Chapter 23: Whispers in the Blight
The Spiral Sanctum shrank behind them as the group trudged back into the cold, desolate expanse of the Forsaken Blight. The air, thick with ash and an eerie silence, clung to their skin like an unwelcome shadow. Exhaustion weighed heavily on them, but they knew better than to stop. The Blight was not a place to linger.
"Keep your eyes open," Alden said, his voice low but firm. "The sanctum may be behind us, but we're not out of danger."
Emryn tightened her grip on the shard, which now pulsed with a quiet but steady energy. It felt heavier than before, its newfound power resonating deep within her. She glanced at Kael, who walked beside her in silence. Since entering the Spiral Sanctum, his behavior had grown more erratic—shifty eyes, nervous movements, and an air of unease that set everyone on edge.
"Are you alright?" she asked him, her voice gentle but probing.
Kael flinched, his eyes darting toward her before quickly looking away. "I'm fine," he muttered, his tone unconvincing.
"You've been acting strange since we found you," Garrick said bluntly, not bothering to hide his suspicion. "What aren't you telling us?"
Kael's face paled, and his hands clenched into fists. "I told you, I don't know anything more than what I've already said."
"That's not good enough," Garrick growled, stepping closer.
"Enough!" Alden snapped, his voice cutting through the tension. "We don't have time for infighting. Save it for when we're safe."
Garrick scowled but stepped back, muttering under his breath. Emryn exchanged a glance with Piper, who shrugged as if to say, We'll deal with it later.
---
The First Warning
The group pushed forward, the terrain growing more treacherous with each step. The ground beneath their feet cracked and shifted unpredictably, and the oppressive atmosphere seemed to sap their strength.
"We're being watched," Eryndra said suddenly, her voice low. Her golden eyes scanned the horizon, narrowing at the faint shapes flickering in the distance.
"By what?" Piper asked, her daggers already in her hands.
"I can't tell," Eryndra replied, her tone tense. "But it's not friendly."
Alden raised a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. "Stay close. Whatever's out there, we don't want to face it unprepared."
As they huddled together, the shapes in the distance grew clearer. At first, they seemed like shadows cast by the jagged landscape, but as they drew closer, their true forms became evident. They were twisted, humanoid creatures with elongated limbs and glowing red eyes. Their movements were jerky and unnatural, like puppets being manipulated by invisible strings.
"Blight Wraiths," Eryndra said grimly. "They're manifestations of the Blight's corruption. If they reach us, they'll drain our life force."
"How do we stop them?" Garrick asked, gripping his axe tightly.
"Fire and light," Eryndra said, unsheathing her blade, which began to glow with a faint golden light.
The first wraith lunged, its claws slashing through the air with unnatural speed. Garrick met it with a swing of his axe, the enchanted weapon cutting through the creature's form. It let out a piercing shriek before dissipating into smoke.
"They're fast!" Piper called, dodging another wraith's attack. Her daggers flashed as she struck, the enchanted blades severing the creature's limbs.
Emryn focused on the shard, which pulsed brightly in her hand. She raised it, directing its energy toward the wraiths. Beams of light shot forth, burning through the creatures and leaving nothing behind.
The battle was chaotic but brief. When the last wraith fell, the group regrouped, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"That wasn't random," Alden said, his tone grim. "They were drawn to the shard."
Emryn nodded, the weight of his words settling heavily on her. "The shard's power is growing. It's attracting attention—bad attention."
"We need to move faster," Eryndra said. "The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it becomes."
---
Kael's Secret
As they resumed their journey, Kael lagged behind, his eyes darting nervously. Emryn slowed her pace to walk beside him, her curiosity outweighing her caution.
"Kael," she said softly. "If there's something you're not telling us, now is the time."
He hesitated, his face pale and his breathing uneven. "I don't… I don't know how to explain it," he said finally. "But the Blight… it feels familiar. Like I've been here before."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't remember much," Kael admitted. "But when we were in the sanctum, it felt like something… recognized me. Like it knew I didn't belong with you."
Emryn frowned, her mind racing. "You think the Blight has a connection to you?"
"I don't know," he said, his voice trembling. "But whatever it is, it's not good."
Their conversation was interrupted by a sudden, bone-chilling howl that echoed through the Blight. Everyone froze, their weapons drawn.
"What now?" Garrick muttered, scanning the horizon.
A massive figure emerged from the shadows, its form shrouded in dark mist. It resembled a wolf but was far larger, with glowing red eyes and jagged, shadowy fur that seemed to writhe like smoke.
"A Blight Beast," Eryndra said, her voice barely audible. "This is bad."
---
The Blight Beast
The creature lunged without warning, its massive claws slamming into the ground and sending shockwaves through the group. Garrick was the first to react, charging forward with a roar. His axe struck the beast's side, but the blade seemed to pass through its shadowy form without causing any real damage.
"It's not solid!" he shouted, dodging a swipe of its claws.
"It's a manifestation of the Blight," Eryndra said. "We need to use the shard's energy to destroy it!"
Emryn raised the shard, its light flaring as she focused on the beast. The creature let out an earsplitting roar, its form distorting as it recoiled from the light.
"It's working!" Alden shouted. "Keep it up!"
The group fought with renewed determination, working together to keep the beast at bay. Piper and Alden distracted it with quick, precise strikes, while Eryndra and Lila used their magic to weaken its defenses. Garrick's brute strength kept it from overwhelming them, and Emryn directed the shard's energy toward its core.
The battle was grueling, the beast's relentless attacks testing their limits. But finally, with a blinding surge of light from the shard, the creature let out one final, anguished roar before dissolving into nothingness.
---
A Growing Threat
As the dust settled, the group stood in silence, their exhaustion palpable. The shard in Emryn's hand was glowing brighter than ever, its energy radiating warmth and power.
"That thing was drawn to the shard too," Alden said, his voice heavy. "The stronger it gets, the more enemies we'll face."
"We need to find the next anchor quickly," Eryndra said. "The Blight won't stop until it consumes everything."
Kael looked pale and shaken, his earlier confession weighing heavily on Emryn's mind. She resolved to keep a closer eye on him—whatever connection he had to the Blight, it was too dangerous to ignore.
As they continued their journey, the oppressive atmosphere of the Blight seemed to press down even harder, as if the land itself were aware of their presence. The shard pulsed steadily in Emryn's hand, a constant reminder of the battles yet to come.
The group's resolve was strong, but the road ahead was fraught with danger. The fight against the Blight had only just begun.