Chapter 13: Sands of the Forgotten
Chapter 13
The journey south to the Great Veil Desert was grueling. The once lush forests and rolling hills gave way to endless stretches of golden dunes under an unforgiving sun. The heat was oppressive, and even Nyx, with her sleek shadowfang agility, moved cautiously over the scorching sands.
Kieran adjusted his cloak, shielding his face from the searing wind. The second artifact pulsed faintly in his pack, its glow dimming the farther they went. Alina and Lyric followed close behind, their movements deliberate and careful.
"How much farther?" Alina asked, her voice hoarse.
Kieran glanced at the dragon scale, which vibrated faintly in his hands. "Not far. It's leading us… somewhere near the heart of the desert."
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As night fell, the desert transformed. The temperature plummeted, and the sand seemed to shimmer under the starlight. They pressed on until they came across a jagged outcrop of stone rising from the dunes. At its base, half-buried in sand, was the entrance to an ancient ruin.
Nyx sniffed the air, growling softly. Kieran felt her unease through their bond.
"This is it," Kieran said, brushing sand from the engraved stone archway. Strange symbols, similar to those he'd seen in the visions from the artifacts, adorned the structure.
Alina stepped beside him, tracing the symbols with her fingers. "This is ancient Guardian work. Whatever's down there, it's tied to the rifts."
The air grew colder as they descended into the ruins. The narrow passageway opened into a vast chamber illuminated by faintly glowing crystals embedded in the walls. In the center of the room was a pedestal, and atop it rested the third artifact: a jagged shard of black stone that seemed to drink in the light around it.
Kieran's heart raced as he approached. "That must be it."
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As Kieran reached for the shard, the ground trembled. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the chamber, and from the shadows emerged a massive beast. It was unlike anything Kieran had seen before—a hulking creature with obsidian-like scales and eyes that glowed a malevolent red.
The beast let out a deafening roar, and the room plunged into darkness. Kieran felt Nyx's presence beside him, her growl low and steady.
"Stay close!" he shouted, gripping the dragon scale tightly.
The battle was chaos. The beast moved through the shadows like a phantom, striking from all sides. Kieran and Nyx worked in tandem, their bond amplifying their senses. Alina and Lyric joined the fray, the wolf-beast's crystalline eyes glowing as it tracked the creature through the darkness.
Kieran channeled the energy of the artifacts, creating bursts of light that temporarily illuminated the chamber. Each flash revealed the beast's massive form and its relentless attacks.
Finally, Nyx leapt onto its back, sinking her fangs into its neck. Kieran seized the opportunity, holding the dragon scale high. A surge of energy erupted from it, enveloping the beast in blinding light.
With a final roar, the creature dissolved into shadow, leaving the room eerily silent.
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Kieran approached the pedestal cautiously, his heart pounding. When he touched the black shard, a wave of cold energy coursed through him. Visions filled his mind—images of a dark, swirling vortex consuming the rift realms.
A voice echoed in his thoughts, low and menacing: *"The shadow grows. Every step you take brings it closer to awakening."*
He stumbled back, the shard clutched tightly in his hand.
"Kieran?" Alina's voice cut through the haze. She placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "What did you see?"
Kieran shook his head, his voice trembling. "The shadow… it's connected to the artifacts. They're not just keys—they're pieces of something much bigger. And much worse."
Alina's expression hardened. "Then we need to move faster. If Malgrave gets to the next artifact before we do…"
"I know," Kieran said, his resolve hardening. He looked down at the shard in his hand. "But we also need answers. The Guardians knew about this. Maybe their records can tell us how to stop it."
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As they left the ruins, the air grew heavy. Nyx growled, her fur bristling as the shadows around them seemed to ripple unnaturally.
"We're not alone," Alina said, drawing her weapon.
From the darkness emerged a figure cloaked in black, their presence radiating malice. Malgrave stepped forward, his crimson-scaled beast at his side.
"Keeper," Malgrave said, his voice dripping with mockery. "You've been busy."
Kieran stepped in front of Nyx, his grip tightening on the dragon scale. "You're not getting this artifact."
Malgrave chuckled darkly. "Oh, I don't need to take it. You're doing all the work for me. Every artifact you gather brings us closer to what we seek."
"And what's that?" Kieran demanded.
Malgrave's eyes glinted. "The awakening of the shadow, of course. You'll see soon enough."
Before Kieran could respond, Malgrave raised his hand, and the shadows around him surged. A wave of darkness engulfed the ruins, forcing Kieran and the others to retreat. When the shadows cleared, Malgrave was gone.
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As dawn broke over the desert, Kieran felt the weight of their mission pressing down on him. Malgrave's words echoed in his mind, and the warning from the rift beast seemed more urgent than ever.
"We have to find the next artifact," he said, his voice steady. "And we need to learn more about the Guardians. There has to be a way to stop this."
Alina nodded. "Then we head to the archives. There's a hidden library in the Riftspire Mountains—if the Guardians left anything behind, it'll be there."
Kieran glanced at Nyx, her golden eyes meeting his with unwavering determination.
"Let's go," he said. Together, they set off, the third artifact in hand and the shadow looming ever closer.
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