[A Stranger’s Warning]

The night air was thick with silence. The stranger stood before us, his scarred face partly hidden by the shadows of the trees. His presence felt heavy, as if he carried something far more dangerous than just a weapon.

Lyra kept her hand on her sword, her body tense. I could tell she didn't trust him. I didn't either. But he knew about the Abyssal Crystal, and that meant we had to listen.

"What do you know?" I asked, my voice steady.

The man's sharp eyes studied me before he spoke. "The crystal's power is not meant to be wielded by humans," he said. "It is ancient, older than the world itself. And those who seek it… they are already coming for you."

My grip on my sword tightened. I had expected this. Ever since I had bonded with the crystal, I knew I wasn't the only one aware of its power. But hearing it spoken aloud made the threat feel real.

Lyra narrowed her eyes. "Who is coming?"

The stranger sighed, as if carrying the weight of his own knowledge. "There are many. But the most dangerous of them… is the Order of the Hollow Sun."

I exchanged a glance with Lyra. I had never heard of this group before, but from the way the stranger said their name, it was clear they were dangerous.

"They worship the abyss," he continued, voice low. "They believe that the world must be reset, erased of all weakness. And to do that, they need the crystal. They will stop at nothing to take it."

I clenched my fists. "Then they'll have to try."

The stranger gave a small, humorless chuckle. "You speak like someone who does not understand what they face. They do not fight with swords or magic alone. They control minds. They corrupt souls. And if you are not careful… they will turn you into one of them."

A cold feeling ran down my spine. Mind control? Corruption? That was worse than anything I had expected.

"How do you know all this?" Lyra asked.

The man hesitated. "Because I was once one of them."

The silence that followed was heavier than before. Lyra's hand gripped her sword so tightly her knuckles turned white.

I took a step forward. "You left?"

He nodded. "A long time ago. I learned the truth about what they do. They don't just seek power. They destroy everything in their way. And now, they will hunt you, just as they hunted me."

I exhaled slowly, trying to process everything. The Order of the Hollow Sun was dangerous, and they were after me. But there was something else bothering me.

"You said the crystal wasn't meant for humans," I said. "But I've already bonded with it."

The stranger studied me again. "Yes. And that is what makes you dangerous. You are different from the others who have tried. The crystal… has chosen you. But that does not mean you control it."

I thought back to the times I had used its power. The way it surged through me, wild and unstable. The moments where it felt like I might lose control.

"Then how do I control it?" I asked.

The man shook his head. "You don't. Not yet. And if you keep pushing yourself without understanding its true nature… it will consume you."

Lyra let out a frustrated sigh. "Enough riddles. If you're really here to help, then tell us what we need to do."

The man's gaze shifted toward her, as if measuring her worth. Then, finally, he spoke.

"There is a place, deep in the western mountains. An ancient ruin, built by those who first studied the abyss. If you wish to understand the crystal's power… that is where you must go."

A location. A goal. It wasn't much, but it was something.

"And what happens when we get there?" I asked.

"That will depend on you," he said simply.

I sighed. It was never easy.

Lyra crossed her arms. "And why should we trust you?"

The man smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "You shouldn't. But whether you trust me or not, the Order is coming. You have little time."

He turned as if to leave, but before he could vanish into the forest, I called out, "Wait."

He paused.

"What's your name?" I asked.

He was silent for a moment. Then, finally, he said, "Darius."

And with that, he disappeared into the darkness.

The fire crackled softly as we sat in silence. Lyra poked at the flames with a stick, lost in thought. I leaned back against a tree, staring at the sky.

"What do you think?" I finally asked.

Lyra let out a long breath. "I don't trust him."

"Neither do I," I admitted. "But he wasn't lying."

She frowned. "How do you know?"

I didn't answer right away. There was something about the way he spoke, the way he carried himself. He had seen the same darkness that I had. He understood the crystal's power. And most of all, he knew the danger we were in.

"We don't have much choice," I said. "If what he said is true, then staying in one place is a mistake. We need to move before the Order finds us."

Lyra sighed. "Then I guess we're going to the mountains."

I nodded. It was the only path forward.

I glanced at my hands, flexing my fingers. The power of the crystal still pulsed beneath my skin, waiting to be unleashed. But I couldn't rely on it alone. I had to grow stronger.

"We should rest," I said. "Tomorrow, we head west."

Lyra gave a small nod, and we settled in for the night.

But as I closed my eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was already watching us.