Chapter 21: Veilborn

The moment the arrow left Dain's bow, the tension in the air snapped like a coiled wire. The cloaked figure moved with unnatural speed, twisting its body to evade the projectile. The arrow struck the stone behind it, shattering upon impact, but the momentary distraction was enough.

"Move!" Dain barked, already reaching for another arrow. Seris didn't need to be told twice—her instincts took over as she grabbed Elliot by the wrist and pulled him back. The scholar, though still frozen by the presence before him, finally stumbled into motion, his grip tightening around the shard in his palm.

The figure didn't pursue. Instead, it raised an arm, and from the depths of its cloak, tendrils of darkness slithered out like living shadows. They snaked through the air, writhing with eerie sentience, reaching toward the trio with intent that was unmistakably hostile.

Dain released another arrow, this one crackling with a faint silver light, aimed directly at the figure's chest. The moment it made contact, the shadows recoiled violently, shrieking as though they had been burned. The figure let out a distorted hiss, stepping back as if considering its next move.

Elliot's heart pounded in his chest. He had read about creatures like this—beings that existed between the veil of worlds, drawn to artifacts of great power. But to see one in person, to feel its oppressive presence so close… it was terrifying.

Seris drew her sword, its steel gleaming in the dim light. "Dain, what is that thing?"

Dain didn't answer immediately. His golden eyes were locked on the entity, assessing. "Something that shouldn't be here." He adjusted his stance, bowstring taut. "But it is—which means we need to leave. Now."

Elliot hesitated, his gaze flicking down to the shard in his grasp. The pulsing light had intensified, as if reacting to the creature's presence. He could feel it—an awareness, a pull, something beyond his understanding.

"Elliot!" Seris' sharp voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He nodded quickly and turned, following as she and Dain began their retreat. But the moment they moved, the figure shifted as well.

With a single, fluid motion, it lunged.

Dain barely had time to react. The shadows lashed out like whips, slicing through the air with unnatural precision. He rolled to the side, loosing an arrow mid-motion that forced the entity to halt its advance. Seris slashed through one of the tendrils with a practiced arc of her blade, severing it with a faint, sizzling noise.

Elliot, however, was not so lucky.

One of the tendrils coiled around his ankle, yanking him off his feet. He hit the ground with a sharp grunt, the shard tumbling from his grasp. His vision spun as he clawed at the inky mass constricting his leg, but it was cold—so impossibly cold. A numbing chill seeped into his bones, sapping the strength from his limbs.

The entity loomed over him, its hollow voice resonating in the air. "Keybearer…"

A sudden blur of motion—Dain's dagger embedded itself into the figure's shoulder, disrupting its focus just enough for Seris to lunge forward. With a forceful slash, she severed the tendril gripping Elliot's leg.

Dain grabbed Elliot by the collar and hauled him to his feet. "Stay on your feet, scholar!" he snapped before shoving him toward Seris. "We run."

And run they did. The momentary advantage was all they needed to break away, sprinting through the desolate terrain. The ruins behind them faded into the distance, swallowed by the abyss of night.

The entity did not give chase.

Not yet.

Elliot's breaths came in ragged gasps as they finally slowed near the base of a jagged cliffside. His leg still tingled with the phantom sensation of the tendril's grip, but at least the shard was still in his possession. He clutched it close, as if afraid it would vanish.

Seris was the first to break the silence. "What the hell was that?"

Dain remained quiet for a long moment before exhaling slowly. "A Veilborn." His voice was grim. "Something that shouldn't have taken notice of us this soon."

Elliot swallowed hard. "It called me 'Keybearer.'"

Seris exchanged a glance with Dain, her brows furrowing. "It knew what you are."

Dain's expression darkened. "Which means others might, too."

The weight of his words settled over them. This was no longer just about escaping the ruins. Something far greater had set its sights on them.

And it wouldn't stop hunting.