Chapter 37: The Weight of Knowledge
The group emerged from the chamber of the Shard of Ascension into a world transformed. The barren landscape of the Ashen Expanse was now tinged with an eerie glow, as if the shard's retrieval had awakened something deep within the earth. A faint hum vibrated through the air, the land itself seeming to pulse with latent energy.
Emryn held the Shard of Ascension close to her chest, its radiant light casting long shadows across the group. The power it held was immense, and its significance weighed heavily on her. She could still feel the echoes of the visions it had shown her—the creation of the shards, the glory of the world before the Blight, and the origins of the darkness they now fought against.
"Are you going to tell us what you saw?" Garrick asked, his voice breaking the silence.
The others turned to Emryn expectantly. They had all seen her collapse briefly after grasping the shard, her face etched with emotions they couldn't decipher.
Emryn took a deep breath, steadying herself. "The shard showed me the past—and the truth about the Blight."
Kael stepped closer, his expression serious. "Go on."
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The Truth Revealed
"The Blight wasn't always the force of destruction we know it as now," Emryn began. "It was once... human. A person consumed by despair and hatred so profound that it fractured their soul. The First Ascended tried to save them, but instead, they created the Blight as we know it. The shards were their attempt to contain that darkness."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"A person?" Piper asked, incredulous. "You're saying the Blight was once someone like us?"
Emryn nodded. "Yes. Someone who lost everything and let that loss consume them. Their sorrow turned to rage, and their rage turned to hatred. That hatred is what drives the Blight now. It feeds on pain, fear, and doubt—emotions we've all felt."
"That explains why it tries so hard to break us," Eryndra said softly. "It knows how to manipulate those emotions because it was born from them."
Kael frowned, his mind racing. "If the shards were meant to contain the Blight, then why are they scattered? Why did they fail?"
"The First Ascended couldn't hold the Blight forever," Emryn said. "The shards were meant to seal it away, but the Blight was too powerful. Over time, the seal weakened, and the shards were lost. Now, it's up to us to reclaim them and finish what they started."
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Doubts and Determination
Piper crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. "And what makes us think we can succeed where they failed? We're not gods, Emryn. We're barely holding it together as it is."
"We don't have to be gods," Alden interjected. "We just have to keep moving forward, one step at a time. The First Ascended were human too, and they accomplished more than anyone thought possible."
"And they made mistakes," Eryndra added. "But they tried. That's what matters."
Piper sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I hope you're right. Because if we're wrong..."
Emryn stepped forward, placing a hand on Piper's shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Together. We've come this far, and we're not giving up now."
Piper gave a reluctant nod, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
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The Next Step
The group gathered around Kael as he consulted the Chalice of Lumina. Its light was steady but faint, a sign that its power was still recovering from their previous battles.
"The shards resonate with each other," Kael explained, holding the chalice above the Shard of Ascension. "This should help us pinpoint the location of the next one."
As the chalice's light mingled with the shard's, a faint golden thread appeared, stretching out into the horizon. The group followed its path with their eyes, their resolve hardening.
"It's leading us north," Kael said. "Into the Frosted Wastes."
Piper groaned. "Of course it is. Why can't one of these things be in a nice, warm forest for once?"
"Because fate hates us," Garrick said with a wry grin.
Emryn's gaze remained fixed on the thread of light. The Frosted Wastes were a treacherous expanse of ice and snow, home to some of the deadliest creatures in the known world. But if the next shard was there, then that's where they needed to go.
"Let's get moving," she said. "The longer we wait, the stronger the Blight becomes."
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Journey to the Frosted Wastes
The trek northward was grueling. The Ashen Expanse gave way to rocky foothills, then to snow-covered plains as the group entered the Frosted Wastes. The temperature plummeted, and biting winds howled around them, cutting through their cloaks and armor.
Kael used the chalice's light to guide them, but even its warmth was barely enough to stave off the cold. Eryndra scouted ahead, her sharp eyes scanning for threats, while Garrick took up the rear, his massive axe at the ready.
Piper grumbled under her breath as she trudged through the snow. "I swear, if I lose another toe to frostbite, I'm quitting."
"Don't worry," Alden said with a grin. "I'll heal you before it comes to that."
"Comforting," Piper replied dryly.
Despite the banter, the group's spirits were low. The Frosted Wastes were vast and desolate, and the constant cold was draining their energy.
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An Unexpected Encounter
On the third day of their journey, Eryndra spotted a plume of smoke in the distance.
"Could be a camp," she said, pointing it out to the others.
"Or a trap," Garrick muttered.
"Either way, we should check it out," Emryn said. "We need supplies, and if it's a threat, better to deal with it now than later."
As they approached the source of the smoke, they found a small encampment nestled in a rocky outcrop. Several figures huddled around a fire, their cloaks patched and threadbare. They looked up as the group approached, their expressions wary.
"Travelers?" one of them asked, a woman with sharp features and a bow slung across her back.
"Something like that," Emryn replied cautiously. "We're passing through. What about you?"
The woman hesitated, then gestured to the others. "We're refugees. Fleeing from the Blight."
The group exchanged uneasy glances.
"It's reached this far north?" Kael asked.
The woman nodded grimly. "It's everywhere. We thought the Frosted Wastes would be safe, but nowhere is."
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A Growing Threat
As the refugees shared their story, the group learned that the Blight's influence was spreading faster than they had anticipated. Entire villages had been consumed, their inhabitants turned into shadowy husks that attacked anything in their path.
"We barely escaped with our lives," the woman said, her voice trembling. "And now we're running out of food and warmth. If we don't find shelter soon, we won't survive the cold."
Emryn's heart ached at their plight. She turned to the others, her expression resolute. "We can't leave them like this. They won't make it without help."
"We're not exactly overflowing with supplies ourselves," Piper pointed out.
"We'll share what we can," Emryn said. "It's the right thing to do."
Reluctantly, the others agreed. They handed over food, blankets, and a few enchanted stones that radiated warmth. The refugees thanked them profusely, tears streaming down their faces.
---
A Warning and a Promise
As they prepared to leave, the woman pulled Emryn aside.
"There's something you should know," she said, her voice low. "We heard rumors of a shadowy figure leading the Blight's forces. They call him the Wraith King. If he's real, then the Blight is more organized than we thought."
Emryn nodded, her expression grim. "Thank you for telling me. Stay safe."
As the group continued their journey, Emryn relayed the woman's warning to the others.
"The Wraith King," Alden repeated, frowning. "If he's leading the Blight, we'll have to face him eventually."
"And we'll be ready," Emryn said firmly.
The Frosted Wastes stretched endlessly before them, but the Shard of Ascension's light guided their way. They knew the challenges ahead would be greater than anything they had faced so far, but they also knew they couldn't afford to falter.
The fate of their world depended on them, and they would see their quest through to the end—no matter the cost.