The trek back to Kaldora was uneventful, but Revan's mind was anything but still. His thoughts circled the battle in the ruins, the cryptic whispers of the Abyss, and the shard he now carried. The shard rested in his pocket, but he could feel its energy humming faintly, as though it were alive.
By the time Revan reached the outskirts of the village, the sun was sinking below the horizon, casting long shadows across the dirt roads. The villagers eyed him warily as he passed, their suspicion and fear practically tangible.
He ignored them, his focus set on finding Kael.
---
Kael was waiting at the edge of the village, leaning against a tree and chewing on a piece of dried meat. When he saw Revan, his expression shifted to something between relief and curiosity.
"You made it," Kael said, straightening up. "Not bad for your first trial."
Revan tossed the shard to Kael, who caught it deftly.
"What is this?" Revan demanded.
Kael examined the shard, his eyes narrowing as he held it up to the fading light. The glow from the fragment cast faint patterns across his face. "A Fragment of the Abyss," he said finally. "They're rare. Powerful. And dangerous."
Revan crossed his arms. "Dangerous how?"
Kael smirked. "You've felt it, haven't you? The pull. The way it resonates with your Seal. These fragments are pieces of something bigger, tied directly to the Primordial Abyss. They'll make you stronger, sure, but they'll also dig their claws into you, binding you tighter to the Abyss."
Revan's stomach churned at the thought. "So, what am I supposed to do with it?"
Kael tossed the shard back to Revan. "Hold onto it. Learn to use it. Fragments like this are the key to unlocking your potential, but they're also a test. If you can master their power without losing yourself, you'll be unstoppable. If not…"
He let the sentence hang, but the implication was clear.
Revan slid the shard into his pocket, its faint hum sending a shiver through him. "What now?"
Kael's expression darkened. "Now, we prepare. The Eclipse Covenant doesn't ignore something like this. If they catch wind of that shard—or your Seal—they'll come for you. And trust me, they won't be as friendly as the shadows in the ruins."
---
That night, Revan sat alone in his hovel, the shard resting on the table in front of him. Its faint glow bathed the room in a dim, otherworldly light. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching him, studying him.
The whispers began again, soft and insistent.
"Use it…"
"Unlock your power…"
"Submit to the Abyss…"
Revan shook his head, trying to block out the voices. He couldn't afford to lose control. But as the whispers grew louder, a part of him couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he gave in. Would it make him stronger? Or would it consume him completely?
He reached out, his fingers brushing the shard's surface. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy coursed through him, and the world around him faded to black.
---
Revan found himself standing in a void, an endless expanse of darkness broken only by faint, swirling lights. The air was thick with tension, and the whispers surrounded him, echoing from every direction.
"Shadowborne…"
The voice was familiar—deep and resonant, the same voice he had heard in the ruins.
Revan turned, his eyes narrowing as a figure emerged from the shadows. It was humanoid in shape but wrapped in darkness, its features shifting and indistinct.
"You have taken the first step," the figure said, its voice reverberating through the void. "But the path of the Abyss is not one of mercy. Power comes at a price."
Revan straightened, meeting the figure's gaze. "I didn't ask for this power. But if I have to pay a price, I'll decide what it is."
The figure chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down Revan's spine. "Arrogant. But not without potential. The Abyss has chosen you for a reason, Shadowborne. Do you think you can sever the Veil and escape its grasp unscathed?"
Revan's jaw tightened. "I don't know what the Veil is, or why any of this is happening to me. But I'll figure it out. And I won't let the Abyss control me."
The figure's form shifted, its outline growing sharper. "We shall see. For now, take this."
A tendril of shadow extended from the figure, wrapping around Revan's wrist. The mark on his chest flared with light, and he felt a surge of pain as the tendril burned itself into his skin.
When the light faded, Revan was back in his hovel, his chest heaving as though he had run for miles. He looked down at his arm and saw a new mark—a thin, spiraling line that ran from his wrist to his elbow, glowing faintly with the same energy as the shard.
The whispers were silent now, but the shard's hum was stronger, resonating with the new mark. Revan clenched his fist, feeling the power coursing through him.
He didn't know what the figure had done to him, but he could feel the difference. The Abyss was no longer just a presence—it was a part of him now.
---
The next morning, Revan found Kael waiting for him outside the hovel, his arms crossed and his expression grim.
"You look like you've been through hell," Kael said.
Revan shrugged. "I've had worse nights."
Kael's eyes flicked to the new mark on Revan's arm, and his expression darkened. "That's not normal."
Revan explained what had happened with the shard, leaving out the details of the whispers. Kael listened in silence, his brow furrowed.
"You're playing with fire, kid," Kael said when Revan finished. "The Abyss doesn't just hand out power for free. Whatever it gave you, it'll expect something in return."
"I don't have a choice," Revan said. "If I don't get stronger, I'm dead."
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fair enough. But if you're serious about this, you need to be ready for what's coming. The Eclipse Covenant isn't the only threat out there. The more you use that power, the more attention you'll attract—from both sides."
Revan nodded, his resolve hardening. "Then we'll deal with them. Whatever it takes."
Kael studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But don't say I didn't warn you."
---
As the days passed, Revan threw himself into training, honing his control over the Shadow Seal and the shard's energy. Kael pushed him harder than ever, forcing him to confront his limits and go beyond them.
The villagers continued to avoid him, their fear of his power growing with each passing day. But Revan no longer cared. He wasn't fighting for their approval—he was fighting to survive.
And in the back of his mind, the whispers of the Abyss lingered, a constant reminder of the price he would one day have to pay.