Amina stepped into the gale, her boots sinking into the rain soaked earth. The wind tore at her coat, and the cold bit into her skin, but the artifact's glow in her hands radiated warmth that steadied her trembling resolve.
The man stood on the rocks below the lighthouse, his dark cloak whipping around him like the storm itself. He looked human, but there was something off about him his movements were too deliberate, his presence too commanding.
"I see the artifact has already bonded with you," he said, his voice cutting through the storm as if it were carried by something more than air. "That makes this easier. Surrender it, and you'll be spared."
Amina gripped the artifact tighter. "Who are you? What do you want with this?"
The man tilted his head, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is that the artifact belongs to the Covenant. It was meant to restore the natural order, to give us the power to rule as we were always meant to."
Amina's stomach churned. "The artifact is meant to protect the Balance, not hand it over to people like you."
The man's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. "You don't even understand what you're holding. That power is wasted on you."
A sudden gust of wind surged toward Amina, knocking her back a step. She stumbled but held her ground, the artifact glowing brighter in response.
The man raised a hand, and the air around him shimmered. "Last chance, girl. Hand it over, or face the consequences."
Amina didn't answer. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but something in the artifact the warmth, the light urged her to stay. It wasn't just an object; it was alive, aware, and it had chosen her.
"Have it your way," the man said, his voice low and menacing.
He thrust his hand forward, and the shimmering air coalesced into a spear of wind and force, hurtling toward her. Amina barely had time to react. She raised the artifact, and a shield of golden light erupted around her, the spear shattering against it in a burst of energy.
The man's eyes narrowed. "So, the artifact has already begun to awaken. Interesting."
Amina didn't wait for him to attack again. She focused on the artifact, willing it to respond. The light in her hands pulsed, and a beam of energy shot toward the man. He dodged it effortlessly, his movements unnervingly precise.
"You'll have to do better than that," he taunted, circling her like a predator.
Amina's heart pounded. She was outmatched, untrained, and overwhelmed. But she couldn't let him win.
"What does the Covenant even want with the artifact?" she demanded, stalling for time.
The man paused, his gaze piercing. "The artifact is the key to unlocking the full power of the seas, to bending nature itself to our will. With it, we'll bring an end to chaos, to weakness. The Covenant will bring order to this world, whether it wants it or not."
"And what about the Balance?" Amina shot back. "What happens when you disrupt that?"
The man laughed, a harsh, mirthless sound. "The Balance is a lie, a fairy tale for fools who fear power. The strong will survive, and the weak will fall. That is the only true order."
He lunged toward her, his hand glowing with a dark energy that crackled like lightning. Amina dodged, her foot slipping on the wet ground. She hit the rocks hard, the impact jarring her bones.
Pain shot through her, but she didn't let go of the artifact. Its glow intensified, and she felt a surge of energy flood her body, dulling the pain and sharpening her senses.
The man loomed over her, his expression triumphant. "You should've given it to me when you had the chance."
Amina's fingers tightened around the artifact. "And you should've stayed in your lane."
She thrust the artifact upward, and a wave of golden light exploded outward, throwing the man back. He hit the rocks with a grunt, but he was already back on his feet, his eyes burning with fury.
Before he could attack again, a new sound broke through the storm the distant roar of water. Amina turned, her breath catching as she saw them: the sentinels, rising from the sea once more.
"No," the man snarled, his confidence faltering for the first time.
The sentinels moved with a purpose, their watery forms surging toward the man. He raised his hands, summoning a barrier of dark energy, but the sentinels pressed forward, relentless.
Amina didn't know why they were attacking him instead of her, but she wasn't about to question it. She scrambled to her feet, the artifact still glowing in her hands.
"You've made an enemy of the Covenant," the man spat, his voice echoing with rage as he fought off the sentinels. "This isn't over!"
With a final, desperate burst of energy, he vanished, his form dissolving into the storm.
The sentinels paused, their liquid bodies shimmering in the dim light. For a moment, Amina thought they would turn on her, but instead, they retreated back into the sea, disappearing beneath the waves.
Amina stood there, chest heaving, her mind reeling from what had just happened. The artifact dimmed, its light fading to a soft glow as the storm began to dissipate.
She turned and saw Samir standing in the lighthouse doorway, his eyes wide with awe and fear.
"What just happened?" he asked.
"I don't know," Amina admitted, her voice shaky. "But I think we just made some very dangerous enemies."
She looked out at the sea, her grip on the artifact tightening. Whatever the Covenant wanted, whatever the artifact was, she knew this was far from over.
The Balance had chosen her, and now, there was no turning back.