The wind howled through the hills beyond Aurenfall as Frank stood at the edge of the clearing, unable to shake the voice that had spoken through the artifact.
You are not ready for what comes next.
The words lingered like a shadow in his mind.
Behind him, Elara approached quietly. "You haven't said a word in ten minutes."
Frank glanced at the artifact in his hand. Its glow had dimmed, but faint silver lines still pulsed beneath its surface like a heartbeat.
"I keep feeling something," he admitted. "Like it's calling us somewhere."
Rhea's expression darkened instantly. "That's not good."
"It's not hostile," Elara said softly. "I felt it too. Almost like… a signal."
The artifact suddenly flared.
A beam of pale light shot toward the northern mountains.
For a moment, all three stared in silence.
Then Rhea muttered, "The ruins."
Frank tightened his grip. "You know that place?"
"Only the legends," Rhea replied. "Ancient vaults buried beneath the mountains. Places the first wielders used long before Caelum was born. Most believed they were destroyed."
Elara looked toward the distant peaks. "What if the artifact is trying to lead us there?"
"Or lure us," Rhea warned.
Frank's jaw hardened. "Either way, we can't ignore it."
By dawn, the group prepared to leave Aurenfall.
The townspeople watched nervously as Frank secured his weapons and Elara packed magical supplies into a leather satchel. Word of Caelum's scouts spreading through nearby territories had already reached the town.
Fear was growing.
But so was hope.
An older villager stepped forward and placed a hand on Frank's shoulder. "You fought for us when others would have fled. Whatever lies ahead… bring an end to this darkness."
Frank nodded quietly. "We'll try."
As the gates opened, the three began their journey north.
The road twisted through forests blackened by old battles. Strange symbols were carved into trees along the path—marks that glowed faintly whenever the artifact reacted.
Hours passed before Elara suddenly stopped walking.
"Wait."
The air had changed.
Cold.
Heavy.
The forest around them fell unnaturally silent.
Then came the sound of snapping branches.
Figures emerged between the trees.
Not soldiers.
Not beasts.
Shadows.
Humanoid forms cloaked in dark smoke, their hollow eyes glowing blue.
Rhea cursed under her breath. "Void remnants…"
The creatures lunged.
Frank reacted instantly, the artifact igniting in his palm as energy surged through his body. He moved faster than ever before, cutting through the first shadow with a glowing strike.
But the creature reformed.
Elara raised her hands, releasing arcs of magic that pinned two more against nearby trees.
"They regenerate!" she shouted.
"Then hit the core!" Rhea yelled.
Frank focused.
As another shadow attacked, the artifact pulsed—and suddenly he could see it.
A tiny crystal buried within the creature's chest.
He drove his blade straight through it.
The shadow shattered into ash.
"Elara! The cores!"
Understanding flashed in her eyes. Together they moved in perfect synchronization—steel and magic flowing as one.
One by one, the remnants fell.
Until silence returned.
Frank exhaled heavily, lowering his weapon.
But then the artifact pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
The ground beneath them trembled.
Ahead, hidden beyond the trees, massive stone doors slowly emerged from beneath the earth itself, ancient runes blazing across their surface.
Elara stared in awe. "The ruins…"
Rhea's face turned pale.
"No," she whispered. "That's impossible."
A deep voice echoed from the darkness beyond the doors.
"You should have stayed in Aurenfall."
Frank froze.
He recognized the voice instantly.