The barren land beyond the rift carried a somber stillness, as though the Veil itself was holding its breath. The air hung heavy with the remnants of energy from the battle, the faint hum of the Crown now more subdued, almost mournful.
Kael walked ahead of his companions, his staff serving as a steadying force against his exhaustion. The mark on his hand was dim, but its heat lingered, a reminder of the power he had wielded and the price it demanded.
"We need to rest," Mareth said, her voice firm but tinged with concern. "You look like you're about to fall over, Kael."
"I'm fine," Kael replied, though the tremor in his voice betrayed him. "The Crown's energy will replenish itself. We don't have time to stop."
Seryn placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression serious. "Pushing yourself too hard won't help us, Kael. We've bought some time—use it wisely."
Reluctantly, Kael nodded. They found a small alcove nestled among jagged rocks and set up a makeshift camp. The air was cold, and the ground beneath them seemed to vibrate faintly, as if echoing the Crown's unrest.
As the group settled, Kael sat apart from the others, staring at the horizon where the rift had been. He could still feel its pull, a faint reminder of the Void's ever-looming presence.
Lira approached, her movements quieter than usual. She crouched beside him, her gaze following his.
"Penny for your thoughts?" she asked, her tone lighter than the mood demanded.
Kael sighed. "I keep thinking about the first bearer. They gave everything to seal the Void, and even that wasn't enough. What if we fail, too?"
Lira leaned back, her daggers spinning idly in her hands. "If they'd given up back then, we wouldn't even have a chance to fail. They fought, Kael. So do we."
He nodded, though her words only partially eased his doubts. "The Crown… it feels like it's breaking me apart. Every time I use it, it takes more. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."
Lira smirked, though there was no mockery in her eyes. "Then lean on us. You're not doing this alone, remember?"
Kael offered her a faint smile. "Thanks, Lira."
"Don't mention it. Literally. I have a reputation to uphold."
Later, as the others rested, Seryn sat by the fire, her gaze fixed on the flickering flames. Mareth joined her, her sword resting across her lap.
"We're running out of time," Mareth said, breaking the silence. "The Void's growing stronger. You can feel it in the air."
Seryn nodded. "The Veil is weakening faster than I expected. The next trial will push us harder than any before."
Mareth glanced toward Kael, who had finally fallen into a fitful sleep. "Do you think he can handle it? The Crown's taking its toll."
"He'll handle it because he has to," Seryn said, her voice steady. "But it's up to us to make sure he doesn't carry it alone."
Their rest was cut short by a distant rumble that shook the ground. Kael jolted awake, his staff already in his hand. The mark on his palm flared as the Crown's hum returned, sharp and urgent.
"What now?" Lira asked, drawing her daggers as she scanned the horizon.
Seryn rose to her feet, her blades gleaming in the firelight. "The Void isn't finished with us."
The ground split open a short distance away, and tendrils of shadow emerged, writhing like living things. From the rift stepped a figure cloaked in darkness, their form more solid and defined than the Voidborne they had faced before.
"Another guardian?" Mareth asked, her grip tightening on her sword.
"No," Kael said, his voice low. "This one's different. Stronger."
The figure raised a hand, and the shadows coalesced into a massive weapon. Their voice echoed, deep and resonant. "Bearer of the Crown, your defiance is futile. The Void cannot be stopped. Surrender, and your end will be swift."
Kael stepped forward, his staff glowing faintly. "I've heard that before. And yet, here we are."
The figure tilted their head, as though considering his words. Then, without warning, they lunged.
The battle was chaos. The figure moved with impossible speed, their weapon striking with the force of a storm. Mareth intercepted their blows, her sword sparking with each clash. Lira struck from the shadows, her daggers finding fleeting openings but unable to land a decisive blow.
Seryn circled the figure, her strikes precise and unrelenting, but the enemy seemed to anticipate her every move. Kael stood at the center, channeling the Crown's power into barriers and bursts of light to keep the group alive.
"They're too strong!" Lira shouted, narrowly avoiding a swing from the figure's weapon.
Kael gritted his teeth, the Crown's energy surging painfully through him. "We have to hold on. Just a little longer!"
The figure raised their weapon, shadowy tendrils extending from it to ensnare the group. Kael reacted instinctively, directing the Crown's energy into a single, concentrated burst that severed the tendrils and drove the figure back.
"Now!" he shouted.
Mareth charged, her sword blazing with light as she struck the figure's core. The blow staggered them, and Seryn followed with a rapid series of strikes that forced them to their knees.
Kael stepped forward, the Crown's energy coalescing around him. He raised his staff, the mark on his hand burning brightly. With a final surge, he unleashed the Crown's power, enveloping the figure in a torrent of light.
The figure let out a deafening roar before collapsing into shadow, their form dissolving into the ground. The battlefield fell silent once more, the only sound the ragged breaths of the companions.
Kael sank to his knees, his strength completely spent. The mark on his hand dimmed, and the Crown's hum receded into silence.
"Is it over?" Mareth asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"For now," Seryn said, helping Kael to his feet. "But the Void won't stop. We need to keep moving."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening despite his exhaustion. "We'll find a way to stop it. No matter what it takes."
The group exchanged determined glances before turning toward the horizon, the light of the Veil faint but unwavering as it guided them forward into the unknown.