Chapter 225: Shadows and Consequences

Talen sat on the edge of the stone outcrop, his legs dangling over the precipice. The cool evening air brushed against his skin, stirring his dark hair. Below him, the valley stretched out in eerie silence. The ground where the Void had fallen was scorched and cracked, but no trace of its presence remained.

Beside him, Erynn sat with her back against the rock, her legs stretched out before her. A faint bruise shadowed her jawline, a reminder of the Void's grip. Her dark eyes were fixed on the horizon, her expression calm but distant.

"You should rest," Talen said softly.

Erynn's lips curled into a smirk. "Funny. That's what I was going to say to you."

Talen shook his head. His gaze fell toward the ground. "I still feel it… the darkness."

"Because it's not gone," Erynn replied. "Not completely."

Talen's jaw tightened. "It's quiet now. But it's still there."

Erynn leaned toward him, resting her hand lightly on his arm. "Then we'll deal with it. Together."

Talen's shoulders relaxed under her touch. He glanced at her hand and then up at her face. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the weight of everything they had been through seemed to fade.

Solen's voice broke the silence. "Hate to interrupt the moment…"

Talen and Erynn both turned to see Solen climbing up the ridge. His bow was slung over his shoulder, and his dark green cloak was coated in dust. He pushed back his golden hair and gave them a crooked smile.

"You two lovebirds can flirt later," he said, raising an eyebrow. "We've got company."

Talen stood, his expression sharpening. "Who?"

Solen gestured toward the trail leading up from the valley. A group of figures in dark cloaks was moving toward them. The emblem of the Silver Guard was etched onto their breastplates.

"Looks official," Solen said. "But I don't think they're here to congratulate us."

Erynn rose to her feet, sliding a dagger from her sleeve. "Great. Just when things were getting quiet."

Talen's eyes narrowed as the figures approached. At the front of the group was a tall woman with silver hair, her features sharp and severe. A long sword hung at her side, and her armor gleamed even under the dim light.

She stopped a few feet away from them, her gaze cold and calculating.

"Talen of House Kael," she said formally.

Talen stiffened. "Who's asking?"

The woman's eyes darkened. "Lady Alara of the Silver Guard."

"Of course," Solen muttered. "This just keeps getting better."

Lady Alara's gaze swept over them. "We've been tracking the disturbance. Reports of corrupted energy spreading from this valley reached the capital." Her eyes fixed on Talen. "You were at the center of it."

Talen crossed his arms. "We stopped it."

Alara's eyes flashed. "Did you?"

Talen's gaze sharpened. "If we hadn't, you wouldn't be standing here right now."

Alara stepped closer, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "We don't know what you did or how. But you radiate the same energy we've been sensing."

Erynn's daggers gleamed in the moonlight. "Are you accusing him of something?"

Alara's gaze never left Talen. "We're not accusing. We're investigating."

Talen's chest tightened. He could feel the shadow stirring inside him, a remnant of the Void's influence. The relic at his side pulsed faintly with a mix of light and darkness.

"You don't understand what happened here," Talen said.

Alara's hand tightened on her sword. "Then explain it to us."

Talen took a breath. "The Void was bound to the Heart. When we destroyed the Heart's corruption, we freed the Void. But it's gone now."

Alara's eyes narrowed. "Gone?"

Talen hesitated. He could still feel it—somewhere, deep inside. The lingering trace of the Void's essence.

"Mostly," he said.

Alara's jaw tightened. "That's not an answer."

Solen stepped forward. "Look, Lady Alara, we just saved your kingdom from a corruption that none of your knights could handle. So maybe a little gratitude is in order."

Alara's eyes flashed toward Solen. "This corruption cost the kingdom dearly. If it resurfaces, it won't be gratitude that follows."

Talen stepped between them. "It won't resurface."

Alara's gaze lingered on him for a long moment. Finally, she took a step back.

"For your sake, I hope you're right."

She turned toward her guards. "Take them into custody."

Talen's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Alara's tone was sharp. "Until we determine the truth of what happened here, you're coming with us."

Erynn's daggers flashed into her hands. "Like hell."

The guards raised their swords.

Talen's hand instinctively went to the relic. A pulse of dark energy rippled through his arm, and the guards staggered backward.

Alara's eyes narrowed. "Control yourself, Kael."

Talen took a shaky breath. He felt Erynn and Solen tense beside him, ready to fight.

"We're not prisoners," Talen said coldly.

Alara's gaze darkened. "Then prove it."

Before anyone could act, a sudden ripple of energy shot through the air. The ground beneath their feet trembled.

Talen's heart raced. "That's—"

A dark fissure opened in the sky above the valley. Black smoke poured from it, twisting unnaturally. From the rift, a low growl echoed through the air.

Alara's eyes widened. "What is that?"

Talen's expression darkened. "The Void."

Suddenly, dark tendrils shot from the fissure, striking the ground with explosive force. The guards were thrown backward. Alara drew her sword, her expression fierce.

Talen raised the relic. Light flared around it, pushing back the dark energy.

Erynn's daggers gleamed as she leapt into action, cutting through the tendrils with sharp, precise strikes.

Solen fired a volley of arrows toward the rift. The arrows struck the dark mass, but it only twisted and grew larger.

"This isn't supposed to be happening!" Talen shouted.

Alara's eyes were fierce. "You said you destroyed it!"

"I did!"

The rift pulsed, and a dark figure emerged from within—a massive form of shadow and smoke with burning red eyes.

Talen's breath hitched. "No…"

The figure's voice rumbled through the valley. "You freed me… Now I am whole."

Talen's grip on the relic tightened. The light and darkness swirled around him. He could feel the Void's pull, deeper and stronger than before.

"We need to seal the rift!" Talen shouted.

"How?" Erynn called.

"I don't know!"

The figure's eyes blazed. "You cannot stop what's already begun."

Talen's eyes burned as the relic pulsed in his hand. Light and darkness converged within him. His heart pounded.

"We end this," he said.

He raised the relic toward the rift. Light erupted from his hand, clashing with the shadow. The force of it sent a shockwave through the valley.

The figure screamed as the light burned through it.

Talen's body trembled. His vision blurred. He pushed harder.

The rift began to close—slowly, painfully.

"You cannot hold it!" the Void's voice echoed.

Talen's eyes flashed with determination. "Watch me."

Light and darkness exploded together—

The rift closed.

Talen collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.

Erynn knelt beside him. "Talen?"

He opened his eyes.

"It's… done," he whispered.

Alara's gaze softened. "Maybe you're not the threat after all."

Talen smiled weakly. "Told you."