tracing her fingers over the carvings, hoping to trigger something.
"Tia, what are you doing?" Eryon shouted as he blocked another strike.
"Trust me!" she yelled back, her voice trembling but determined.
The hunter noticed her and snarled. "Stay away from that altar, girl!"
Eryon stepped in his path, his stance resolute. "Your fight is with me."
The hunter sneered. "Then let's end it."
He raised his blade high, preparing for a final, devastating blow. Eryon braced himself, gripping the shard tightly and summoning every ounce of its power. But before the attack could land, the altar erupted with light, blinding them both.
Tia stumbled back as a surge of energy filled the clearing. The light coalesced into a barrier around Eryon and Tia, forcing the hunter to retreat. He glared at them from beyond the glowing shield, his fury palpable.
"This isn't over," he spat, before disappearing into the shadows.
The light faded, leaving the clearing silent once more. Eryon collapsed to his knees, the shard's glow dimming in his hand. Tia rushed to his side, her face pale but relieved.
"Eryon, are you okay?"
He nodded weakly. "I'm fine. Thanks to you."
She offered him a shaky smile. "I don't know what I did, but it worked."
He chuckled softly, despite his exhaustion. "Whatever it was, you saved us."
They sat in the clearing for a moment, catching their breath. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving them both feeling the weight of their ordeal. But Eryon knew they couldn't stay there.
"We need to move," he said, forcing himself to his feet. "The hunter will be back, and we can't afford to be here when he does."
Tia nodded, helping him stand. "Where do we go?"
Eryon looked at the shard, its faint glow still guiding him. "The shard knows the way. We follow it."
As they left the clearing, Eryon couldn't shake the feeling that the encounter with the hunter was just the beginning. The shard's power was both a blessing and a curse, and their journey was only growing more dangerous.
Far away, in the depths of a darkened chamber, the hunter knelt before a figure cloaked in shadow. "I failed to retrieve the shard," he said, his voice filled with anger and shame.
The figure's eyes glowed faintly, their tone calm but menacing. "You underestimate the boy. But no matter. The shard is only the first step. Soon, all the pieces will be in place."
The hunter bowed his head. "I won't fail again."
"You'd better not," the figure replied, their voice cutting through the air like a blade. "The Void does not forgive weakness."
Back in the forest, Eryon and Tia pressed onward, unaware of the forces aligning against them. But as the shard pulsed softly in his hand, Eryon felt a spark of hope. Whatever lay ahead, he was determined to see it through. For the sake of the shard, for the sake of his lost village, and for the sake of the world.