Chapter 31: Echoes of Corruption
The oppressive silence that followed the battle left Reiji, Aeris, and Lyra standing in the crumbled remains of the dark fortress. The jagged walls, once pulsating with dark energy, now lay dormant, the runes dimmed and lifeless. The black crystal, which had once radiated an ominous power, was no more, reduced to scattered fragments that shimmered faintly in the weak light.
Reiji leaned against a cracked pillar, his body heavy with exhaustion. The fight had pushed him to his limits—not just physically but mentally. Manipulating the Fateweaver threads had drained his Faith Points significantly, leaving him with only a faint reserve.
"You look like you've been trampled by a wyvern," Aeris said, walking over and offering him her hand.
He managed a weak smile and took her hand. "Feels like it too."
Lyra surveyed the room, her flames dim but still burning around her. "This place reeks of unfinished business. That man's retreat wasn't a defeat—it was a delay."
Reiji nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "He called himself a servant of something greater. Whoever he's working for, they're the real threat."
Aeris crossed her arms, her expression serious for once. "What bothers me is his claim about the world being an abomination. What did he mean by that?"
Reiji's eyes darkened. "I don't know, but it sounds like he knows something about this world's creation—or its destruction."
Lyra glanced at the fragments of the crystal, then back at Reiji. "We can't ignore the bigger picture, but we need to regroup first. Your Faith Points are nearly gone, and we're not ready for another fight."
"Agreed," Reiji said, pushing himself upright. "But before we leave, we should take what we can from here. There might be clues or something useful left behind."
The three split up, carefully searching the chamber. Reiji approached the remnants of the crystal, his mind racing with questions. He activated his Fateweaver talent, attempting to trace the residual energy. To his surprise, faint threads still lingered, stretching outward like veins running deeper into the earth.
"These threads," Reiji muttered. "They're leading somewhere."
Aeris noticed his focus and walked over. "Found something?"
Reiji pointed to the faint threads. "The corruption didn't start here. This was just one point of control. Whatever's behind this, it's bigger than we thought."
Lyra joined them, her fiery eyes narrowing. "Then we have no time to waste. If these threads lead to another source, we need to act before it spreads further."
Reiji hesitated. "I agree, but we need to be smart about this. We don't know how deep this corruption runs—or how strong the forces behind it are. Rushing in without a plan could get us killed."
Aeris smirked. "When did you become the cautious one?"
He shot her a playful glare. "Since I realized I'm not invincible."
Lyra extinguished her flames, signaling her readiness to leave. "We've done enough here for now. Let's return to the surface, regroup, and plan our next move."
The group made their way out of the fortress, the oppressive atmosphere gradually lifting as they ascended. When they emerged into the open air, the sight of the sky—a muted gray but free of corruption—was a welcome relief.
Reiji took a deep breath, savoring the moment. "At least we've stopped the corruption here."
"For now," Aeris reminded him, her tone cautious. "But this isn't the end."
Lyra stepped forward, her wings flickering faintly in the breeze. "No, it's not. But we've taken the first step. Whoever is behind this knows we're coming for them."
Reiji nodded, determination hardening his gaze. "Then we make sure we're ready. We've got a long road ahead."
As they began their journey back to the safe zones, Reiji's mind lingered on the shadowy figure's parting words. This isn't over, Fateweaver. The weight of the title pressed heavily on his shoulders, but he refused to falter.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, he would face them head-on—with Aeris and Lyra by his side.
End of Chapter