The air between Alexander and the cloaked figure was electric, charged with a tension that felt as dangerous as the Gorge itself. Lira shifted uneasily, her blade still at the ready as her gaze darted between the beast and its master.
"You're not getting this shard," Alexander said firmly, stepping in front of Lira. His fingers tightened around the fragment, its faint glow seeming to pulse in response to his determination.
The figure chuckled softly, the sound unnervingly calm. "Bold, but misguided. Do you even understand what you hold? That shard is more than a mere trinket—it's a fragment of the Gorge's very essence. Holding it binds you to this place, whether you realize it or not."
"Then maybe it's time we unbind it," Alexander retorted.
The figure tilted their head, the shadows of their hood concealing any expression. "Fascinating. Such defiance, yet such ignorance. Tell me, do you know what happens to those who tamper with the Gorge's power?"
Alexander didn't answer, his mind racing. The shard pulsed again, and he felt a strange resonance within him, as though it were trying to speak.
"You don't scare me," Lira said, stepping forward despite her injuries. "We've already fought off worse than your oversized pet."
The beast growled at her words, its glowing eyes narrowing, but the figure raised a hand to calm it.
"Bravery, or foolishness?" the figure mused. "It matters not. The Gorge has already claimed you, just as it claims all who dare trespass. But I am not without mercy. Hand over the shard, and I will allow you to leave—alive."
Alexander met Lira's gaze. There was no trust in the stranger's words, only veiled threats. "Not a chance," he said, stepping back toward the cavern wall.
The figure sighed. "Then you leave me no choice."
---
The beast roared, the sound shaking the ground beneath their feet as it lunged toward Alexander. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the swipe of its claws. Lira sprang into action, slashing at the creature's flank, but her blade glanced off its obsidian-like hide.
"Damn it!" she hissed, stumbling back.
Alexander raised the shard instinctively, and once again, it flared with a burst of energy. The blast struck the beast, forcing it back a step, but the strain of wielding the shard left him momentarily breathless.
"It's draining me," he realized, his voice tight.
"It won't obey you," the figure said, their tone almost pitying. "The shard's power is not yours to command. You're merely a vessel, and a fragile one at that."
Alexander gritted his teeth, his mind racing for a solution. If the shard couldn't be controlled, then perhaps he could use its instability to their advantage.
"Lira," he called out, "keep it distracted!"
"Easier said than done!" she shot back, dodging another swipe from the beast.
Alexander focused on the shard, trying to channel the chaotic energy within. The pulsing grew stronger, resonating with his core in a way that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
The figure watched him closely, their posture tense for the first time. "You're playing with forces beyond your understanding. Stop, before you destroy yourself."
But Alexander didn't stop. He couldn't. The shard's energy built to a crescendo, the light within it growing brighter with every passing second.
"Get down!" he shouted.
Lira dropped to the ground just as a massive wave of energy erupted from the shard, engulfing the beast and its master. The shockwave tore through the cavern, sending chunks of rock crashing to the ground.
---
When the dust settled, Alexander and Lira were alone. The beast was gone, and the cloaked figure had vanished without a trace.
Lira coughed, brushing debris from her hair as she sat up. "What the hell was that?"
"I don't know," Alexander admitted, his hand trembling as he stared at the shard. The glow had faded completely, leaving it cold and inert.
"But it worked," Lira said, her tone both impressed and wary.
"For now," Alexander replied, his gaze shifting to the shattered remains of the cavern. "But they'll be back. Whoever they were, they're not going to give up that easily."
Lira nodded grimly. "Then we need to move. Fast."
Alexander slipped the shard into his belt, its weight feeling heavier than ever. As they prepared to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling that their encounter with the cloaked figure was only the beginning.
The Gorge's secrets were far more dangerous than he'd imagined. And now, they were tied to him in ways he didn't yet understand.