Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 1: Embers of Truth
The cavern was silent, save for the faint hum of the golden shard cradled in the human's hand. Its glow cast soft shadows across their face, illuminating eyes filled with a mixture of exhaustion and determination. Nyx stood beside them, its golden gaze fixed on the shard. The creature's form shimmered faintly, its exhaustion evident, but its presence steady.
As the human rose, the shard's warmth pulsed, sending a ripple through the cavern. They looked at it with curiosity and unease. "This thing… it's connected to everything, isn't it?"
Nyx let out a low rumble, almost an affirmation.
The human closed their fingers around the shard, its light seeping through the cracks between their fingers. "If it's the start of something, we need to figure out what."
With that, they turned toward the cavern entrance, their steps resolute despite the weight of the journey ahead.
The forest outside the cavern was unrecognizable. The oppressive shadows that once dominated it had receded, replaced by an eerie stillness. The trees stood like silent sentinels, their twisted forms still bearing the scars of darkness.
The human scanned the area, gripping the shard tightly. "We're not done yet," they muttered. "There's more to this… I can feel it."
The golden thread connecting them to Nyx pulsed faintly, a quiet reminder of their bond. Nyx moved ahead, its gait slower but deliberate, its shadows flickering in the faint light of the morning sun.
As they walked, the shard in the human's hand began to vibrate, its light intensifying. The human stopped, frowning. "What now?"
Before Nyx could react, the shard projected a beam of golden light into the sky, splitting the clouds and revealing a faint constellation. The stars aligned, forming a symbol—a jagged circle broken in three places.
Nyx growled, its body tensing.
The human stared at the symbol, their mind racing. "It's showing us something… but what?"
The shard's light shifted, casting an image on the ground before them. It depicted a vast city bathed in golden light, its spires reaching for the heavens. At its center stood a structure resembling the monolith, but far more intricate, its golden veins pulsing with life.
The human's breath caught. "That's… a city?"
Nyx growled softly, its gaze fixed on the image.
The shard's light dimmed, and the image faded. But the symbol in the sky remained, a silent beacon.
The human clenched their jaw, determination flaring in their eyes. "That's where we're going," they said firmly. "Whatever's waiting for us there, we'll face it. Together."
Nyx rumbled in agreement, its shadows flaring briefly before settling.
As they continued their journey, the human began to notice subtle changes in the forest. The air felt lighter, the oppressive weight of the shadows lifting. But with each step, a strange sensation grew within them—a pull, as if the shard were guiding them.
Nyx seemed to sense it too, its movements more cautious.
"Something's coming," the human muttered, their hand tightening around the shard.
The words were barely out of their mouth when the ground beneath them trembled. A fissure split the earth ahead, and from it emerged a creature unlike anything they'd encountered before.
Its body was composed of jagged stone and shadow, its form towering and menacing. Crimson eyes burned in its head, and a guttural growl echoed from deep within its chest.
The human stepped back, their blade at the ready. "Nyx…"
Nyx stepped forward, its shadows flaring as it growled in response.
The creature roared, its massive claws slamming into the ground as it charged.
The fight was brutal. The creature's strength was overwhelming, each strike sending shockwaves through the ground. The human and Nyx fought in perfect tandem, their bond allowing them to anticipate each other's movements.
But the creature was relentless, its attacks growing more ferocious with each passing moment. The human felt their strength waning, their grip on the shard faltering.
Just as the creature prepared to strike a final blow, the shard in the human's hand flared with blinding light. The golden thread between them and Nyx surged, enveloping them in radiant energy.
The human felt a surge of power unlike anything they'd experienced before. Their blade glowed with golden light, and as they struck, the energy coursed through the creature, shattering its form.
The battle ended as suddenly as it began. The creature's remains dissolved into mist, leaving behind a faint echo of its growl.
The human collapsed to their knees, breathing heavily. The shard's light dimmed, but its warmth remained.
Nyx approached, its golden eyes filled with quiet concern.
The human looked up at the creature, a faint smile on their lips. "We're getting stronger," they said softly. "Whatever's waiting for us… we'll be ready."
As they continued their journey, the human couldn't shake the feeling that the shard was changing them. Its warmth was no longer just a sensation—it was a presence, whispering to them in a voice they couldn't quite understand.
And with each step they took, the name that had been buried deep within their memory began to surface.
"Eryth."
The human stopped, the name lingering on their lips.
Nyx turned to them, its golden eyes watching intently.
The human met its gaze, a spark of recognition in their own. "That's my name," they said quietly, their voice steady. "Eryth."
Nyx growled softly, its shadows curling around them protectively.
Eryth straightened, the shard pulsing faintly in their hand. "Let's keep moving," they said, their resolve stronger than ever. "We've got a city to find."
Nyx roared softly, and together, they pressed on, the golden thread between them glowing brightly against the encroaching darkness.