The Eternal Tavern was a fortress of light in the endless night, its runes casting a warm glow that pushed back the chill of the mist-shrouded hill. The wreckage from the Voidborn Enforcer's attack had been cleared, thanks to Mira's efficient leadership and the patrons' surprising willingness to pitch in. Tables were righted, shattered mugs swept away, and the air once again carried the comforting scent of spiced ale and roasted herbs. But the tension lingered, a silent undercurrent beneath the laughter and clinking glasses. Elias Varn stood behind the counter, his emerald eyes scanning the crowd, his charismatic smile a mask for the storm brewing in his mind.
The summoners had escaped, their portal snapping shut before he could pursue. Their runes—marks of the Forgotten Pantheon—confirmed they were no random troublemakers. The [Enforcer's Core] now sat in his system inventory, a pulsating orb of shadow and light that felt both dangerous and valuable. The Vitality System's bonus objective—identifying the summoner—still hung over him, with less than 18 hours to spare. Failure meant losing 100 Vitality Points, a blow his dwindling lifespan couldn't afford.
Ping!
The system's chime cut through his thoughts, and a translucent screen materialized, its golden letters pulsing with a mix of urgency and promise.
Vitality System: Bonus Objective Update. Objective: Identify the Shadow Wraith's summoner within 17 hours.
Reward: +20 Vitality Points.
Penalty for Failure: -100 Vitality Points.
Current Vitality: 330/500.
New Hint: The summoner's mark resonates with the tavern's nexus.
Use the [Enforcer's Core] to amplify the tavern's runes for detection.
Elias's fingers tightened around the rag he was using to polish a goblet. The [Enforcer's Core] was a gamble—its void-tainted energy could destabilize the tavern's nexus if mishandled. But the hint was clear: the tavern's runes, tied to its role as a convergence of realms, could reveal the summoner. He'd need to access the nexus's core, a chamber beneath the Vault where the tavern's power was strongest. It was a place he'd avoided, not just for its cost in Vitality Points, but because it held truths about his curse he wasn't sure he was ready to face.
"Elias!" Kaelith's voice snapped him out of his reverie. The winged courier leaned against the counter, her black feathers glinting in the rune-light. "You're doing that brooding thing again. Spill it—what's next?"
He flashed a grin, leaning forward. "Just planning how to keep this place from turning into a void monster buffet. You got any leads from the Sky Guild?"
Kaelith's eyes narrowed, her voice low. "Word's spreading about the attack. Guild scouts reported another rift opening in the Eastern Marshes, spitting out void creatures. They're calling it a 'prelude.' Someone's testing the tavern's defenses, Elias."
He nodded, his mind racing. The Forgotten Pantheon was moving faster than he'd expected. "Keep digging," he said. "And watch Drenvar. He's too calm for someone who just saw an enforcer tear through my bar."
Kaelith glanced at the corner, where Drenvar sat, his fiery eyes fixed on a glass of untouched wine. "He's trouble," she muttered. "But I can't pin him down. No guild records, no rumors. It's like he appeared out of nowhere."
"Keep him in sight," Elias said, his tone light but firm. "I've got a date with the basement."
He slipped away, leaving Mira in charge. The halfling barmaid was already juggling orders, her cheerful banter keeping the patrons distracted. Elias descended the spiral staircase to the Vault, then moved deeper, to a hidden door carved with runes that pulsed like a heartbeat. The nexus core. He pressed his hand against it, his scars flaring, and the door opened with a groan, revealing a circular chamber bathed in blinding light.
The nexus core was a marvel—a crystalline sphere suspended in the air, swirling with colors that defied description: blues of forgotten seas, reds of dying stars, greens of ancient forests. Runes floated around it, shifting like living things. The air hummed with power, and Elias felt his curse stir, the ache in his chest sharpening. This was the heart of the Eternal Tavern, the source of its ability to connect realms—and the anchor of his curse.
He summoned the [Enforcer's Core], its shadowy orb contrasting sharply with the nexus's light. "Let's see what you can do," he muttered, channeling a thread of his power into it. The core pulsed, and the runes around the nexus flared, their light intensifying. A low hum filled the chamber, and Elias felt a pull, like a thread connecting the core to something—or someone—upstairs.
Ping!
Vitality System: [Enforcer's Core] activated. Nexus runes amplified.
Summoner's mark detected in the tavern.
Warning: Nexus stability reduced by 10%.
Cost: -15 Vitality Points.
Current Vitality: 315/500.
Follow the resonance to locate the summoner.
Elias cursed. The nexus's stability was critical—if it dropped too low, the tavern could lose its connection to the realms, stranding it in a void. He needed to move fast. He pocketed the core and raced upstairs, the resonance guiding him like a compass. The tavern was as lively as ever, but the air felt heavier, the runes flickering unevenly.
His eyes scanned the crowd. Gorran and his mercenaries were arm-wrestling, oblivious to the danger. Lirien was deep in her tome, her fingers tracing spell runes. Kaelith was chatting with Taz, who was trying to sell her a dubious amulet. Drenvar hadn't moved, his fiery eyes meeting Elias's with a knowing glint. But the resonance didn't point to him—it pointed to a figure near the back, a woman Elias hadn't noticed before.
She was unassuming, with short auburn hair and a plain gray cloak, nursing a mug of cider. But her left hand, resting on the table, bore a faint rune that pulsed in sync with the [Enforcer's Core]. The summoner's mark. Elias approached, his smile casual but his senses sharp.
"Enjoying the cider?" he asked, setting a fresh mug before her. "It's a house special—apples from the Starlit Grove."
The woman looked up, her brown eyes wary but composed. "It's good," she said, her voice soft. "Quiet place you've got here."
Elias chuckled, leaning closer. The core in his pocket burned, confirming her mark. "Quiet's relative. Name's Elias. You are?"
"Sylva," she said, her fingers tightening around her mug. "Just a traveler."
He nodded, his grin unwavering. "Travelers always have the best stories. Got one to share, Sylva?"
Before she could answer, the tavern's runes flared red again, and a crack split the air. A portal opened near the fireplace, spitting out three voidborn—smaller than the enforcer but faster, their bodies writhing with shadow tendrils. The crowd screamed, diving for cover. Elias reacted instantly, his scars blazing as he unleashed a wave of starlight that vaporized one voidborn. The other two scattered, their tendrils slashing through tables.
Ping!
Vitality System: Emergency Alert! Threat Detected: Voidborn Scouts (x2).
Abilities: Shadow Dash, Essence Siphon.
Reward: +20 Vitality Points per scout neutralized.
Penalty: -50 Vitality Points per scout not neutralized.
Current Vitality: 315/500.
Elias cursed. Sylva was the summoner, no doubt—she'd triggered the portal. But her expression was one of shock, not control. "You didn't mean to do that, did you?" he said, grabbing her arm as a voidborn lunged. He pulled her behind him, deflecting the attack with a burst of light that cost him another 5 Vitality Points.
Current Vitality: 310/500.
"I—I didn't!" Sylva stammered, her rune glowing brighter. "It's not me! The mark—it's controlling me!"
Elias's eyes narrowed. A pawn, not a mastermind. The real summoner was using her as a conduit. He spun, hurling a spear of light at one voidborn, reducing it to ash. Kaelith tackled the other, her wings shielding Taz as she drove a dagger into its core. Lirien's barrier flared, protecting the patrons, while Gorran's mercenaries joined the fray, their axes gleaming.
Drenvar stood, his hood falling to reveal a face marked with faint, glowing scars—similar to Elias's but older, fainter. "Enough games," he said, his voice resonating with power. He raised a hand, and a wave of fire erupted, incinerating the remaining voidborn. The tavern shook, the runes stabilizing.
Elias stared, his suspicions confirmed. "You're no traveler," he said, stepping toward Drenvar. "You're a keeper. Or were."
Drenvar's smile was grim. "Long ago. I left the tavern to hunt the Forgotten Pantheon. They're coming, Elias. And your curse? It's their doing."
Ping!
Vitality System: Mission Complete! Voidborn Scouts Neutralized.
Rewards: +40 Vitality Points, [Scout Essence x2].
Bonus Objective Progress: Summoner's mark traced to Sylva (conduit).
True summoner remains unidentified.
Current Vitality: 350/500.
Elias's chest tightened, not from the curse but from Drenvar's words. His curse was tied to the Pantheon? The tavern, the nexus, his life—everything was part of their game. He turned to Sylva, who was trembling, her rune fading. "Talk," he said. "Who marked you?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "A voice in my dreams. It promised power, but it lied. It's been draining me."
Elias exchanged a glance with Drenvar. "We need to talk," he said. "Privately."
As the patrons settled, Mira serving drinks to calm nerves, Elias led Drenvar and Sylva to the back room. The tavern was safe—for now—but the Forgotten Pantheon's shadow loomed larger. Elias's curse, the system, the nexus—it was all connected, and he was running out of time to unravel it.
Support the Story!
Enjoyed the twists in this chapter? Drop a quick comment or share with a friend to keep the Eternal Tavern's tale alive! Your support fuels the next chapter!