The air hung heavy with tension as the companions continued along the Veil's path. Though the Void's whispers had receded, their lingering presence was like an unseen weight pressing down on them. Each step forward felt harder than the last, the faint glow of the Veil's threads offering little comfort.
Lira broke the silence, her voice unusually subdued. "So, are we just not going to talk about what happened back there?"
"There's nothing to talk about," Mareth said firmly, her grip tightening on her sword. "The Void lies. We all know that."
"Do we?" Lira shot back, her gaze sharp. "What if it wasn't lying? What if the Veil really is just a cage?"
"Enough," Seryn said, her tone cold. She stepped between them, her twin blades glinting faintly. "This is exactly what the Void wants. Doubt. Division. Don't give it the satisfaction."
Kael, walking slightly ahead, stopped and turned to face them. "The Void thrives on conflict. If we let it tear us apart, we'll fail—just like it said we would."
The group fell silent, but the tension lingered, unspoken fears and doubts weaving a web of unease between them.
The path led them to a desolate clearing, the ground scarred and uneven. In the center stood a solitary stone obelisk, its surface etched with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with light. The Veil's energy radiated from it, but there was something else—a faint undertone of shadow that sent a chill through Kael's mark.
"This is a Veil anchor," Kael said, stepping closer. "But it's corrupted."
"How do we fix it?" Mareth asked, scanning the area for threats.
Kael reached out with his staff, the Crown's energy responding to the anchor's instability. "I can stabilize it, but the corruption runs deep. It's like the Void is trying to claim it."
Seryn stood at his side, her gaze wary. "Then we don't have much time. Do it."
As Kael channeled the Crown's energy into the anchor, the corruption fought back. Tendrils of shadow erupted from the ground, writhing and lashing out. The companions sprang into action, forming a protective circle around Kael.
Mareth struck first, her sword blazing as she cleaved through a tendril. "We've got this. Keep going, Kael!"
Lira darted between the tendrils, her daggers slicing through the writhing shadows. "These things just keep coming!"
"They're tied to the corruption," Seryn said, her blades moving in a blur. "Kael, hurry!"
Kael gritted his teeth, the mark on his hand burning brighter as he poured more energy into the anchor. The Veil's light began to push back against the shadows, but the corruption fought harder, its tendrils growing larger and more aggressive.
"I need more time!" Kael shouted.
A sudden explosion of shadow sent the companions staggering. From the darkness emerged a figure cloaked in black armor, its presence radiating raw power. Its voice was low and resonant, filled with both malice and authority.
"So, this is the new Bearer of the Crown," it said, its tone mocking. "Tell me, Kael—how much are you willing to sacrifice to hold onto a failing cause?"
Kael raised his staff, the Crown's energy flaring. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled, its burning eyes locking onto him. "I am the Shadow Herald, a servant of the Void's truth. And I am here to offer you a choice."
The companions tensed, their weapons ready. "We don't need your choices," Mareth growled, stepping forward. "Back off."
The Shadow Herald ignored her, its gaze fixed on Kael. "The Void knows your doubts, your fears. It offers you freedom—freedom from the Crown's burden, freedom from the Veil's endless demands."
Kael's grip tightened on his staff. "I don't want your freedom. The Veil is worth protecting."
"Is it?" the Herald countered, its tone sharp. "Your companions already doubt you. How long before they turn against you—or you against them?"
The companions exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the words sinking in.
Kael stepped forward, his voice steady despite the unease in his chest. "The Void can't divide us. We stand together, no matter what."
The Shadow Herald tilted its head, its expression unreadable. "So confident. So naive. But very well—if you refuse the Void's gift, you will face its wrath."
The ground shook, and the tendrils surged toward the companions with renewed ferocity. The Shadow Herald vanished into the darkness, its laughter echoing as the battle began anew.
The companions fought with everything they had, their strikes pushing back the shadows as Kael channeled the Crown's energy into the anchor. The Veil's light grew stronger, burning away the corruption until the tendrils dissolved completely.
With a final surge, the anchor stabilized, its runes glowing brightly as the Veil's energy flowed through it. Kael collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged.
"It's done," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Seryn helped him to his feet, her expression resolute. "The Void's trying to break us, but it won't succeed. We won't let it."
Kael nodded, his resolve hardening. "No matter what it throws at us, we'll hold the balance."
The companions regrouped, their unity reaffirmed despite the Shadow Herald's efforts to divide them. They pressed on, the Veil's light guiding their way as they prepared for the battles yet to come.