The chamber doors groaned open, revealing a stone bridge stretching into the darkness.
A cold wind rushed through the passage, whispering forgotten names through the air.
Kael and Liora stepped forward cautiously, the Guardian's gaze heavy on their backs.
As Kael crossed the threshold, a strange sensation prickled his skin.
Something unseen stirred in the air—watching. Waiting.
"Kael," Liora murmured, gripping his sleeve. "Do you feel that?"
He nodded. "We're not alone."
And then—the world shifted.
---
The Silent Watchers
The air around them warped.
Stone pillars stretched endlessly into the distance, their surfaces carved with ancient runes that pulsed with golden light.
And standing between them…
Shadows.
Figures draped in tattered robes, their faces obscured by darkness.
They did not speak. They did not move.
They simply… watched.
Liora's fingers dug into Kael's arm. "What are they?"
Kael exhaled, forcing himself to remain calm. "Not enemies. Not yet."
One of the figures tilted its head.
And then—it spoke.
"Ashur… your time has come."
The shadows lunged.
---
The Dance of Blades
Kael's sword was in his hand before he could think.
Steel met shadow as the first figure struck.
The impact sent shockwaves through the air.
Kael slid backward, gritting his teeth. Fast. Too fast.
Liora raised her hands, blue sigils forming around her palms. "Stay close!"
The shadows moved as one, their forms twisting and flickering, as if they weren't fully real.
But their attacks? Lethal.
Kael ducked beneath a blade of pure darkness, countering with a sharp upward slash.
His sword passed through the figure—yet something ripped in the air, and the creature let out a silent scream.
They could be hurt.
Which meant they could be killed.
Kael's eyes burned with determination.
"Liora, cover me!"
She raised her hands, magic surging. "On it!"
And together—they fought.
---
A Trial of Fate
The battle was relentless.
The shadows struck from every angle, but Kael and Liora moved as one.
Magic and steel, fire and ice.
One by one, the figures fell.
And then—the last shadow stopped.
It stood before Kael, its head tilting once more.
And then, it spoke.
"You resist fate."
Its voice was hollow. Empty.
"But fate will not resist you."
A single black mark burned itself into Kael's wrist—a brand of unknown power.
The shadow faded.
The runes around them dimmed.
And the silence returned.
Liora panted, wiping sweat from her brow. "What… was that?"
Kael stared at the mark on his skin.
A symbol he did not recognize.
But he understood its meaning.
It was not over.
Not yet.