A week passed, and the inn settled into an uneasy calm. Mikel found himself more attuned to its moods and energy. He could feel the tremors of its heartbeat in his chest, hear its faint whispers even in his sleep.
He wandered the halls one evening, the pendant around his neck glowing softly. The whispers were growing more insistent, urging him toward the western wing—a part of the inn no one had ventured into yet.
He reached a door carved with intricate runes, its edges lined with a faint blue glow. When he touched it, the whispers quieted for a moment, replaced by a single, commanding voice: "Enter and understand."
The door swung open, revealing a vast chamber filled with glowing fissures in the stone floor. Each fissure pulsed with an eerie light, casting shifting patterns on the walls. At the center of the room stood a massive crystal structure, its surface fractured but glowing with raw power.
Mikel approached cautiously, the pendant reacting to the crystal's energy. As he got closer, the room seemed to warp around him, the fissures connecting and forming an intricate web.
"Keeper," a deep voice resonated through the chamber. Mikel froze, his eyes darting around. The voice didn't come from any one direction—it came from everywhere.
"Who's there?" Mikel asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest.
"I am the Fissure," the voice replied. "A fragment of the Rift, bound to this place long ago. I am both a warning and a reminder of what lies beyond."
Mikel clenched his fists. "The Rift is sealed. You have no power here."
The Fissure's glow intensified. "The Rift is never truly sealed. You have delayed its return, but its hunger is eternal. You will face it again—and next time, you may not prevail."
Mikel's heart sank. He had hoped the Rift's defeat was final, but deep down, he knew better. "What do you want from me?"
"To prepare you," the Fissure replied. "The Rift's Herald was but one of many. Others will come, drawn to the inn's power. You must grow stronger, Keeper. Learn the inn's secrets. Unlock its full potential."
The fissures on the floor flared, and Mikel felt a surge of energy flow into him. Visions filled his mind: realms beyond comprehension, beings of unimaginable power, and the inn standing at the center of it all.
When the visions ended, he staggered back, the Fissure's light dimming. "I will do whatever it takes to protect this place," he said, his voice resolute.
"Then prove it," the Fissure said. "Return here when you are ready, and I will test your worth."
The chamber fell silent, the glow of the fissures fading. Mikel left the room, his mind racing with the Fissure's warning.
As dawn broke, the inn's tranquility was shattered by the sound of pounding on the front door. Mikel, Naira, and Dorian rushed to the entrance, their weapons drawn.
When Mikel opened the door, he found a cloaked figure standing on the threshold. The stranger's face was obscured, but their presence exuded an air of authority and danger.
"Keeper," the stranger said, their voice calm but firm. "May I enter?"
Mikel hesitated, the pendant at his neck reacting with a faint pulse. The whispers in his mind warned him of caution but didn't outright reject the figure.
"Who are you?" Mikel asked.
The stranger pulled back their hood, revealing a woman with sharp features and piercing silver eyes. Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and a scar ran down the side of her face.
"My name is Kaelith," she said. "I am a Seeker. And I've come to warn you."
Naira stepped forward, her daggers gleaming in the morning light. "Warn us about what?"
Kaelith's gaze swept over the group. "The Rift's defeat has not gone unnoticed. Forces far more dangerous than shadows or Heralds are now aware of the inn's existence. They will come, and they will stop at nothing to claim it."
Dorian narrowed his eyes. "How do we know you're not one of them?"
Kaelith smirked faintly. "If I were, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Mikel studied her, his instincts telling him she wasn't lying. "Why do you care? What's your stake in this?"
"The Seekers are watchers," Kaelith explained. "We observe and protect the balance between realms. The Rift threatens that balance, and so does the inn—if it falls into the wrong hands."
"The inn isn't a threat," Mikel said, his voice firm. "It's a sanctuary."
"Not to everyone," Kaelith replied. "To some, it's a weapon. To others, a treasure. And to the Rift, it's a feast."
Her words sent a chill through the group.
"What do you want from us?" Naira asked, her stance still guarded.
Kaelith reached into her cloak and produced a small, glowing shard. It pulsed faintly, resonating with the pendant around Mikel's neck. "This is a fragment of a warding stone. Place it within the inn, and it will strengthen its defenses. But know this: using it will draw attention. You will need to prepare for the consequences."
Mikel took the shard, its energy warm in his hand. "Why help us?"
Kaelith's expression softened, though her eyes remained sharp. "Because I've seen what happens when the Rift wins. And I don't want to see it again."
She stepped back, pulling her hood up. "I'll return when the time is right. Until then, trust no one—and stay vigilant."
With that, she disappeared into the forest, leaving the group to grapple with her warning and the shard's potential power.
Mikel turned to his companions, the shard glowing faintly in his hand. "We've been given a chance to strengthen the inn. But it'll come at a cost."
Dorian nodded. "Whatever the cost, it's better than leaving this place vulnerable."
Naira crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "We'll use the shard. But we need to be ready for whatever it brings."
As they returned to the main hall, the inn seemed to hum with anticipation. The next chapter of their journey had begun, and the stakes had never been higher.