Revan sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking Kaldora, the village now eerily quiet after the Eclipse Covenant's attack. His body was battered and bruised, and his mind felt fractured, like a glass about to shatter. The shard of the Abyss hummed faintly in his hand, a silent reminder of what he had unleashed.
Kael had told him to rest, but rest was the last thing on Revan's mind. He stared at the horizon, where the sun was rising, its golden light pushing back the lingering shadows of the night. Yet, within him, darkness still churned, hungry and restless.
The memories of the battle replayed in his mind. The dome of shadows he had created, the oppressive whispers of the Abyss, and the chilling power that had coursed through him—all of it felt surreal, as if he had become someone else entirely.
"I can't let this consume me," he muttered to himself, clenching the shard tightly. But even as he said it, he knew it wouldn't be that simple.
---
A rustling sound from behind pulled Revan out of his thoughts. He turned to see Lyra, the village healer, approaching cautiously. She carried a small satchel of herbs and bandages, her eyes full of concern.
"Kael said you'd be here," she said, sitting down beside him. "You look… worse than before."
Revan gave a dry chuckle. "Thanks for the compliment."
Lyra didn't smile. Instead, she began tending to his wounds, her touch gentle but firm. "You shouldn't push yourself like this. Whatever power you used… it's dangerous, isn't it?"
Revan hesitated. "It's not just dangerous. It's destructive. I can feel it trying to take over, like it's alive."
Lyra paused, her brow furrowing. "Then why use it? Why take that risk?"
Revan sighed, looking down at his hands. "Because I don't have a choice. The Covenant won't stop coming for me. If I don't fight back, I'll die… and so will everyone else."
Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just… promise me you'll be careful. I've seen too many people consumed by their own power. Don't become one of them."
Revan nodded, though he wasn't sure if he could keep that promise.
---
That night, as Revan lay in the small room he had claimed in the abandoned inn, sleep eluded him. The shard rested on the table beside him, its faint glow casting eerie shadows on the walls.
He closed his eyes, hoping for a moment of peace. But instead, he was pulled into a vision.
---
The world around him shifted, and suddenly he was standing in a vast, desolate landscape. The ground was cracked and barren, and the sky was a swirling mass of black and red. Shadows moved across the land, formless and silent, yet brimming with malevolence.
In the distance, he saw a massive structure—a towering monolith of black stone that seemed to pierce the heavens. It radiated an oppressive aura, and as Revan approached, he felt the weight of its presence pressing down on him.
A voice echoed in his mind, cold and ancient.
"Revan… Shadowborne… Child of the Abyss…"
He stopped, his breath hitching. "Who's there?"
The shadows around him coalesced, forming a figure cloaked in darkness. Its face was obscured, but its eyes burned like twin stars.
"You carry the mark of the Abyss," the figure said, its voice reverberating through the air. "And yet, you hesitate to embrace it fully. Why?"
Revan took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to run. "Because I know what it can do. It's not power—it's a curse."
The figure chuckled, a sound that sent chills down Revan's spine. "A curse? No, child. It is liberation. The Abyss offers freedom from the chains of mortality, from the lies of the Veil. But only if you are willing to take it."
"What do you mean?" Revan demanded.
The figure extended a hand, and suddenly Revan was flooded with images. He saw the Elders Beyond the Veil, their monstrous forms looming over a broken world. He saw the Veil itself, a shimmering barrier that divided reality from the Abyss. And he saw himself, standing at the center of it all, wielding power beyond comprehension.
"You are the key," the figure said. "The Shadowborne is destined to sever the Veil, to bring the Elders to their knees. But to do so, you must embrace the Abyss. Fully. Without hesitation."
Revan shook his head. "No. If I do that, I'll lose myself. I'll become a monster, just like the Eclipse Covenant."
The figure's eyes burned brighter. "You fear the loss of self, yet you cling to the identity of a boy who no longer exists. You are no longer Eryon, no longer the man you once were. You are something more. Accept it, or perish."
Before Revan could respond, the ground beneath him cracked, and he was pulled into the abyssal depths.
---
He woke with a start, drenched in sweat. The shard's glow was brighter now, almost blinding, and the whispers were louder than ever.
Revan stumbled to his feet, his head pounding. The vision had felt so real, and the figure's words echoed in his mind.
"You okay?" Kael's voice startled him.
Revan turned to see Kael leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed. "You're not exactly quiet, you know."
Revan rubbed his temples. "Just… dreams. Or visions. I don't know anymore."
Kael frowned, stepping into the room. "Visions, huh? Let me guess—cryptic warnings, ancient prophecies, and some shadowy figure telling you you're special?"
Revan gave him a tired glare. "Something like that."
Kael sighed, sitting down across from him. "Look, I get it. You've got this whole 'chosen one' thing going on, and it's a lot to deal with. But you need to focus. The Covenant isn't going to wait for you to figure things out."
Revan nodded, though his mind was still racing. "I just… I don't know if I can do this. What if I lose control again?"
Kael smirked. "Then I'll knock you out and drag you back here. Simple."
Despite himself, Revan chuckled. "Thanks, Kael."
"Don't mention it." Kael stood, his expression turning serious. "But seriously, Revan. Whatever happens, remember this: power doesn't define you. It's what you do with it that matters."
Revan nodded, the weight in his chest easing slightly. "I'll try to remember that."
---
The next day, Revan stood at the edge of the village, Kael and Lyra by his side. He had made his decision.
"I'm leaving," he said, his voice firm. "I need to find out more about the Abyss, about the Veil, and about my role in all of this. Staying here will only put the village in more danger."
Lyra looked worried, but she didn't argue. "Just… promise you'll come back. In one piece."
Revan smiled faintly. "I'll try."
Kael clapped him on the shoulder. "Guess I'm coming with you, then. Can't have you getting yourself killed out there."
Revan raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to—"
"Yeah, I do," Kael interrupted. "Besides, I'd miss all the fun."
Revan chuckled, grateful for his companion's loyalty. Together, they turned toward the horizon, ready to face whatever lay ahead.
As they walked, the shard pulsed faintly in Revan's pocket, a reminder of the power he carried—and the burden that came with it. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: his journey was just beginning.