Echoes of the Forgotten

The moon hung high over Vorthas, casting a pale glow over the city's crumbling streets. Kael moved through the alleys with practiced ease, his steps quick but deliberate. The map Silva had given him was tucked into his satchel alongside the Void Stone, its faint glow pulsing like a second heartbeat.

Tonight's destination was a place marked in red ink—a ruined district near the city's edge, where whispers of strange occurrences had reached Silva's ears. People spoke of shadows that moved without light, of whispers in the wind that carried no source.

Kael wasn't sure what he'd find there, but he couldn't ignore the Codex's pull.

The ruins of the district were eerily quiet, the usual sounds of the slums replaced by a heavy stillness. The buildings here were little more than skeletons, their walls crumbling and their roofs caved in. Weeds and vines had taken over, their dark tendrils creeping through cracks in the stone.

Kael's hand rested on the hilt of his dagger as he moved cautiously through the rubble. The Codex stirred within him, its presence cold and insistent.

"Why here?" he wondered, his eyes scanning the shadows. "What does it want me to find?"

As Kael ventured deeper into the ruins, he began to notice strange markings on the walls. They were similar to the symbols he'd seen during the Trial of the Abyss—jagged and angular, their edges sharp and uneven.

The markings glowed faintly in the moonlight, their light pulsating in a rhythm that matched the Void Stone's.

Kael reached out to touch one of the symbols, but the Codex pulsed sharply in his chest, a warning that made him pull back.

"Alright," he muttered. "No touching."

The path led Kael to the remnants of an old cathedral. Its spire had long since collapsed, and its stained-glass windows were shattered, but the structure still exuded a sense of foreboding.

The Codex surged within him, urging him forward. Kael's grip on his dagger tightened as he stepped through the broken doors.

Inside, the air was heavy, the silence oppressive. Moonlight filtered through the broken roof, casting beams of light that seemed to dance on the dust-filled air.

At the center of the cathedral was a stone altar, its surface etched with more of the glowing symbols.

Kael approached cautiously, his heart pounding.

As he neared the altar, the shadows around him began to shift. They coiled and twisted, forming shapes that flickered at the edges of his vision.

Kael froze, his dagger at the ready.

"I know you're here," he said, his voice steady despite the unease creeping over him. "Show yourself."

The shadows gathered near the altar, coalescing into a humanoid form. Its glowing eyes fixed on Kael, unblinking and cold.

"You have come," it said, its voice low and resonant. "The Codex has brought you here to claim what was forgotten."

Kael's jaw tightened. "What do you mean, forgotten?"

The figure tilted its head, its movements slow and deliberate. "The Codex's power is vast, but it is incomplete. Fragments of its essence lie scattered, waiting to be reclaimed. This is one such fragment."

Kael's gaze shifted to the altar. "And what happens if I claim it?"

The figure's voice darkened. "You will gain strength, but strength comes with a price. The Codex demands much of its chosen."

Kael's fists clenched. "What kind of price?"

The figure didn't answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and the air around Kael grew colder.

"The choice is yours," it said. "But know this: to wield the Codex's power is to embrace the shadow. There is no turning back."

Kael's thoughts raced as he stared at the altar. The Codex had already taken so much from him—his peace, his sense of control, his certainty about who he was. Could he afford to give it more?

But he thought of Lira, of Silva, of the life he was trying to protect. If claiming this fragment meant gaining the strength to survive the trials, to protect the people he cared about, then he couldn't walk away.

"I don't have a choice," he muttered.

Kael stepped forward, his hand reaching for the altar. The moment his fingers brushed the surface, a surge of cold energy shot through him.

The world around Kael dissolved into darkness.

He found himself standing in a vast, featureless expanse, the air heavy and cold. Whispers filled the void, a thousand voices murmuring in a language he couldn't understand.

The Codex surged within him, its presence overwhelming. Kael dropped to his knees, his hands clutching his chest as the whispers grew louder.

"What is this?" he gasped.

The shadowy figure appeared before him, its glowing eyes piercing.

"This is the fragment's memory," it said. "To claim it, you must endure its burden. Only then will its power be yours."

The whispers grew louder, coalescing into a single voice—deep, guttural, and filled with malice.

"You seek power," the voice said. "But power is not given freely. It must be earned. It must be taken."

The ground beneath Kael's feet trembled, and the darkness around him began to shift. Shapes emerged—twisted, monstrous forms with glowing eyes and jagged limbs.

Kael's heart pounded as the creatures advanced, their movements slow but deliberate.

"You must fight," the shadowy figure said. "Prove your worth, or be consumed."

Kael drew his dagger, his grip tightening. The Codex surged within him, cold and relentless, as the creatures lunged.

The first one came at him with claws extended, its guttural snarl echoing through the void. Kael ducked beneath its swing, driving his dagger into its side. Black ichor spilled from the wound, but the creature didn't falter.

The shadows at Kael's feet twisted and coiled, lashing out like living weapons. They wrapped around the creature's limbs, yanking it back. Kael didn't hesitate, plunging his dagger into its chest.

The battle raged on, each victory hard-fought. The creatures were relentless, their movements erratic and unpredictable. Kael's body burned with exhaustion, but the Codex's power pushed him forward, amplifying his strength and speed.

With each strike, Kael felt the shadows pulling at him, whispering promises of power.

"Take more," they hissed. "Let us in."

Kael gritted his teeth, forcing the whispers aside. "I'm in control," he muttered. "Not you."

Finally, with one last, desperate strike, Kael drove his dagger into the final creature. It let out a guttural cry before dissolving into smoke.

The void fell silent, the oppressive weight lifting.

The shadowy figure stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on Kael.

"You have claimed the fragment," it said. "But the Codex's demands are far from over."

Kael's chest heaved as he forced himself to stand. "What else does it want?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

The figure tilted its head. "You will see in time."

The darkness around Kael dissolved, and he found himself back in the cathedral. The Void Stone in his satchel pulsed brightly, its glow stronger than before.

Kael stared at the altar, his body trembling. The Codex was silent now, but its presence was stronger than ever, a constant weight pressing against his soul.

"How much more will you take from me?" he whispered.

The shadows around him twisted, their movements slow and deliberate.

And in the silence, the Codex whispered back.