Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 11: The Shardbearer's Legacy
The group moved quickly, the weight of the battle still fresh on their minds. Eryth leaned against Nyx for support, their body aching from the strain of wielding the shard's power. The once-pristine Forgotten Library now felt like a mausoleum, its silence heavy and oppressive.
Kael led the way, his staff glowing faintly to illuminate the twisting corridors beyond the library. "The ruins ahead belong to an ancient settlement," he explained. "There's someone there—someone who's been hiding from the Sovereign's influence for decades. If anyone knows how to handle a shard like yours, it's them."
Eryth glanced at the shard in their hand. Its glow had faded to a dim pulse, but they could still feel its presence deep within their chest. The whispers had gone quiet, but the memory of their intoxicating power lingered.
Nyx growled softly, its sharp gaze scanning the darkness ahead.
"Are you sure this Shardbearer will help us?" Eryth asked, their voice low.
Kael hesitated, his grip tightening on his staff. "No. But they're our best chance. They've survived in the shadows of the Sovereign's rule for a reason. If we can convince them, they might show us how to control that thing before it consumes you."
The Outskirts of Oblivion
Hours later, they emerged into the outskirts of a crumbling city. Unlike the pristine, ancient architecture of the Forgotten Library, this settlement was a chaotic sprawl of stone and metal, its buildings half-buried in sand and overgrown with strange, bioluminescent fungi.
Nyx paused at the edge of the ruins, its fur bristling.
Kael held up a hand, signaling for silence. "Something's watching us," he murmured.
Eryth's hand tightened around the shard, its pulse quickening as if sensing danger. "Where?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he raised his staff and muttered an incantation. A faint ripple of energy spread outward, revealing shadowy figures lurking in the broken windows and alleyways.
Eryth's heart skipped a beat. The figures were humanoid, but their movements were unnatural, jerky. Their eyes glowed with a faint, sickly green light.
"Wraiths," Kael said grimly. "Remnants of the Sovereign's experiments. Stay close."
One of the wraiths let out an otherworldly screech, and the others followed suit, their cries echoing through the ruins.
"They know we're here," Kael said. "We need to move. Now."
A Fateful Encounter
The wraiths pursued them through the ruins, their movements unnervingly fast. Nyx stayed at Eryth's side, its growls warning off the creatures that strayed too close.
Kael led them through a narrow alley, then stopped abruptly in front of a metal door embedded in the side of a crumbling tower. He banged on the door with his staff, shouting, "We need sanctuary! Open the door!"
For a moment, there was no response. Then, with a groan of rusted hinges, the door creaked open.
A figure stepped out, cloaked in heavy robes that obscured their features. Their voice was low and measured. "Who are you, and why should I let you in?"
Kael stepped forward, his staff lowered in a gesture of peace. "We seek the guidance of a Shardbearer. My companion bears a shard that's… unstable. They need help before it's too late."
The figure's hood tilted slightly, and Eryth felt their gaze settle on them. "Let me see it."
Eryth hesitated, glancing at Kael. He nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, they held up the shard.
The figure stiffened, and for a moment, Eryth thought they would be turned away. Then the figure stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.
"Inside. Quickly."
The Shardbearer's Refuge
The interior of the tower was a stark contrast to its crumbling exterior. The walls were lined with shelves filled with books, artifacts, and strange devices that hummed with faint energy. At the center of the room was a circular table carved from black stone, its surface etched with intricate runes.
The figure pulled back their hood, revealing a weathered face with sharp features and piercing silver eyes. Their hair was streaked with white, though their movements suggested they were far younger than they appeared.
"I am Solas," they said, their voice carrying an air of authority. "And you've brought something dangerous into my home."
Eryth bristled. "It's not like I had a choice. This shard—"
"—is alive," Solas interrupted, their gaze fixed on the shard. "And it's feeding off of you. If you don't learn to control it, it will consume everything you are."
Eryth felt a chill run down their spine. "Then teach me. Help me figure out how to use it without losing myself."
Solas sighed, moving to the table and gesturing for them to join. "Controlling a shard isn't as simple as willing it into submission. Each shard has its own will, its own desires. To master it, you must understand it—and that begins with understanding yourself."
Kael frowned. "What do you mean?"
Solas placed a hand on the table, and the runes began to glow. "Every shard reflects the essence of its bearer. If this shard is unstable, it's because its power is a mirror of your inner turmoil."
Eryth clenched their fists. "So, what? You're saying this is my fault?"
"I'm saying that if you want to survive, you'll need to confront the part of yourself you've been running from," Solas said, their tone firm.
The shard in Eryth's hand pulsed faintly, its light dim but steady.
"Let's begin," Solas said, placing a small, glowing crystal on the table. "But be warned—the path to control is not without its risks. And the shard's true nature may be far darker than you realize."
Eryth exchanged a glance with Kael and Nyx, then stepped forward.
"Do whatever it takes," they said. "I'm not losing myself to this thing."