Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 10: Shadows Unleashed
The air in the Forgotten Library became suffocating, charged with an unnatural energy. The masked figure's shadowy beasts surged forward, their inky forms shifting and twisting with terrifying speed. Their claws scraped against the stone floor, leaving behind deep grooves that hissed with black smoke.
Kael planted his staff firmly on the ground, muttering an incantation under his breath. A shimmering barrier of light erupted around him and Eryth just as the first shadow-beast lunged. The creature struck the barrier with a deafening crack, the force of the impact causing Eryth to stumble.
"Keep your focus!" Kael shouted, sweat beading on his brow as the barrier wavered.
Eryth tightened their grip on the shard, its heat now searing against their palm. Nyx leapt into action, its sleek form a blur as it collided with one of the beasts. The creature's claws raked across the nightmare's side, but Nyx retaliated with a savage strike of its own, tearing the beast apart.
Yet as quickly as the beast dissolved, another took its place.
The Shard Awakens
Eryth's heart pounded as the battle raged around them. The shard pulsed violently, its golden light flickering with streaks of deep crimson. The whispers in their mind grew louder, more insistent.
"Use me. Feed me. Let me show you what we can do."
Another beast slammed into the barrier, shattering a section of it. Kael swore, thrusting his staff forward to launch a bolt of light that struck the creature in the chest, disintegrating it. But his movements were slowing, his face pale from exertion.
"We can't hold out like this!" Kael shouted.
Eryth clenched their teeth, their gaze darting between Kael, Nyx, and the advancing beasts. The shard's voice coiled around their thoughts like a serpent.
"You are not strong enough. But together, we are unstoppable."
With a cry of frustration, Eryth raised the shard high. Its light erupted, filling the chamber with a blinding brilliance. For a moment, everything was still.
Then the power surged through them.
Unleashing the Shard's Power
Eryth's body felt as if it were aflame, yet the pain was distant, drowned out by an overwhelming sense of strength. The shard's energy coursed through them, and with it came visions—flashes of a battle long past, of a Shardbearer wielding this same power to cut through armies.
Their free hand rose instinctively, and a beam of golden light shot from the shard, obliterating two shadow-beasts in its path. The creatures dissolved into nothingness, their screams echoing in the vast chamber.
Nyx paused mid-attack, turning to watch Eryth with an unreadable expression.
Kael's voice broke through the haze. "Eryth! Control it! Don't let it take you!"
But the shard's power was intoxicating. Each pulse of energy felt like a heartbeat, syncing with their own. The beasts that had once seemed overwhelming now appeared insignificant, fragile.
Eryth turned to the masked figure, their voice steady but laced with an edge that wasn't entirely their own. "You wanted to test me? Come closer and see what happens."
The figure tilted its head, seemingly intrigued. "Ah, now you begin to understand. But this is only the beginning."
With a flick of their hand, the masked figure summoned a massive shadow-beast, twice the size of the others, its body rippling with dark energy. Its roar shook the chamber, and it charged directly at Eryth.
A Dangerous Balance
Eryth extended their hand, and a barrier of golden light formed in front of them. The beast collided with it, the impact sending shockwaves through the chamber. The shard's power surged again, and Eryth felt the whispers growing louder, more demanding.
"More. Give me more."
The beast clawed at the barrier, cracks forming in the golden light. Eryth gritted their teeth, pouring more of the shard's energy into the defense.
Kael's voice cut through the chaos. "Eryth! You're feeding it too much! If you lose control—"
"I don't have a choice!" Eryth shouted back.
Nyx darted forward, slamming into the shadow-beast's side and knocking it off balance. The nightmare creature's claws tore through the beast's form, but the shadow quickly reassembled itself, lashing out with a massive claw that sent Nyx skidding across the floor.
"No!" Eryth cried, the sight of Nyx injured igniting something within them.
The shard's light flared again, brighter than before. Eryth felt a wave of heat radiate from their body as the shard's power consumed the beast in a single burst of energy.
The masked figure clapped slowly, their voice echoing in the silence that followed. "Impressive. But every use of that shard brings you closer to losing yourself. How much are you willing to sacrifice?"
Eryth glared at them, panting. "You don't know anything about me."
The figure chuckled. "Don't I? You'll see soon enough. The shard may protect you now, but it has a will of its own. And when it decides you've outlived your usefulness…"
Before Eryth could respond, the figure dissolved into shadows, leaving the chamber eerily quiet.
The Cost of Victory
Kael approached cautiously, his face etched with worry. "Are you okay?"
Eryth sank to their knees, the shard's light dimming as the power faded. Their body felt heavy, drained. "I don't know," they admitted, their voice shaking.
Nyx limped over, pressing its head against their shoulder. Eryth rested a hand on the creature's sleek fur, drawing comfort from its presence.
Kael crouched beside them, his tone soft. "This isn't sustainable, Eryth. That shard… it's powerful, but it's dangerous. If we don't find a way to control it, it's going to destroy you."
Eryth looked down at the shard, its once-golden glow now tinged with streaks of crimson. The whispers had faded, but they could still feel the shard's presence, like a second heartbeat in their chest.
"We need answers," Kael continued. "There's someone in the outer ruins who might be able to help. A Shardbearer who's survived longer than anyone else. If anyone knows how to tame that thing, it's them."
Eryth nodded slowly, their resolve hardening. "Then we find them. Whatever it takes."
Nyx growled softly, its glowing eyes fixed on the darkened corridor ahead. The path forward was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the battle was far from over.