Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 6: Relentless Shadows
Eryth leaned against the jagged rock wall, their breath coming in shallow gasps. The descent into the chasm had taken more out of them than they'd expected. Nyx stood at their side, its golden eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
The shard in Eryth's hand pulsed erratically now, its light flickering in rapid bursts. It wasn't pointing the way anymore—it was warning them.
"Something's coming," Eryth muttered, tightening their grip on their blade.
Nyx rumbled low in its throat, its shadowy form flickering as its claws extended.
Before either could move, the cavern trembled. From the darkness ahead, glowing red eyes appeared—dozens of them.
A swarm of nightmare creatures poured out of the shadows, their forms twisted and insect-like. Their clicking mandibles and fluttering wings created a cacophony that echoed through the chamber.
"Run!" Eryth shouted, turning and sprinting back the way they came.
Nyx followed, its shadows lashing out to slow the swarm. The creatures shrieked in anger but continued their relentless pursuit, their numbers growing with each passing moment.
The Shard's Warning
As they ran, the shard grew hotter in Eryth's hand. The light intensified, illuminating strange carvings on the walls—symbols and runes they didn't recognize.
"What is this place?" Eryth hissed, glancing over their shoulder.
The swarm was gaining on them, their movements coordinated, as if controlled by a single mind.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Eryth's mind, deep and resonant.
"Do not falter. Follow the path, or be consumed."
Eryth stumbled, nearly losing their footing. "Who said that?!"
The shard pulsed again, the light bending to reveal a hidden passage on their right. Nyx roared, shoving Eryth toward it with a burst of shadow.
They darted into the passage, the walls closing in around them. The swarm screeched in frustration, their larger numbers preventing them from following.
A Forgotten Memory
The passage opened into a smaller chamber, the air thick with an oppressive energy. The walls were lined with intricate carvings depicting figures wielding shards of light, their faces obscured.
Eryth staggered to a stop, their chest heaving. "What… is all this?"
Nyx growled softly, its eyes fixed on the carvings.
The voice in Eryth's mind returned, softer this time.
"The Shardbearers… warriors who sought to control the Light. They failed. You will too."
Eryth clenched their fists, glaring at the shard. "Stop with the cryptic nonsense! What are you? What do you want from me?"
The shard didn't respond, but its light dimmed, as if in warning.
An Unlikely Ally
Before Eryth could process what had happened, a figure emerged from the shadows. They were tall and lean, their face obscured by a hood. In one hand, they carried a staff carved with runes that glowed faintly, and in the other, they held a shard similar to Eryth's.
"You're lucky I found you," the figure said, their voice smooth but wary. "The swarm doesn't usually let anyone leave alive."
Eryth raised their blade, their eyes narrowing. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled, lowering their hood to reveal sharp features and piercing green eyes. "You can call me Kael. And if you want to survive, you'll listen to me."
Nyx growled, stepping protectively in front of Eryth.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Relax, shadow beast. I'm not here to fight. But that shard you're holding? It's going to kill you if you don't learn how to control it."
Eryth blinked, their grip tightening on the shard. "What do you mean?"
Kael sighed, leaning against their staff. "The shards aren't just powerful—they're alive. They'll keep giving you energy, but at a cost. You've already felt it, haven't you? The exhaustion, the pain… the whispers in your head?"
Eryth's heart sank. The shard's warmth had grown almost unbearable, and the voice they'd heard earlier still echoed faintly in their mind.
"What do I do?" they asked, their voice quieter now.
Kael smirked. "That's the fun part. You'll need to find the other shards and reunite them. But you're not the only one looking, and trust me, the others aren't as friendly as I am."
The Shadow's Reach
Kael gestured toward the passage behind them. "We need to keep moving. The swarm will regroup soon, and there's a lot more than just bugs in this place."
Eryth hesitated but followed Kael, Nyx close at their side.
As they moved deeper into the tunnels, the oppressive energy grew stronger. The shard in Eryth's hand pulsed faintly, as if sensing something ahead.
Kael glanced back at them. "By the way, if you're carrying that shard, the Shadow Sovereign already knows you exist. You've painted a target on your back."
"The Shadow Sovereign?" Eryth asked, their stomach twisting.
Kael nodded grimly. "The one who created the shards. The one who'll do anything to get them back. And trust me, you do not want to meet them."
Eryth's grip on the shard tightened. The path ahead had just become a lot more dangerous