The icy wind howled through the Frostspire Mountains, its sharp bite cutting through layers of fur and leather. Riven trudged through the snow, his heavy boots crunching beneath him as he ascended a steep ridge. The path was treacherous, bordered by jagged cliffs on one side and sheer rock faces on the other. Above him, the pale sky churned with swirling gray clouds, threatening another storm.
He adjusted the strap of his pack, his amber eyes scanning the barren expanse ahead. He'd been tracking the anomaly for two days now, ever since the first tremor rattled the mountain village below. The villagers had spoken of flickering lights in the sky, of sounds that didn't belong and shadows that moved where nothing should.
Riven didn't trust the stories—he'd heard too many exaggerated tales from fearful people—but the signs of a disturbance were undeniable. Something had crossed the Veil here, and whatever it was, it wasn't natural.
He paused at the crest of the ridge, his breath fogging in the frigid air. Below, the land stretched into a frozen valley, its surface broken by jagged spires of ice that jutted up like the fangs of some great beast. At the center of the valley, the snow seemed to shimmer, faint streaks of blue light weaving across its surface like veins.
Riven's hand went instinctively to the Tether Stone hanging from a chain around his neck. The dark crystal pulsed faintly against his skin, its rhythm quickening as he gazed at the glowing veins below.
"Damn it," he muttered. Whatever was causing this was far worse than he'd hoped.
He made his way down the slope, his movements slow and deliberate as the ice beneath his feet threatened to give way. The air grew colder as he descended, the shimmering light growing brighter with each step.
At the base of the valley, the snow was unnaturally smooth, almost glass-like. Riven knelt, brushing his gloved hand over the surface. It was cold, even through the leather, and his fingers tingled as if tiny needles were pricking his skin.
The Veil was thin here. Dangerously thin.
A low rumble echoed through the valley, and Riven shot to his feet, his axe already in hand. The weapon was broad and heavy, its steel head etched with runes that glimmered faintly in the blue light. He scanned his surroundings, every muscle tensed, his breath shallow and controlled.
The sound came again, louder this time. It wasn't the wind or the shifting ice—it was something alive.
Then he saw it.
A figure emerged from the far side of the valley, its shape distorted by the shimmering air around it. It moved with a strange, jerking motion, as though it were being pulled forward by invisible strings. Its form was humanoid but twisted, with limbs that were too long and a face obscured by shadow.
The creature let out a guttural sound, its voice like a mix of grinding stone and breaking glass. The very air around it seemed to ripple, the light twisting unnaturally as it approached.
"Stay back," Riven warned, though he doubted it could understand him. He shifted his stance, the axe steady in his hands.
The creature didn't stop.
It lunged, moving faster than anything its size should have been able to. Riven sidestepped the attack, his axe swinging in a wide arc. The blade connected with the creature's arm, severing it cleanly, but instead of blood, a thick black mist seeped from the wound.
The creature howled, its voice reverberating through the valley. The sound made Riven's head throb, and for a moment, he stumbled, his vision swimming.
The creature took advantage of his hesitation, its remaining arm swinging toward him with claws like jagged ice. Riven barely managed to bring his axe up in time, the force of the blow sending him skidding backward across the slick ground.
"Damn stubborn thing," he growled, shaking off the dizziness.
The runes on his axe flared as he focused, channeling the energy of the Tether Stone through the weapon. The air around him seemed to hum, the runes glowing brighter with each passing second.
The creature charged again, its distorted form shifting and flickering as it moved. Riven swung his axe in a downward strike, the blade colliding with the creature's chest. This time, the runes exploded with light, sending a shockwave through the valley.
The creature let out one final, agonized scream before its body disintegrated into a swirling cloud of black mist. The mist hung in the air for a moment before being pulled downward, sinking into the glowing veins beneath the snow.
Riven stood there, panting, his hands gripping the axe tightly. The valley was silent once more, the shimmering light dimming to a faint glow.
He glanced at the Tether Stone, its pulsing rhythm slower now but still present. Whatever had crossed the Veil was gone—for now—but the damage it had caused was still evident. The balance was shifting, and if this was just the beginning, things were going to get much worse.
Riven adjusted his pack and started back toward the ridge. He needed answers, and he needed them soon. If the Veil continued to weaken, it wouldn't just be creatures like that slipping through. It would be something far worse.
And he wasn't sure if even he could stop it.
End of Chapter 6