Volume 2: Shards of Unity
Chapter 37: A Light in the Dark
Eryth's mind felt like it was being torn apart and reassembled all at once. When his vision returned, he found himself standing in a void of endless darkness. There was no sound, no weight, and no sense of time—only the faint glow of the shard in his hand, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Then, a voice.
"You have come far, bearer of the relic."
Eryth spun around, his grip tightening on the shard. The voice was calm yet powerful, its words resonating in his bones. A figure emerged from the darkness, humanoid but indistinct, its form made of shifting light and shadow.
"Who are you?" Eryth demanded. "What is this place?"
The figure tilted its head, its glowing eyes fixed on him. "I am a fragment of what once was—a memory tied to the relic you carry and the shard you have claimed. This place is within you, as much as it is beyond you."
Eryth frowned, his thoughts racing. "What does that mean? What is the purpose of all this?"
"The relic is a key," the figure said. "A tool to unlock the truth hidden within these ruins—and within yourself. But power demands sacrifice, and the trials you face are only the beginning."
Eryth opened his mouth to respond, but the figure raised a hand, silencing him.
"You are not ready for all the answers," it continued. "But the shard you now possess will guide you forward. Protect it, for it is both your weapon and your burden."
The figure began to fade, its form dissolving into streams of light. "Remember this, bearer: the path ahead is not one you can walk alone. Trust in those beside you, and beware the shadows that seek to consume you."
The Awakening
Eryth jolted awake, his breath ragged. The void was gone, replaced by the dim light of the chamber. The shard was still in his hand, its glow subdued but steady.
The armored woman knelt beside him, her face a mix of concern and impatience. "You've been out for minutes. What happened?"
Eryth shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. "The shard… it showed me something. A figure, a memory tied to the relic. It said the shard would guide us forward."
The woman frowned. "And what does that mean? Guide us where?"
"I don't know," Eryth admitted, rising unsteadily to his feet. "But it's important. We need to keep moving."
Nyx, who had been standing vigil nearby, let out a low growl. Its gaze was fixed on the entrance to the chamber, where faint echoes of movement could be heard.
"We're not alone," the armored woman said, drawing her sword.
Eryth felt a chill run down his spine. The ruins had been dangerous enough with traps and trials—now something else was hunting them.
The Hunt
The group moved cautiously through the labyrinthine corridors, every shadow a potential threat. The shard in Eryth's hand pulsed faintly, its light casting eerie patterns on the walls.
Nyx took the lead, its senses heightened, ears twitching at every sound. The armored woman stayed close, her weapon ready.
Then, a sudden noise—a faint scraping, like claws against stone.
Eryth froze, his heart pounding. "Did you hear that?"
Before anyone could answer, the air was filled with a guttural roar. From the shadows emerged a massive, twisted creature, its body a grotesque fusion of flesh and stone. Its eyes glowed with the same eerie light as the shard, and its movements were unnaturally fast.
"It's one of the ruins' guardians!" the woman shouted, raising her shield just as the creature lunged.
The impact sent her staggering back, and Eryth barely had time to react as the creature turned its attention to him. Nyx intercepted it, slamming into the beast with a snarl.
"Focus on its core!" Eryth shouted, noticing a glowing mark on the creature's chest.
The fight was brutal and chaotic, the narrow corridor amplifying the danger. The creature's claws tore through stone and steel alike, forcing the group to rely on quick thinking and coordination.
Eryth gripped the shard tightly, feeling its power surge through him. A memory of the figure's words surfaced in his mind: The shard is your weapon and your burden.
He raised the shard, focusing his will. Light erupted from it, striking the creature's core. The beast let out a deafening roar, its body convulsing before collapsing in a heap of dust and rubble.
A Fragile Hope
As the dust settled, the group stood in silence, their breaths ragged.
"That thing wasn't like the others," the woman said, wiping blood from her face. "It was… stronger. Smarter."
Eryth nodded, his gaze fixed on the shard. "And it won't be the last."
Nyx let out a low rumble, its glowing eyes meeting Eryth's. The bond between them pulsed with unspoken understanding.
"We have to move faster," Eryth said, his voice firm. "If the shard is drawing these things to us, then we can't stay in one place for long."
The armored woman sheathed her weapon and glanced at him. "You'd better be right about this shard, Eryth. Because if it leads us into another death trap, we might not make it out."
Eryth didn't respond. Deep down, he knew she was right. But the figure's words echoed in his mind, a reminder that the answers they sought were worth the risk.
As they pressed on, the weight of the shard in his hand felt heavier than ever.
To Be Continued…