The village of Emberfall lay in eerie silence, its once lively streets now shrouded in tension. Shadows still lurked at the edges, their glowing eyes watching, waiting. Aedric leaned against the remains of a crumbled wall, the amulet's glow faint against his chest. Every part of his body ached, as though the light had drained not just his strength but a part of his very soul.
Mara crouched beside him, her sword resting on her knees. "You're not fine," she said sharply, glaring at Aedric as he tried to stand.
"I didn't say I was fine," Aedric shot back, wincing.
She pressed her lips into a thin line. "You don't even know what that thing is doing to you, do you?" She gestured toward the amulet. "Whatever power you used back there, it almost killed you."
Aedric looked down at the amulet, its symbols now faint and sluggish in their movement. He didn't have an answer—not for Mara, not for himself. The veiled woman had said nothing about how to control its power or what price it demanded.
"We don't have time for this," Aedric muttered. He pushed himself upright, ignoring the way the ground tilted under his feet. "The shadows will come back. We need to figure out how to stop them for good."
Mara sighed but stood with him. "And how do you plan to do that, oh fearless hero?"
Before Aedric could respond, a voice interrupted.
"You need answers."
Both turned sharply to see an old man stepping out of the shadows. He was hunched, with a long gray beard and a staff that looked as ancient as he did. His eyes, however, were sharp and clear, glinting with an intensity that made Aedric uneasy.
"Who are you?" Mara asked, raising her sword.
The old man chuckled. "Lower your blade, girl. If I meant you harm, you'd already know."
"That's not reassuring," Aedric muttered, but something about the man felt familiar, as though he'd seen him before in the corner of a dream.
The old man stepped closer, his gaze fixed on the amulet. "I felt the power awaken. You've inherited a great burden, boy. And if you don't learn to wield it properly, it'll destroy you long before the Shadows do."
"You know what this is?" Aedric asked, gripping the amulet instinctively.
The man nodded. "The Astral Seal. Or at least, a fragment of it. An artifact forged to bind the Shadows beyond the Veil. But it's not whole."
"Not whole?" Mara echoed.
The old man pointed his staff toward the amulet. "What you carry is but one piece of the Seal. There are three in total. Only together can they restore the barrier that keeps the Shadows at bay."
Aedric's heart sank. "And let me guess—we have no idea where the other pieces are?"
The old man gave him a toothless grin. "Not quite. The second piece lies in the ruins of Akarion, an ancient city swallowed by the Wraithlands. It won't be easy to retrieve. The Shadows guard it fiercely, and the land itself is cursed."
"Fantastic," Mara muttered.
"Why me?" Aedric asked suddenly. The words spilled out before he could stop them. "Why not someone stronger, someone who actually knows what they're doing?"
The old man's expression softened. "The Seal chooses its bearer, boy. Not for their strength, but for their will. You may not feel ready, but the power within you will grow—as will the cost."
Aedric frowned. "What cost?"
The old man tapped his staff on the ground, his voice turning grim. "Every use of the Seal drains your life force. It's not meant for mortals. The Guardians were once beings of immense power, capable of wielding it without consequence. You, however..." He trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
Aedric felt the weight of the amulet grow heavier. "So every time I use it, I'm... dying?"
"Not immediately," the man said, "but yes. It takes a piece of you each time. That is why you must tread carefully."
Mara looked at Aedric, her expression unreadable. "You don't have to do this," she said softly.
"Yes, I do," Aedric replied, his voice steadier than he felt. "If I don't, the Shadows will destroy everything. My life doesn't matter if it means saving the village—saving the world."
The old man nodded approvingly. "A heavy burden, but one you seem willing to bear. Come. I'll guide you to the Wraithlands and teach you what I can along the way."
"Wait," Mara said, stepping forward. "We're just supposed to trust you?"
The old man smiled. "Trust or don't, girl. The path remains the same. But if you care for your friend here, you'll come along. He'll need all the help he can get."
Mara hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But if you try anything, old man, you'll find out just how sharp this sword is."
The man chuckled again and turned, gesturing for them to follow. "Come, then. The Shadows won't wait, and neither should we."
As Aedric followed, the amulet's faint glow warmed against his chest. Each step felt heavier, the weight of his destiny pressing down on him. He didn't know if he was ready for what lay ahead, but he knew one thing for certain: the fight was far from over.