The sanctuary stone radiated a soothing hum, its faint glow acting as a barrier between them and the prowling Wraithbeasts. Beyond its protection, the wasteland seemed alive with malice, the shadows twisting as if searching for a way to breach the stone's defenses.
Clara sat cross-legged, her fingers absently tracing the edges of the shard. Its warmth was both comforting and unnerving. She could feel it pulsing in her hand, almost as if it had a heartbeat of its own.
"How long will this hold?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Zara glanced toward the horizon, where the gray sky bled into the desolate landscape. "Long enough for us to rest, I hope. But sanctuary stones aren't invincible. If the Wraithbeasts grow desperate, they might try to overwhelm it."
Ryker leaned against the jagged rock, his claws still slick with black ichor. His golden eyes flicked toward Clara. "That shard—whatever it is—it's more than just bait. It's reacting to you."
Clara's grip on the shard tightened. "What does that even mean? I didn't ask for this. I don't want to be connected to... to whatever this is."
"Want doesn't matter," Zara said, her tone blunt. "You're marked now. The shard chose you, and the Shade Lord's power flows through it. Whether you like it or not, this is your reality."
Clara glared at Zara, frustration bubbling in her chest. "You say that like it's simple. Like I should just accept it."
"It's not simple," Zara admitted, her voice softening slightly. "But you don't have a choice. The shard's power is tied to your survival—and ours."
Ryker shifted, his claws scratching against the stone. "She's right. The Wraithbeasts aren't going to stop, and we can't keep running. If the shard is tied to the Shade Lord, then finding the other fragments might be our only shot at ending this."
Clara looked down at the shard, its light reflecting in her eyes. "Fragments. You really think there are more of these out there?"
"There have to be," Zara said. "This shard is incomplete, and its energy is unstable. The Archivist's writings mentioned fragments scattered across the realms, each tied to a specific domain. This one resonates with the Void—that's why the Wraithbeasts are drawn to it."
Clara shuddered at the thought of more places like the wasteland they were trapped in. "And what happens when we find them all?"
Zara hesitated, her gaze distant. "If the fragments are reunited, they'll restore the Shade Lord's full power. That could either save us... or destroy everything."
Ryker let out a low growl. "Comforting."
A sudden tremor shook the ground beneath them. The hum of the sanctuary stone wavered, its glow flickering for a brief moment. Zara shot to her feet, her hand on her sword.
"They're testing the barrier," she said grimly.
Clara scrambled up, her heart pounding. "What do we do if it fails?"
Ryker bared his claws, the sharp tips glinting in the faint light. "We fight. Same as always."
Zara's eyes narrowed as she scanned the circling shadows. "No. If they break through, we won't last. The shard's energy might buy us some time, but we need a plan."
Another tremor rippled through the ground, stronger this time. The Wraithbeasts prowled closer, their glowing red eyes fixed on the trio.
"Clara," Zara said, her voice urgent. "The shard. Can you feel anything? Anything that might help us?"
Clara closed her eyes, clutching the shard tightly. Its warmth spread through her fingers, pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat. A faint whisper echoed in her mind, soft and indistinct, like the rustle of leaves in the wind.
"I hear... something," she murmured.
"What does it say?" Zara asked, her tone sharp.
"I don't know," Clara admitted. "It's like it's... calling to me. But it's faint, like it's far away."
Zara exchanged a glance with Ryker. "It's a link. The shard is guiding her."
Ryker frowned. "Guiding her where?"
Before Zara could answer, the sanctuary stone flickered again, its hum growing weaker. The Wraithbeasts howled in unison, their cries filled with hunger and rage.
"We don't have time to figure it out," Zara said, drawing her sword. "Clara, if the shard is calling to you, listen. It might be our only way out."
Clara nodded, closing her eyes again and focusing on the whisper. It grew louder, more distinct, until she could make out words.
"...Through the shadows... the gate lies beyond..."
Her eyes snapped open. "There's a gate. It's close, but we have to go through the shadows to reach it."
Zara's jaw tightened. "Through the shadows? That's suicide."
"It's our only chance," Clara insisted.
Ryker growled, his claws flexing. "Then we move. Stay close to me, both of you."
The sanctuary stone flickered once more before its light vanished entirely. The Wraithbeasts surged forward, their howls deafening.
"Go!" Zara shouted, slicing through the first beast to reach them.
Clara gripped the shard tightly as they plunged into the shadows, the whisper guiding her steps. The air grew colder, heavier, and the ground seemed to shift beneath their feet.
The Wraithbeasts pursued them relentlessly, their snarls echoing in the darkness. Ryker and Zara fought to keep them at bay, their movements swift and precise despite their exhaustion.
"There!" Clara shouted, pointing ahead.
A massive stone arch loomed in the distance, its surface etched with glowing runes. The shard in her hand blazed with light, illuminating their path.
"Keep moving!" Zara yelled, slashing through another beast.
As they reached the arch, Clara felt a surge of energy from the shard. The runes on the gate pulsed in response, and the air around them shimmered.
"Clara, the shard!" Zara shouted.
Clara pressed the shard against the arch, and a blinding light erupted, forcing the Wraithbeasts to retreat with pained howls. The gate opened, revealing a swirling vortex of light and shadow.
"Go!" Ryker roared, shoving Clara toward the portal.
They leaped through the gate just as the Wraithbeasts lunged, the portal sealing behind them with a deafening crack.
Clara collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. The shard in her hand dimmed, its light fading to a soft glow.
Zara and Ryker stood beside her, their weapons drawn, their eyes scanning their new surroundings.
The landscape was different now—lush, vibrant, and bathed in an otherworldly light. Strange flora and glowing streams dotted the area, and the air was warm and fragrant.
"What is this place?" Clara whispered.
Zara sheathed her sword, her expression wary. "A sanctuary... but not one I recognize. The shard brought us here for a reason."
Ryker knelt beside Clara, his golden eyes intense. "The fight isn't over. It's just beginning."
Clara clutched the shard, its warmth steady against her palm. The whisper was gone, but the feeling of purpose remained.
"I'm ready," she said softly, her voice filled with determination.
Zara nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "Good. Because we're going to need you."
Together, they rose and prepared to face whatever awaited them in this new realm.