Emerging from the staircase, Mikel, Naira, and Dorian found themselves back in the inn's main hall. But it was no longer the same. The walls seemed brighter, the air lighter, and the once-muted hum of the building now resonated like a soothing melody.
The shadows that had haunted them earlier now floated quietly in the corners, their once-fiery red eyes dimmed to a soft glow. They seemed calmer, almost reverent, as if acknowledging Mikel's new role.
Naira looked around, her brow furrowed. "It's different… more alive."
"It's responding to him," Dorian said, glancing at Mikel. "The inn knows its Keeper has returned."
Mikel felt the pendant around his neck pulse gently. The whispers, now soothing rather than sinister, filled his mind with a sense of purpose. "The inn isn't just a building," he said. "It's alive, a conduit between realms. And it's waiting for me to act."
Suddenly, the inn shifted. Doors that had been locked for decades creaked open, revealing new corridors and rooms filled with forgotten treasures and artifacts. The air carried the scent of old parchment and aged wood, mingling with a faint trace of flowers.
"It's opening itself to you," Naira said, marveling at the sight. "But why now?"
Before Mikel could answer, the front door of the inn burst open. A figure stumbled inside—a young woman, her clothes tattered and her face pale. She clutched her chest, gasping for breath as though she had been running for days.
"Help me," she whispered before collapsing onto the floor.
Mikel rushed to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. The moment he touched her, a wave of emotion washed over him—fear, pain, and confusion.
"She's being chased," Mikel said, his voice tight. "By something… dark."
Dorian drew his blade. "The shadows?"
Mikel shook his head. "No. This is something else. Something worse."
As if in response, the inn trembled, and the lights flickered. A cold wind swept through the hall, carrying with it an ominous growl that sent chills down their spines.
Naira knelt beside the woman, her voice soft. "Who are you? What's chasing you?"
The woman's eyes fluttered open, her voice barely a whisper. "The Rift… it's coming."
Mikel's heart sank. The word resonated with the whispers in his mind, as if the inn itself shuddered at its mention.
"What's the Rift?" Naira asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"It's a tear between realms," Mikel said, the realization dawning on him. "A gateway for something far worse than the shadows. If it opens here, it could destroy the inn—and everything it protects."
Dorian's grip on his sword tightened. "Then we need to stop it. Whatever it takes."
The woman grabbed Mikel's hand, her grip surprisingly strong. "You're the Keeper. You're the only one who can stop the Rift. But you must act quickly… before it's too late."
As she spoke, the air in the room grew colder, and the growling grew louder. A shadowy figure appeared in the doorway, its form larger and more menacing than any they had encountered before.
"The Rift is already here," Mikel said, standing and facing the figure. "And it's up to us to stop it.
The shadowy figure stepped into the inn, its form solidifying into a towering creature with glowing, ember-like eyes and jagged claws that scraped the wooden floor. Its presence exuded malice, and the temperature in the room plummeted further.
"You are the Keeper," the creature rumbled, its voice like grinding stone. "The Rift has sent me to test your worth."
Mikel stepped forward, his pendant glowing brighter. "I don't need to prove anything to you. The inn is under my protection."
The creature laughed, a sound that echoed through the hall like the crack of thunder. "The Rift cannot be stopped, Keeper. You may delay it, but its hunger is endless. Step aside, and perhaps I will spare your friends."
Dorian drew his blade, stepping beside Mikel. "You'll have to go through us first."
Naira unsheathed her daggers, her eyes narrowing. "You're not welcome here."
The creature roared, sending a shockwave through the room. The shadows in the corners began to writhe, their forms shifting in response to the creature's power.
Mikel focused on the pendant, feeling the energy of the inn flow through him. "This is my domain," he said, his voice steady. "You don't belong here."
The creature lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Dorian intercepted it, his blade sparking against its jagged form. Naira darted to the side, her movements quick and precise as she aimed for its vulnerable spots.
Mikel closed his eyes, reaching out to the inn with his mind. He felt its energy, its will, and its desire to protect. The whispers grew louder, guiding him.
"Use the light," the voices urged. "Banish the darkness."
Opening his eyes, Mikel raised the pendant. A beam of golden light erupted from it, striking the creature and forcing it to recoil. The shadows around it dissolved, and the temperature in the room began to rise.
The creature growled, its ember-like eyes narrowing. "You are stronger than I anticipated, Keeper. But this is only the beginning."
With a final roar, the creature disintegrated, its form consumed by the light. The room fell silent, and the inn seemed to exhale, its walls relaxing.
Naira and Dorian approached Mikel, their faces etched with concern.
"Is it over?" Naira asked.
Mikel shook his head. "No. That was just the Herald. The Rift is still coming."
The woman on the floor stirred, her voice weak. "You have the power to seal the Rift, Keeper. But it will require a sacrifice."
Mikel knelt beside her, his heart heavy. "What kind of sacrifice?"
She met his gaze, her eyes filled with sorrow. "A piece of yourself. The part of you that binds you to the inn. Without it, you may never leave this place."
Mikel glanced at Naira and Dorian, the weight of the choice pressing down on him. "If it means protecting the inn and the souls it shelters, then I'll do it."
Dorian placed a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to do this alone. We're with you, no matter what."
Naira nodded. "We'll face the Rift together."
The whispers returned, their tone encouraging. "The Rift approaches. Prepare yourselves, Keeper."
Mikel stood, determination burning in his eyes. "Then let's finish this."