Echoes of the Past

The next morning crept in softly, a comfort that was unsettling, indeed. The villagers hurried about, their voices low and watchful. The memory of last night's battle was etched in the air, leaving behind tension Kael could almost taste. Standing on the brink of the forest he fixed his gaze on the faint mark made by the rift's passage. The Starforged Blade hung across his back, bathing in a faint humming as if it continued to resonate with the celestial power it had gathered.

"You're staring at it like it's going to open again, Lira said, her voice breaking through the quiet. She leaned against a nearby tree, arms crossed, her dark hair catching the morning light.

Kael shook his head. "No, not for that. But just think I haven't been able to get those images out of my mind - this creature and energy…It relates to that star. Of that I'm convinced.

Lira pushed off from the tree and walked over, her boots crunching softly on dewy grass. That is to be the case, well then this is but the start," she replied. "Rifts like that don't just appear out of nowhere. Something's causing them. Something big.

Kael nodded, his jaw tight. "The system's already hinted at more rifts. If they're attached to the star, however, I have to unravel them. And if the Order of the Veil is involved…"

"They'll come after you," Lira finished. Her gaze softened slightly. "Which means we'd better be ready."

Kael looked at her, taken aback by the "we." It was the first time she'd said anything close to being part of his struggle. He smiled slightly, a politely appreciative gesture, but primarily. "Thanks, Lira."

She waved a hand dismissively. "Don't thank me yet. Let's survive the next disaster first."

At mid-day Kael and Lira had come to the edge of a village, next to an ancient temple silent in the midst of the foliage. The cracked stone walls had moss growing on them; the air within was cool, damp. That was where knowledge had once lived, Lira said-an archive that might still hold some hint about the star and its connection to the rifts.

"I hope you know what we're looking for," Lira said as they stepped inside. The faint light from outside barely penetrated the temple's interior, casting long shadows across the walls.

"Anything that mentions celestial phenomena, stars, or…" Kael hesitated. "Rifts."

Lira snorted. "Right. Just a small task, then."

The two started to search, their steps gently sounding in the vast emptiness of the room. Crumbling scrolls and dusty tomes filled the shelves. Most of the scrolls and tomes crumbled apart at even the slightest touch. Kael read the pages with crumbling writing, a sense of frustration growing until he could no longer understand the old vocabulary.

"System," he whispered. "Can you help me out with this?"

[Answer: Initiating language translation. Stand by.]

A translucent overlay materialized in Kael's vision, the illegible text shifting and rearranging itself into something comprehensible. His heart sprang with delight when understanding began to emerge.

"Got something?" Lira asked, noticing his sudden focus.

Kael nodded. "Maybe. Celestial fissures" and "the Veil of Worlds" are referred to. …and it says it's just a bunch of leftovers from a big war… a war between the "Starborne" and the "Fallen Ones".

Lira raised an eyebrow. "Starborne? Fallen Ones? All this sounds like the legend people tell scary stories to their kids."

"Maybe," Kael said, "but the description matches what we saw last night. The rift, the beast…" He stopped, his eyes dropping to a drawing of a pulsating scar in the ground, looking suspiciously like the one he'd found in the clearing.

 "And this," he continued, pointing at the picture. That they act like dimensional portals, and that the energy they release can." He drew [his] breath, lowering the volume of [his] voice. "Taint those who approach it."

Lira furrowed her brow. "Taint how?"

Kael did not get to answer because the computer spoke up.

[Alert: Anomalous energy source detected at a distance of 500 meters west. Danger level: Mid-level.]

Kael and Lira exchanged a glance. "Looks like we've got company, Lira said, drawing her dagger.

Kael rose, gripping the Starforged Blade. "Let's move."

The two went through the forest quickly, taking the guidance of the system. Getting closer to the region of the artifact, the air cooled, and a strange quiet settled down over the site. Trees surrounding them appeared to die, with leaves turned to a lifeless black.

"This doesn't feel right," Lira muttered, her voice tense.

Kael nodded, his grip tightening on the blade. "Stay sharp."

They stepped into another clearing, this one dominated by a massive black crystal jutting from the ground. The crystal throbbed with dark energy, its surface fringed with jagged fissures from which a blood red mist oozed. About it stood a number of shrouded figures, wearing ragged cloaks and being masked by hoods.

"The Order," Kael whispered.

A robed figure turned toward them, its voice a deep, empty sound. "You shouldn't have come here."

Kael took a step closer and the Starforged Blade blazed even hotter in response to the crystal's power. "What is this? What are you doing?"

The figure chuckled darkly. "This is the beginning," it said. "The Veil weakens, and soon the Starborne will fall. Your power means nothing."

Kael did not wait for the figure to complete. He drove forward, his blade cutting through the air. The figure held up a hand and erected a dark-energy screen between them. The impact rained shockwaves outward, pushing Kael backward.

Lira darted off to the side; her dagger flashed in her hand as she targeted another figure. Her hit was true; her opponent crumbled into a heap of blackened ash.

"They're not invincible," she shouted. "Keep pushing!"

Kael ground his teeth together, the voice of the system guiding his motions.

[Target barrier destabilized. Strike now.]

 With a boom, Kael threw the Starforged Blade in a wide arc. The wall broke, and the apparition screamed like a demon with a savage cry as the sword cut through it. The remaining figures began to retreat toward the crystal, their forms flickering like dying embers.

"They're trying to escape," Lira said.

Kael raised the blade, its glow intensifying. "Not this time. He slashed through the air, sending a wave of celestial energy hurtling toward the crystal. The effect was explosive, which destroyed the crystal and dispersed the shards in all directions. The cloaked figures disintegrated; their forms consumed by the crystal's collapse.

As the dust settled, Kael and Lira stood in the clearing, their breaths heavy. The unnatural cold began to fade, replaced by the faint warmth of the afternoon sun.

"That was… something," Lira said, sheathing her dagger.

Kael shook his head and stared at the point where the crystal had been. "We're getting closer to something big. I can feel it."

"Let's hope we're ready when it comes," Lira replied.

Kael could not help but agree. Whatever lay ahead, it was only growing more dangerous. But with each battle, he felt himself getting stronger—and closer to uncovering the truth behind the star.