The sun hung low over the horizon, its pale light casting long shadows across the fractured landscape. Kael and Velis sat on a jagged outcropping of stone at the edge of a floating island, the void below a swirling abyss of mist and faintly glowing rifts.
Kael turned the Heartstone over in his mind, its weight a lingering reminder of the trial he'd passed. "So, what now?" he asked, breaking the silence. His sword lay across his lap, the blade reflecting the faint light. "I can't just keep fighting off relic hunters and beasts forever."
Velis floated beside him, its cover glowing faintly. "That depends on what you want, Kael," it said. "If survival is your only goal, you'll last longer than most scavengers with what you already have. But if you want to do more—if you want to truly survive—you'll need to grow stronger."
Kael frowned. "Stronger how? I've already got the Heartstone, and you've been teaching me magic. What else is there?"
"Plenty," Velis replied, its pages fluttering softly. "The Shattered Lands are vast, and the magic that holds them together is ancient and unstable. The power you've tapped into is only a fraction of what's out there. To survive the threats ahead, you'll need to find more relics, refine your skills, and learn how to wield your magic more effectively."
Kael leaned back, gazing at the distant islands that floated in the void. "You keep saying the Shattered Lands are vast, but how big are they, really? Everywhere I've been feels like a fragment of something bigger."
"That's because it is," Velis said. "The world was once whole, a single realm known as Eryndral. The Shattering broke it into countless pieces—floating islands like this one, connected only by unstable rifts. What you've seen so far is barely a corner of it."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "And the rest? What's out there?"
"Cities lost to time, ancient ruins guarded by creatures even worse than Shard Beasts, and factions fighting to carve out their own power," Velis said. "Some islands are small and barren. Others are massive, entire nations that managed to hold together after the Shattering. The farther you go from here, the more dangerous—and rewarding—it becomes."
Kael nodded slowly. "And where should we go next?"
Velis paused, its pages fluttering in thought. "If your goal is strength, there are a few options. The most obvious is the Riftforge in the west—a ruin said to house powerful relics from the old Order. But it's guarded by wards that only a skilled mage could hope to bypass."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "That sounds promising. And dangerous."
"Dangerous is an understatement," Velis said. "Then there's the Aether Cradle to the north. It's a cluster of islands rich in raw magic, but the rifts there are unstable, and the creatures they spawn are… unpredictable. Still, if you're looking to refine your control over teleportation, it could be invaluable."
Kael considered this, his fingers drumming against the hilt of his sword. "And the third option?"
Velis's glow dimmed slightly. "The Shardspire to the east. It's the largest island in this region and home to the Dominion of Varyos. They're a powerful faction with access to relics and knowledge, but they don't take kindly to outsiders—especially ones who might challenge their authority."
Kael frowned. "So it's either ancient wards, unstable rifts, or a hostile faction. You really don't make this easy."
Velis chuckled. "Welcome to the Shattered Lands. Nothing worthwhile comes easy."
Kael stood, his resolve hardening. "If I'm going to grow stronger, I need to choose the path that will push me the hardest. The Riftforge sounds like the best place to start. If I can get through those wards and claim whatever relics are there, it'll give me an edge."
"Ambitious," Velis said approvingly. "I like it. But be warned—if the stories about the Riftforge are true, its defenses aren't just magical. The place is rumored to be haunted by constructs left behind by the old Order. Machines powered by ancient magic, designed to kill anyone who enters."
Kael smirked faintly, adjusting his sword. "Sounds like a challenge."
Velis hovered beside him as he turned to face the western horizon. "One more thing," it said. "Your sword skills are passable, and your magic is improving, but you need to start thinking about how to combine them. Speed and teleportation are powerful tools, but they won't be enough against what's ahead."
Kael tilted his head. "What are you suggesting?"
"Training," Velis replied. "The Riftforge will test every skill you have. We'll practice teleportation in combat, combining it with your swordplay to make you faster and deadlier. And you'll need to learn how to use the Heartstone sparingly—drawing too much power at once could kill you."
Kael exhaled, a mixture of excitement and anxiety swirling in his chest. "Fine. Let's get started."
As they began to move toward the horizon, Velis's glow brightened. "One last thing, Kael. Growing stronger isn't just about relics and skills. You'll need allies if you're going to survive in the long term."
Kael glanced at the grimoire. "Allies? You're already a handful."
Velis laughed. "True, but even I can't fight a war alone. Think about it. There are others out there like you—people who've been shaped by the Shattering. Find them. Trust them. You'll need them more than you realize."
Kael didn't respond immediately. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, the Riftforge looming somewhere beyond the distant islands. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time, he felt a sense of purpose. He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was moving forward.
"Then let's make sure I'm ready," he said quietly, his grip tightening on his sword.
Velis floated silently beside him as they disappeared into the fading light, the vast expanse of the Shattered Lands stretching out before them.