The mountain winds howled as Liora, Darian, and Elias rested at the edge of the City of Ashes, their bodies weary from their latest ordeal. With three shards now in their possession, the weight of their mission pressed heavier than ever. Liora studied the shards in the flickering firelight, their glow pulsating in sync.
"The shards are connected," she murmured, turning them over in her hands. "The closer we get to finding the others, the more they resonate with each other."
"Resonate?" Elias asked, prodding the embers with a stick.
Liora nodded. "It's like they're alive, reaching out to their missing pieces. I think they want to be reunited."
Darian scoffed. "Alive or not, they're still just objects. And objects can be taken—or destroyed."
"Raven doesn't think so," Liora shot back. "He believes the shards are part of some larger destiny. What if he's right?"
Elias rubbed his temples. "Can we not talk about destiny right now? I just want one peaceful night without someone or something trying to kill us."
Their conversation was cut short by a sudden gust of wind. The fire flickered wildly, and the air grew cold. From the shadows, a familiar voice rang out.
"You're closer than I expected, Liora."
Raven stepped into the light, his dark cloak billowing behind him. He carried no visible weapons, yet his presence alone was enough to make the group tense.
"How did you find us?" Liora demanded, standing protectively in front of the shards.
Raven smirked. "The shards call to each other. They're as much a beacon for me as they are for you."
Darian's hand hovered over his sword. "What do you want, Raven?"
"To talk," Raven said, his tone almost casual. "You've proven more resourceful than I anticipated, and I respect that. So I'm offering you a choice."
"Choice?" Liora asked, narrowing her eyes.
Raven nodded. "Join me. Help me reunite the shards, and together we can control the Star's power. Imagine what we could achieve—ending wars, reshaping the world, creating a new era of peace."
Liora hesitated, the weight of his words sinking in. For a brief moment, she imagined what it would be like to wield such power, to undo centuries of suffering and chaos. But the memory of her father's warnings resurfaced.
"The shards don't bring peace," she said firmly. "They bring destruction."
Raven's smile faded. "Then you've made your choice."
In a blur, he drew a concealed blade and lunged. Darian intercepted him, their weapons clashing in a flurry of sparks. Liora and Elias scrambled to gather their belongings as the fight raged on.
"You can't win this, Raven!" Darian growled, deflecting a strike.
"Winning isn't my concern," Raven replied, his movements fluid and precise. "The shards are."
Elias threw one of his gadgets, creating a cloud of smoke that gave them the chance to escape. They ran into the mountains, Raven's voice echoing behind them.
"You can't run forever, Liora!"
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