The wind howled as Kael and Velis trekked westward across the fragmented terrain of the Shattered Lands. The islands they crossed were small and desolate, mere remnants of the world that once was. Jagged rocks jutted out of the ground, and the faint glow of distant rifts painted the horizon in eerie hues of blue and green.
Kael walked in silence, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His mind churned with thoughts of the Riftforge and the dangers Velis had described. The grimoire floated quietly beside him, uncharacteristically subdued. The occasional sound of shifting rocks beneath Kael's boots was the only interruption to the stillness.
Finally, Velis broke the silence. "You're unusually quiet, Kael. Brooding isn't your style."
Kael glanced at the floating book, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe I just don't have anything to say."
"Unlikely," Velis replied, its tone dry. "Your mind's racing. I can feel it. What's bothering you?"
Kael hesitated, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "I was just… thinking about home. Or what used to be home."
Velis's glow flickered softly. "Ah, the past. Always a source of torment for your kind. Go on, then. Tell me about it. Where did the mighty Kael Solryn come from?"
Kael chuckled bitterly. "Not much to tell. I grew up in a settlement near the Edge—a place called Westmere. It was small, just a few families scraping by. We hunted, farmed what little we could, and scavenged ruins when we were desperate."
"And your family?" Velis asked, its voice uncharacteristically gentle.
"My parents," Kael began, his voice tightening slightly, "were good people. My mother was the pragmatic one—always making sure we had food, shelter, and a plan for the next day. My father… he was the dreamer. Always talking about the old world, about how the Shattered Lands were once whole. Said it gave him hope."
Velis remained silent, letting Kael continue.
"When I was twelve, things started falling apart. Rifts opened near the settlement, bringing beasts with them. Shard Beasts, worse than the one we fought in Tyrellos. At first, we managed. Banding together, fighting them off. But it didn't last. One night, they came in force. Tore through everything." Kael's voice hardened, his grip tightening on his sword.
"You survived," Velis said softly.
"Barely," Kael replied. "My parents didn't. I don't even remember how I got away. Just woke up miles from the settlement, alone. After that… I learned to fend for myself. Scavenging, running, fighting when I had to. I've been surviving ever since."
Velis's pages fluttered, a faint glow pulsing from its cover. "And yet, here you are. Alive. Stronger than most."
Kael glanced at the grimoire, his expression thoughtful. "I don't feel strong. I feel like I'm just… surviving."
"For now," Velis said. "But survival is the first step. Strength comes next. You're already on that path, Kael."
Kael nodded slowly, his gaze drifting to the distant islands that dotted the horizon. "I guess that's why I can't stop. If I'm going to survive—really survive—I need to keep moving forward. Keep growing."
Velis hovered closer, its glow steady. "And you will. But dwelling too much on the past will only weigh you down. Use it to drive you, not chain you."
Kael smirked faintly. "Since when did you become so philosophical?"
Velis chuckled. "I've been around for centuries. You pick up a thing or two."
As they walked, the terrain began to shift. The jagged rocks gave way to uneven grasslands, and the air grew heavier with the faint hum of magic. The Riftforge was still far, but the closer they got, the more alive the landscape seemed to feel.
Velis broke the silence again, its tone more practical now. "The Riftforge will test you, Kael. Not just your strength, but your resolve. You'll face traps, constructs, and relics designed to confound even the most skilled mages. If you're not ready—"
"I'll be ready," Kael interrupted, his voice firm.
Velis paused, its pages fluttering as if in approval. "Good. Then let's not waste time."
Kael's thoughts drifted back to Westmere as they continued their journey. He could still see it clearly—the small wooden houses, the laughter of children, his father's stories by the fire. It was a life that had been ripped away, but it was also a reminder of why he fought so hard to survive.
As they crested a hill, Kael felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Riftforge loomed somewhere beyond the horizon, and with it, the promise of strength and answers. For the first time in a long while, he felt more than just a survivor. He felt like he was moving toward something greater.
"Let's keep going," Kael said, his voice steady.
Velis floated beside him, silent but glowing faintly, as if sharing in his resolve. Together, they pressed forward into the unknown.