Chapter Five: Into the Depths

Kael peered into Aelira's steadfast eyes, her words resonating in his ears.

"Then get it to pay attention."

Her voice was an anchor—a sharp, unforgiving cord drawing him back from the edge of the abyss, even if the fire inside of him roared, a storm determined to devour. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the unrelenting pulse of the Sovereign Core. It was rhythm, a pulsing core of old power, not just heat. He didn't have to use force to control it. He had to know. The fire no longer blazed madly at Kael's fingertips when he opened his eyes. A spear of heat, it twisted and coiled in a steady, controlled flame, awaiting his order.

Aelira said, "Better," with a rare gleam of appreciation. With a hiss, the final Shadowborn charged, its empty eyes narrowing. Kael took a step forward and purposefully stuck out his hand. The creature's chest was pierced by the flame as it rushed forward. As its shape broke into smoke and dispersed into the air, it emitted an ear-splitting howl.

Kael's labored breathing was the only sound to break the silence in the room. Before he could collapse, Aelira's calm palm grabbed his arm as he stumbled, his legs trembling beneath him. "See?" she asked in a softer voice. "The goal is not to contain the power. It's about providing it with guidance.

Despite feeling as though his head weighted a thousand pounds, Kael nodded. Every muscle in his body was Exhausted from the effort, and it screamed in protest.

Aelira said, looking around the room, "We're not safe yet." "Shadowborn don't hunt by themselves. There will be more.

"More?" With a raspy voice, Kael managed.

"How many more?"

Aelira's face grew serious. "Enough that we shouldn't stay to find out."

She took him through a short passage at the far end of the apartment. The tunnel walls were sticky with wetness, the air frigid and permeated with the faint aroma of dirt. Every step hurt Kael's body as he staggered after her.

"How do you know about all of this?" Kael's voice broke the stifling hush as he questioned.

At first, Aelira didn't respond. Her stance was stiff as though she anticipated an attack at any moment, and her footsteps were deliberate yet quiet.

"I've been here before," she finally said.

"Here?" Perplexed, Kael inquired. "In this… sanctum?"

Her response was, "Not just this sanctum," "It is liked by others. The terrain is dotted with the remains of the former kingdom. Most are buried by time and forgotten. However, I, along with the Shadowborn, know how to locate them.

Kael scowled. "Why? What do they want to find?

Aelira gave him a sidelong glance, her face unreadable. "Responses. Or strength. They can be the same thing at times. As they entered a smaller, less opulent chamber than the first, her comments lingered in the air. Ancient engravings lining the walls showed images of conflict and solidarity, as well as a figure brandishing stone, flames, and lightning.

One carving in particular caught Kael's attention: a human standing in the middle of a raging storm, their hand lifted as they controlled the elements. A shudder ran down his spine as he sensed a peculiar familiarity.

"That's him," muttered Kael.

Aelira's face softened as she followed his gaze. "The Sovereign King."

Kael gave a nod. "He doesn't look afraid." According to Aelira, "that's because he wasn't," "However, even he had boundaries."

The chamber trembled with a faint rumble before Kael could react. The carvings appeared to quake as though the stone itself was afraid, and dust rained down from the ceiling. Aelira stiffened, reaching for her blades' hilts at once.

"Something's coming." Kael sensed it too, a heavy, oppressive presence pressing like a weight against his chest. With a reaction that made his head spin, the Sovereign Core sprang to life. His voice was almost audible above a whisper as he inquired, "More Shadowborn?"

Aelira grimaced as she shook her head. "Worse."

A gigantic apparition appeared out of the darkness as the ground underneath them cracked. Its eyes glowed with an odd brightness, and its body was made of stone and shadow. The sound of the beast's thunderous roar shook Kael to his very being.

"A Gloombeast," Aelira whispered, fear in her voice.

"A what?"

"It is an enforcer of the Shadowborn, they're stronger, smarter, and a lot harder to kill."

The enormous body of the Gloombeast shook the earth as it advanced. The weight of fatigue tugged at Kael as his fire flickered at his fingertips.

"I don't think I can fight that," he said.

Aelira drew her blades and stated, "You don't have a choice."

Kael had been standing there just a moment before the Gloombeast rushed, its stone fists slamming into the earth. The thing turned its blazing eyes on him, and he rolled to the side, his heart pounding.

"Keep moving!"

With a shout, Aelira ran in the direction of the beast. The beast hardly flinched when her swords struck its arm, sending a flash of sparks into the air. Raising his hand, Kael mustered the last of his remaining strength. The Gloombeast's chest was struck by a stream of flames that rushed toward it. The stone was burnt by the flames, but rather than fleeing, the creature appeared to get stronger, its dark shape expanding.

"It's feeding on your power!"

The beast struck at her, and Aelira jumped back in warning.

Kael muttered an expletive. "What do we do?" Her words, "We find its core," "Where's that?" "Inside," she said in a somber tone.

"You're going to have to get close."

"Great," Kael mumbled, wiping sweat off his brow.

The Gloombeast roared again, its gigantic fists pounding into the earth and sending shockwaves through the chamber. As Aelira darted in and out of its range, her movements a blur, Kael could hardly maintain his balance.

"You distract it," she snapped at him.

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Improvise!"

With a grunt, Kael summoned a tiny flame in his palm and obeyed. To get the creature's attention, he threw it at its face. The luminous eyes of the Gloombeast narrowed as it turned toward him.

Aelira said, "That's it," and slipped behind the beast.

As the creature lunged at him, Kael's heart raced. He ducked to the side, the Sovereign Core flaring in protest, and he pushed forward, throwing another flame.

"Now!" Kael yelled.

She jumped onto the creature's back, her blades digging into the stone armor's cracks. The Gloombeast roared in agony, flailing wildly as it attempted to shake her off. Kael grabbed the moment, calling forth all the fire he could muster.

"Hold it steady!" he yelled.

"Do it!" Aelira gritted her teeth, her blades digging deeper.

Aelira screamed, "Finish it!"

Kael concentrated, the fire in his hands condensing into a single, searing spear, and he threw it at the core with a yell. The flames pierced through, and the Gloombeast gave one last, ear-splitting roar before collapsing into a heap of smoldering stone. Kael released the fire in a concentrated burst, the flames striking the creature's chest and shattering its armor, revealing a dark, pulsating core that beat like a twisted heart.

Kael collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion.

Aelira approached, offering him a hand. "You did it," she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"We did it," he corrected, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aelira helped him to his feet, her expression turning serious. "This was just the beginning, Kael. They're only going to get stronger."

Kael met her gaze, a mixture of fear and determination in his eyes. "Then I'll get stronger too."

The faint echo of a distant roar followed them as they vanished into the darkness, a chilling reminder that the main battle was still to come. Aelira nodded, but there was something in her face that she wasn't ready to share.

"Come on," she urged. "We need to keep moving."