The Shattered Realm

The portal to the Shattered Realm was a jagged rift in reality, its borders sparking with raw power. Kael stood frozen at the edge, his silver eyes shadowed by guilt.

"This is where it happened," he whispered. "Where I lost everything."

Elara set her hand on his arm, and he felt herself anchor him. "We'll do this together."

They passed through the portal, and reality shifted.

The Shattered Realm was a sea of suspended rubble, its air a churning tornado of ash and lightning. Its ground was filled with the shattered remains of what had once been a civilization—tumbling structures broken statues, and the haunting sounds of laughter and screams.

With every step further into the ruins, the air became thicker with Kael's sense of guilt. Whispers flickered at the corners of their perceptions, casting judgments.

"Murderer."

"Destroyer."

"Monster."

Kael winced with each phrase, his shaking hands. Elara clutched his arm harder. "Don't believe them. They're not here."

But Kael's eyes were far away, his thoughts stuck in the past. "They're telling the truth, Elara. I did that. I destroyed them."

Elara paused, facing him. "You erred. But you're no longer that one. You have changed. You're trying to set things right."

Kael's eyes locked with hers, his filled with sadness. "What if it's not enough?"

Elara didn't have time to answer before a voice echoed from the ruins.

"Kael? Is that you?"

Alden stepped out of the darkness, his bright red hair a contrast to the barren wasteland. He was covered in ash, his armor battered, and his face a combination of relief and irritation.

"Took you long enough," he complained. "I've been trapped here for days." Elara blinked.

"Alden? Why are you here!?" said Kael in shock.

Alden folded his arms. "I might ask you the same thing. One moment, I'm running from a shadow creature, and the next moment, I'm here in this. Whatever this place is."

Kael scowled. "This place is unstable. It shouldn't even exist."

Well, it does," Alden replied, sweeping his arm toward the ruins. "And it's a nightmare. The shadows keep whispering nonsense, and the ground keeps shifting. I attempted to make a fire last night, and the wood began laughing at me."

Elara tried not to laugh. "Sounds like you've had quite the adventure."

Alden scowled at her. "It's not funny. I nearly got devoured by a. a thing."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "A thing?

"Yes, a thing!" Alden snapped. "It had too many eyes and too many teeth. And it hissed."

Elara couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds terrifying."

Alden huffed. "You'd be laughing too if you'd seen it."

As they continued through the ruins, Alden filled them in on his misadventures and Kael also told to Alden why they were there. Despite the grim surroundings, his presence brought a much-needed lightness to the group.

"So, what's the plan?" Alden asked, dodging a floating piece of debris.

We have to locate the fifth shard," Kael said. "It's in this realm somewhere."

Alden sighed. "Of course it is. Why can't these things ever be in a nice, sunny meadow?"

Elara smiled. "Where's the fun in that?"

Alden gave her a look. "You and I have very different ideas of fun."

Elara turned to Kael. "How do you two know each other, anyway?

Kael faltered, his eyes flashing to Alden. "We. Fought side by side. A long time ago."

Alden snorted. "One way to put it."

Elara arched an eyebrow. "Care to explain?"

Alden smiled. "Kael here was the big, bad guardian who didn't think he needed anyone's assistance. I was the fool who kept tagging along behind him, trying to disprove him."

Kael's lips curled in a wry smile. "You were determined, I'll give you that."

Alden's smile grew. "And you were obstinate. Do you recall the time you attempted to fight a shadow creature with your fists?"

Kael let out a sigh. "I recall you jumping in front of me and getting knocked out with one punch."

Alden shrugged. "Hey, I diverted its attention long enough for you to kill it. That's teamwork."

Elara giggled. "Sounds like you two have a history."

Kael's face softened. "Alden was one of the few who didn't view me as a god or a monster. He viewed me as… a person."

Alden's smile disappeared, replaced by unusual seriousness. "And you were one of the few who didn't view me as a madman. You viewed me as… a friend.

Elara's heart swelled at the camaraderie between them. "Well, I'm glad you're here, Alden. We could use you. unique insight."

Alden smirked. "You mean my charm and wit?"

Elara rolled her eyes. "Sure. Let's go with that."

They approached the center of the Shattered Realm, where a huge, ruined temple towered. The entrance was blocked by a shining barrier, and a voice spoke from inside.

"To pass, you have to prove yourself. Tell a joke."

Alden blinked. "A joke? Seriously?"

Kael frowned. "This… doesn't feel right."

Elara stepped forward, a mischief in her eye. "I've got this."

She cleared her throat. "Why did the shadow cross the road?"

The barrier flickered. "Why?"

"To eat the chicken!"

The barrier did not move.

Alden groaned. "That was awful."

Kael tried next. "Why did the guardian not fight?"

"Why?"

"Because he was… shielded by his honor?"

The barrier did not move.

Alden raised an eyebrow. "You two are terrible at this." He moved closer. "Why did the numbskull bring a squirrel to a fight?"

"Why?" 

"Because he thought it was a nutcracker!"

The blockade crumbled, and the group burst out laughing.

Within the temple, they discovered the fifth shard stuck into a pedestal. But as Kael went to take it, the ground shook, and the Supreme God's voice boomed within the room.

"Kael, you have to confront your past. Then you can take the shard."

The walls vanished, and Kael was hurled into a vision of his worst failure—the time he ruined the realm.

Elara stood by, unable to do anything as Kael relived his worst moment. She turned to Alden. "We need to help him."

Alden nodded. "How do we do it?"

Elara breathed deeply. "We remind him of who he is today."