Varren’s Hollow

The path to Varren's Hollow stretched long and winding, cutting through snow dusted forests and crumbling ruins that whispered of forgotten battles. By the time Eryndor and Kaelith reached the edge of the hollow, night had begun to fall, casting long shadows across the jagged landscape.

The ruins of Varren's Hollow loomed ahead massive stone pillars jutting from the ground like the ribcage of some ancient beast. Cracks ran deep along the stone, and faint, flickering runes glowed beneath the frost.

Kaelith exhaled, tightening the scarf around her neck. "You sure this is the place? It looks like it's been abandoned for centuries."

Eryndor's cursed arm burned faintly, the fire pulsing in rhythm with the relics. "It's here. The first veil was woven beneath this hollow. If there are answers, we'll find them inside."

Kaelith arched a brow. "Right. Because walking into dark ruins full of ancient magic has worked out so well for us so far."

Eryndor smirked. "We're still alive, aren't we?"

Kaelith sighed dramatically. "Barely."

They pressed forward, stepping beneath the towering arches of stone. The air grew colder the deeper they went, as if the very walls of Varren's Hollow were holding their breath.

At the heart of the hollow, a large stone platform rose from the ground, encircled by shattered pillars. In the center of the platform lay a circular seal, its surface engraved with runes identical to those on Eryndor's cursed arm.

Kaelith knelt beside the seal, brushing snow away to reveal more of the markings. "This looks like the same kind of magic binding the relics."

Eryndor approached, placing his hand against the seal. The moment his palm touched the stone, his cursed arm flared bright and hot.

Kaelith jumped back. "Whoa! You didn't say it would do that."

Eryndor didn't move, his eyes narrowing as the fire in his veins synchronized with the runes beneath his hand. For a brief moment, the world shifted.

He saw flashes visions of Varren's Hollow as it once was. A great hall, filled with figures cloaked in light and shadow. At the heart of it stood the dragon, bound by chains of blue fire, its eyes burning with fury.

Then, a voice echoed through the hollow.

"The veil was not forged to contain the dragon alone."

Eryndor's eyes snapped open, his breath sharp.

Kaelith stared at him, dagger half-drawn. "What just happened?"

Eryndor stepped back from the seal, his arm still glowing faintly. "I saw it. The veil wasn't just to bind the dragon… it was built to hold something else."

Kaelith frowned. "Something worse?"

Before Eryndor could respond, the seal beneath them began to crack.

A low, resonant hum filled the air as the runes across the platform pulsed violently. The shadows along the walls began to move.

Kaelith tightened her grip on her dagger. "Tell me that's just a magical light show."

Eryndor drew his sword, the blade igniting with blue fire. "It's not."

From the fissures in the stone, dark figures emerged. Their forms were tall, wrapped in cloaks of shifting shadow, but unlike the wardens they had faced before, these creatures bore no faces just empty voids where eyes should have been.

Kaelith's breath hitched. "I hate this place."

The shadows advanced slowly, their movements fluid and unnatural. One of them extended a long, clawed hand, pointing toward the relics in Eryndor's pack.

"The relics call to us. Surrender them."

Eryndor lifted his sword, the fire blazing brighter. "I don't think so."

The lead shadow tilted its head. "You cannot stop what lies beyond the veil. It stirs even now… and when it wakes, there will be no sealing it away."

Kaelith's eyes narrowed. "I'm getting real tired of ancient doomsday speeches."

Without warning, the shadows lunged.

Kaelith darted to the side, slashing at the nearest figure. Her dagger passed through the shadow's chest, but the creature barely flinched, striking back with unnatural speed.

Eryndor met the second shadow head-on, his cursed arm flaring violently as his sword clashed with the figure's outstretched claws. Sparks scattered as blue flames surged along the blade, pushing the shadow back.

Kaelith ducked beneath a wild swing, her blade cutting through another shadow's legs. "Eryndor! There's too many of them!"

Eryndor's gaze snapped to the relics at his side. They were drawn to the relics bound to them somehow.

"We need to sever their connection!" he shouted.

Kaelith glanced at the seal beneath their feet. "How?"

Eryndor knelt, slamming his cursed hand against the stone. The flames along his arm spread outward, igniting the runes on the platform.

The shadows recoiled, hissing as the blue fire burned through the cracks.

Kaelith shielded her eyes as the chamber filled with light. "Is it working?"

Eryndor grit his teeth, pouring more of his cursed fire into the seal. The shadows writhed, their forms unraveling into wisps of smoke.

Finally, with a deafening snap, the last shadow vanished.

The chamber fell silent once more.

Kaelith slumped against a pillar, exhaling heavily. "That was too close."

Eryndor stood slowly, his cursed arm still flickering faintly. "They weren't just protecting the relics. They were guarding whatever lies beneath the veil."

Kaelith sheathed her dagger, wiping sweat from her brow. "Great. So we're not just dealing with a dragon. We're dealing with something worse. Fantastic."

Eryndor glanced at the cracked seal. The flames had faded, but the carvings beneath the stone glowed faintly—markings he hadn't noticed before.

At the center of the seal, an eye was carved into the stone… but it was different. Scarred.

Eryndor's eyes darkened. "We're running out of time."

Kaelith nodded, tightening the strap of her pack. "Then let's move. Whatever's beneath that veil… I'd rather not wait for it to come to us."

As they left Varren's Hollow behind, the wind carried the faint whisper of a voice the same voice that had spoken to Eryndor at the altar.

"The dragon is but one head of the beast. When the other awakens… the fire will not hold it."