Mikel sat cross-legged in the center of the main hall, the shard of the warding stone resting in his palms. Its faint glow illuminated his face, and the pendant around his neck pulsed in rhythm with the shard. Naira and Dorian stood nearby, their weapons ready in case Kaelith's warning proved true.
"Are you sure about this?" Naira asked, her voice tinged with concern. "She said this would draw attention. We don't know who—or what—will come."
Mikel looked up at her, his expression resolute. "We don't have a choice. The inn is strong, but we've seen how vulnerable it can be. If this shard can help protect it, we need to use it."
Dorian nodded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Then let's get this done. The sooner the inn is fortified, the better."
The whispers in Mikel's mind grew louder, guiding him through the ritual. He placed the shard on the floor, and as he did, the inn's energy seemed to shift, focusing on the small fragment. The runes etched into the walls began to glow, their light spreading across the room like ripples in a pond.
Mikel closed his eyes and began to chant the words the whispers fed him. The language was ancient and unfamiliar, but it resonated deeply within him. As he spoke, the shard's light grew brighter, its energy merging with the inn's.
Suddenly, the air in the room grew heavy, and the ground trembled. The shard floated into the air, spinning rapidly as it absorbed the inn's energy. The light from the walls converged on it, forming a protective barrier around the entire building.
But as the ritual reached its peak, a piercing cry echoed through the air, chilling them to the bone.
"What was that?" Naira asked, her daggers already in her hands.
Dorian moved to the window, his eyes scanning the forest beyond. "Something's coming," he said, his voice grim.
Mikel opened his eyes, the shard now embedded in the floor, its glow steady and strong. "The inn's defenses are stronger now, but Kaelith was right—something felt the surge of power. And it's heading our way."
The sky darkened unnaturally, and the wind howled as the first wave of creatures emerged from the forest. They were unlike anything the group had seen before—twisted, shadowy forms with glowing eyes and elongated limbs.
"They're Rift-touched," Mikel said, gripping his staff. "Corrupted by its energy."
The creatures moved with eerie coordination, circling the inn like predators stalking their prey. The newly formed barrier flared each time one of them approached, forcing them back, but the creatures showed no sign of retreating.
Dorian unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light. "The barrier won't hold forever. We need to deal with them before they find a way through."
Naira smirked, spinning her daggers. "I've been waiting for a good fight."
Mikel held up his hand, stopping them. "Wait. The inn is reacting to them. It's trying to communicate."
The whispers in his mind grew louder, revealing patterns in the creatures' movements. They weren't attacking randomly—they were testing the barrier, searching for weaknesses.
"The inn wants us to lure them in," Mikel said, his voice steady. "It can trap them if they breach the barrier. But we'll need to weaken them first."
Dorian grinned. "Now you're talking my language."
As the creatures pressed closer, Naira and Dorian stepped outside the barrier, their movements swift and precise. Dorian's sword cut through the shadows, its enchanted edge dispersing the creatures' forms. Naira danced around them, her daggers striking with lethal accuracy.
Mikel stood at the center of the hall, channeling the inn's energy. He could feel its power coursing through him, guiding his actions. He raised his staff, and glowing runes appeared on the ground outside the inn, forming a circle around the barrier.
"Lead them into the circle!" he shouted.
Naira and Dorian worked together, driving the creatures toward the runes. The moment the first one crossed the threshold, the circle flared to life, trapping it in a cage of light.
The creature thrashed and screamed, its form dissolving into wisps of shadow. The others hesitated, their coordination faltering as fear took hold.
"They're afraid," Naira said, her voice laced with triumph.
"Good," Dorian replied, cutting down another. "Let's give them a reason to stay that way."
The remaining creatures retreated, disappearing into the forest as quickly as they had appeared. The sky cleared, and the oppressive weight in the air lifted.
Mikel lowered his staff, the runes fading. "The barrier held, but they'll be back. Stronger and more coordinated."
Dorian wiped his sword clean, his expression grim. "Then we'll be ready. This was just the first wave."
Naira sheathed her daggers, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Kaelith was right. The inn is a beacon now, and it's only a matter of time before something bigger comes knocking."
Mikel nodded, the pendant around his neck glowing faintly. "Then we need to be stronger, too. The inn has secrets we haven't uncovered yet, and we'll need all of them to survive what's coming."
As the trio returned to the inn, the whispers in Mikel's mind grew clearer, guiding him toward the next step in their journey. The battle was far from over, but they were ready to face whatever lay ahead.