DESTINY
The sunrise painted the horizon in shades of orange and gold as the group prepared to resume their journey. The air was cool, yet heavy with the tension that had lingered ever since the incident with the fragment. Zyrion sat on a rock, studying his map though his mind was clearly elsewhere. Caelithra watched him from a distance, her expression cold, though her eyes analyzed him with unusual intensity.
Kyrahna broke the silence while tightening the straps of her backpack. "Does anyone else feel like this forest is too quiet? As if the trees were watching us or something."
Karion, sitting beside a campfire that was already fading, looked up with a mischievous grin. "Maybe the trees are simply impressed by how amazing I am. Can't blame them."
"Yeah, sure," Kyrahna replied with a sarcastic laugh. "Or maybe they're deciding whether you'd be worth eating first if they came to life."
"What can I say? Even trees have good taste." Karion winked as he stood up and brushed ashes off his clothes.
Zyrion closed the map with a sigh. "We can joke later. We need to move before the fog completely covers the path to the Valley of Athra. It's our only safe route."
Caelithra frowned. "And how are you so sure it's safe? Ever since we found that fragment, we haven't had a single moment of peace. This all feels too convenient."
Zyrion looked at her directly, his expression serious. "I don't know, Caelithra. I just know we have to keep moving. If you have a better idea, say it now."
"What if we stop playing with fragments we don't understand and avoid attracting more trouble?" she shot back sharply.
Before Zyrion could respond, Kyrahna stepped between them, raising her hands in peace. "Alright, calm down. We're all tense, but fighting each other won't help. We need to stay united."
Karion nodded, though his usual grin had faded. "Kyrahna's right. Besides, if something goes wrong we can always blame Zyrion. It's practically tradition in this group, right?"
"Thanks for the support, Karion," Zyrion said sarcastically, though a faint smile appeared on his lips.
The group advanced in silence as they entered the Valley of Athra. The giant trees rose like sentinels on both sides of the narrow path, and a thin mist began to envelop them. The birdsong had vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Suddenly, Zyrion stopped abruptly and raised a hand, signaling the others to halt. "Did you hear that?"
Caelithra stepped forward, hand on her sword's hilt. "I didn't hear anything. What was it?"
"That's the problem," Zyrion whispered. "There's no sound at all. Not even the wind."
Karion, clearly uncomfortable, tried to lighten the mood. "Maybe nature decided to take a break too. Even forests need vacations."
Kyrahna drew her bow, pulling the string taut. "Something's wrong. Stay alert."
Before anyone could respond, a dark figure emerged from between the trees. Tall, cloaked in black that seemed to move as if alive. His eyes glowed with a golden flicker, and a strange mark covered one side of his face.
"Well, well," the figure said with a deep, mocking voice. "What do we have here? A group of lost adventurers playing with forces they don't understand."
Zyrion stepped forward, stance firm. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The stranger smiled, revealing unnaturally white teeth. "Let's just say I'm someone interested in the fragment you carry. Sorry, boy, but that power doesn't belong to you."
Caelithra unsheathed her sword and stepped in front of Zyrion. "If you want the fragment, you'll have to go through our dead bodies."
"That can be arranged," the dark man replied, raising a hand. A wave of black energy surged toward them, shaking the ground.
"Watch out!" Kyrahna shouted, firing an arrow that was absorbed by the energy before it reached him.
Karion rolled to the side, daggers drawn. "Alright, now things are getting exciting. Anyone got a plan?"
Zyrion closed his eyes briefly, recalling the feeling of the fragment in his hands. When he opened them, his gaze was firm. "Just one. Keep him busy."
"Great plan, boss," Karion said, dodging another attack. "Very specific."
Caelithra charged at the enemy, her sword glowing with a blue radiance. "Kyrahna, cover me!"
"On it," Kyrahna replied, firing an arrow that forced the enemy to step back. "Zyrion, do what you have to do. Fast!"
Zyrion pulled the fragment from his pocket, feeling its energy vibrate in his hand. For a moment he hesitated, but then he remembered Quindarión's words: Always trust your instinct. It will do what's right.
The stranger laughed when he saw the fragment. "You think you can control it? You don't even understand what you're holding!"
"Maybe not," Zyrion said, gripping the fragment with both hands. "But I know I'm not letting it fall into your hands."
The fragment's energy enveloped him, creating a white glow that illuminated the entire valley. The enemy stepped back, shielding his eyes.
"This is not over," he said before vanishing into a cloud of black smoke.
When the glow faded, Zyrion collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily. Caelithra ran to him, kneeling beside him.
"Are you alright?" she asked, her tone concerned though she tried to hide it.
Zyrion nodded weakly. "I'm fine… just a bit drained."
Karion approached, shaking his head. "Well, that was intense. Anyone else feel like we need a vacation after this?"
Kyrahna helped Zyrion stand while Caelithra watched him with a mix of frustration and concern.
"This isn't a game, Zyrion," she said quietly. "If you keep this up, you're going to get yourself killed."
"Maybe," he replied, meeting her gaze. "But if it means protecting you all… and this world… then it's worth it."
Caelithra looked away without responding.
From the forest's shadows, golden eyes watched them. A voice whispered in the darkness:
"The fragment has chosen. But its bearer does not yet understand the price he must pay."
The group fell silent once the stranger was gone. The tension in the air still buzzed, as though the fragment's power lingered in their bodies. Zyrion leaned on Kyrahna, struggling to catch his breath.
"This can't go on," Caelithra said, breaking the silence. "We can't just pick up fragments and expect trouble not to follow. That man knew exactly what you're carrying, Zyrion. And he won't be the last."
"And what do you suggest?" Zyrion asked as he forced himself upright. "Throw the fragment away and run like a coward? You know we can't do that."
"What I suggest," Caelithra said sharply, "is that you stop acting like you know what you're doing. Because clearly, you don't."
Karion raised his hands, stepping between them. "Alright, alright. Before you two start killing each other, let's remember we just survived a lunatic with shadow powers. We can celebrate a little. No? Nobody? Just me?"
"Karion," Kyrahna said with exasperation, "this isn't a joke. That man knew exactly what he wanted. And if he found us here… it means we're not safe anywhere."
Zyrion ran a hand through his hair, exhausted. "I know this is dangerous. But we can't ignore what we found. This fragment… it's not like the others. I felt it. Something about it connects to everything that's happening."
"And what exactly did you feel?" Caelithra asked, arms crossed. There was skepticism in her tone, but curiosity in her eyes.
Zyrion took a moment before speaking. "I'm not sure. It felt like something inside me woke up. As if the fragment had been waiting for me. And when I touched it, I saw something. I don't know what it was, but… it felt important."
"You saw something?" Kyrahna asked, leaning in. "What did you see?"
"Images. Places I don't recognize. Voices I couldn't understand. And… a dragon." Zyrion hesitated, then looked at the group. "A massive dragon, surrounded by fire and light. It spoke to me, but I can't remember what it said."
Caelithra went silent, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she spoke in a softer tone. "If that's true, then this fragment is far more dangerous than we thought. Not just for us. If someone like that dark man gets it… I don't want to imagine what he could do."
Karion placed a hand on Zyrion's shoulder. "Well, boss, sounds like you've got even more reason not to die. So, what now? Where do we go?"
After walking for hours, the group found a clearing surrounded by tall trees and soft grass. They camped there, though none of them seemed truly at ease. While Kyrahna and Karion worked on the fire, Caelithra approached Zyrion, who sat alone, staring at the fragment.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her tone more curious now than critical.
Zyrion looked up. "Trying to understand it. This fragment… doesn't feel like an object. It feels alive."
Caelithra sat in front of him, studying him closely. "And do you think you can control it?"
"I don't know," Zyrion admitted. "But I can't ignore it. I feel like it's part of something bigger. Something we need to uncover."
Caelithra looked at him for a long moment before speaking. "I don't think you're a perfect leader, Zyrion. But you're brave, and that counts for something. Just don't forget you're not alone in this. You don't have to carry everything on your own."
Zyrion gave a faint smile. "Thanks, Caelithra. Though I still think you enjoy scolding me a bit too much."
"Maybe," she replied with a small smile before standing and returning to the fire.
Later that night, while everyone rested, Quindarión stepped out from the forest shadows, moving with his usual smooth grace. His sudden presence startled the group, but Zyrion was the first to stand.
"Quindarión," Zyrion said with relief. "I thought you'd left."
"I did, for a time," Quindarión replied, his voice calm. "But I couldn't leave without making sure you were all safe. After all, you now hold something that could change the world's fate."
Caelithra frowned. "What do you know about the fragment we found?"
Quindarión looked at Zyrion, face turning serious. "I know it's more than it appears. And its power must not be underestimated. Zyrion, you must be careful. This fragment could be your salvation… or your downfall."
Kyrahna crossed her arms. "And what are we supposed to do with that? Just trust that Zyrion won't mess everything up?"
"In part, yes," Quindarión said with a faint smile. Then his tone darkened as he looked at Kyrahna and Caelithra. "But it will also depend on you. Zyrion may be at the center of all this, but you two are his anchor. Without you, he could be lost."
"Lost?" Caelithra asked, her voice cold but curious. "What do you mean?"
Quindarión paused, carefully choosing his words. "What Zyrion carries is a weight few could bear. And that weight will grow. There will be moments when he falters, when he falls. That is when you must be there to lift him. Because if he falls… we all fall."
The seriousness in his voice silenced the entire group. Finally, Quindarión stepped back, his smile returning. "But don't worry too much. You still have time. For now, take care of one another. And Zyrion… don't forget what I told you."
"What did you tell me?" Zyrion asked, confused.
Quindarión smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he faded into the darkness, leaving the group with more questions than answers.
TO BE CONTINUED…