Kael and Seren made their way back through the Blackspire Ruins as quickly as possible, the Tear of Veyrin safely secured in Kael's satchel. The massive stone golem had collapsed once Kael took the artifact, but Kael didn't trust the calm. The ruins were ancient and unpredictable, and they weren't out of danger yet.
Seren moved with precision, her eyes constantly scanning the environment for any signs of danger. "We should've been gone by now," she muttered. "There's no telling how long that golem will stay down."
Kael nodded, urging his feet to move faster. "We'll be fine. The tablet says the portal is just ahead."
"I don't care about your tablet," Seren shot back, keeping her focus on the path ahead. "We need to leave the ruins before something else notices us."
Kael sighed but quickened his pace. There was no denying her point.
When they finally emerged from the ruins and stepped into the open, the sky had darkened completely, casting long, ominous shadows across the land. The air felt thick with tension, and Kael couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't alone.
Seren paused, her sharp eyes flicking to the horizon. "We're being followed," she said quietly.
Kael didn't hesitate. He tapped his tablet, activating a quick-scan function. It wasn't long before the screen showed a series of incoming dots—two, no, three figures closing in fast.
"They're not wasting any time," Kael muttered.
"Bandits?" Seren asked, her voice a mix of skepticism and concern.
"Worse," Kael replied. "They're Crimson Court enforcers."
"Damn," Seren cursed under her breath. "They've found us already. We need to make it to the portal before they catch up."
They pushed forward at a sprint, but the sound of hooves soon reached their ears. Three riders, all wearing the distinct crimson armor of the Court, emerged from the darkness. Their leader, a tall man with a cruel smile, raised his hand.
"Kael," he called out, his voice calm but dangerous. "You've made quite a mess of things."
Kael slowed, realizing there was no running from them now. Seren instinctively stepped forward, her daggers ready, but Kael raised a hand to stop her.
"No point in drawing unnecessary attention," he said quietly. "I'll handle this."
He approached the riders, trying to keep his tone steady. "I don't know what you think happened, but I've delivered the artifact as requested. You've got what you want."
The leader of the enforcers chuckled darkly. "Oh, we've got what we want, alright. But you've failed to understand something, Kael. The Court never settles for less. Your 'debt' is not just about delivering the Tear of Veyrin. It's about loyalty. And you've broken that."
Kael's heart sank. "What do you mean? I've done everything you asked."
"You've done what was required," the enforcer said with a sneer. "But you did so in your own way. You struck a deal with a rogue mage, didn't you?"
Kael's stomach twisted. "I didn't—"
"Oh, don't play coy," the enforcer interrupted. "We know. You've stolen from us. The Court doesn't like thieves."
Seren stepped forward, her daggers gleaming in the dim light. "If you think you can intimidate us, you're mistaken."
Kael grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Not now. We don't need to start a fight."
The leader's grin widened. "You're right. But you'll wish you had. The Court has its ways of handling… disappointment." He snapped his fingers, and the two other enforcers dismounted, surrounding Kael and Seren.
"I've got an offer for you," the leader said, his smile turning into something colder. "You've got two choices. You can return the Tear of Veyrin—along with whatever you've earned—and your debt is forgiven. Or…" He paused, letting the silence stretch. "You can try to run. I guarantee, you won't make it far."
Kael's mind raced. The artifact was too valuable, too dangerous to be handed back, but the enforcers were closing in. He glanced at Seren, who met his eyes with a steady, calculating look.
"Time's running out, Kael," the enforcer taunted. "What will it be?"
For a long moment, Kael said nothing. Then, his hand dropped to his belt, where his Ethercore-powered portal device was nestled.
"We'll take option three," Kael said, his voice tight.
The enforcer's eyes narrowed. "Option three? What are you—"
Before he could finish the sentence, Kael slammed his palm onto the device, activating the portal. A swirling vortex of light appeared before them, and Kael, Seren, and the Tear of Veyrin were sucked into it, vanishing from the enforcers' reach.
---
Kael stumbled out of the portal, landing on soft grass with Seren following closely behind. He rose quickly, scanning the unfamiliar landscape.
"That was… reckless," Seren muttered, brushing dirt from her clothes.
"Sometimes, you have to take risks," Kael replied, breathing heavily.
They stood on the edge of a vast forest, the portal closing behind them with a faint hum. Kael turned to Seren, his gaze serious. "We're not safe yet. The Court will come after us. But for now, we've bought ourselves a little time."
Seren raised an eyebrow. "And what do we do with that time, merchant?"
Kael looked at the Tear of Veyrin in his hands, the artifact pulsing with an eerie glow. "We find a way to use it. The Court's not the only one who wants this. And I'm sure there's someone out there willing to pay a lot more than they would."
Seren smirked. "I like the way you think."
As they began walking through the forest, Kael felt the weight of his choices pressing down on him. His journey was far from over, and the stakes were higher than ever. But for the first time in a long while, he felt the thrill of uncertainty, the exhilaration of not knowing what came next.
For better or worse, he was playing the game—and he had no intention of losing.