Page 23

T he pedestal hummed softly as Darius approached, the runes along its surface glowing brighter with each step he took.

Elara stood just behind him, her eyes wide with awe and caution as she traced the intricate carvings with her gaze.

I kept my distance, my blade still drawn, scanning the shadows for any further threats.

Darius rested a hand on the pedestal, his fingers grazing the runes. A spark of light burst forth from the stone, and the whole structure began to illuminate, throbbing with an ancient energy that sent a shiver through the air.

“It’s still active,” Darius said, his voice scarcely more than a whisper. “The energy here, it’s untarnished. The Council didn’t strip this place as I feared they might.”

“What does it mean?” Elara inquired, stepping closer.

Darius glanced at her, his expression serious. “It signifies that the nexus still harbours the memories and power of the old order. Should we manage to access it, we could uncover more than mere evidence of the Council’s deception. We might discover the key to entirely breaking their hold.”

Elara’s eyes sparkled with determination. “So, how do we gain access to it? ”

Darius’ brow knitted in concentration as he studied the runes.

“The nexus was designed to respond to those attuned to its magic, leaders and mages of the old order. If we had one of their sigils, we could activate it completely. But without that...” His voice trailed off, and his gaze shifted to Elara.

“You’re attuned,” he said. “You are the queen of Lunairis. Perhaps that connection is sufficient.”

Elara hesitated, “Do you want me to give it a try?”

Darius nodded. “It’s a gamble, but it’s our best chance.”

I stepped forward, my grip tightening around my sword. “If

this goes awry, ”

“It won’t,” Elara said, her voice steady despite the tension

etched on her features. She turned to Darius. “What must I do?”

“Place your hand on the centre rune,” Darius instructed, gesturing towards a glowing symbol etched into the pedestal. “Allow the nexus to feel your magic. If it recognises you, it

should open.”

Elara hesitated for just a moment before stepping forward.

She grabbed the crimson tome and laid it down on the pedestal, its faint glow mingling with the light from the runes. Then, taking a deep breath, she placed her hand on the central rune.

The reaction was instant. Light erupted from the pedestal, soaring into the air in a dazzling column. The ground beneath us shook, and the air crackled with unrefined energy. I shielded my eyes, yet I didn’t look away.

“Elara!” I called, my voice scarcely audible above the hum of the nexus.

“I’m fine!” She shouted back, her face taut with concen- tration. The light appeared to flow through her, her body enveloped in its glow. The runes on the pedestal shifted, rearranging into a new pattern, as the column of light began to coalesce into an image.

A figure materialised within the light, a spectral projectio n

of a woman clad in the flowing robes of the old order. Her features were sharp and regal, her eyes glowing with the same radiance that enveloped her.

“Who dares to awaken the Nexus of Lunairis?” the woman’s voice boomed, echoing through the stone.

Elara stepped back slightly, her hand still resting on the pedestal. “We seek the truth,” she said, her voice unwavering. “The Council has distorted this realm for their own gain. We

need the knowledge and power to halt them.”

The spectral woman tilted her head, studying Elara intently.

“The Council... Their corruption has spread far and wide. You carry their mark upon you.” Her gaze shifted to the crimson tome. “Yet you bear the burden of the Tome of Exiles. How intriguing.”

Darius stepped forward, his expression a blend of awe and urgency. “The Council has wielded fear and deception to sustain their rule. We require the old order’s wisdom, your wisdom, to bring them to light.”

The woman’s gaze moved to Darius, then to me, before returning to Elara. “The old order was not without its flaws. Our downfall was born of hubris, our strength turned against us. Yet if you seek to rebuild what was lost, you must first understand the cost.”

The light surrounding the pedestal shifted, and scenes began to unfold within it, visions of the past. We witnessed the old order at its zenith, their power immense and their knowledge unparalleled. But then came the downfall: betrayal, war, and the rise of the Council from the ashes of their ruin.

“These memories are but fragments,” the woman said, her voice tinged with sorrow. “The rest lies scattered within the nexuses of Ebonshade Keep and Obsidia. If you seek the full truth, you must gather them.”

Elara’s hand gripped the pedestal more firmly. “And the power? Is there anything here that can aid us in fighting them?” The spectral woman hesitated. “Power is a double-edged

sword. However, there is one artefact still concealed within this nexus, a fragment of the old order’s strength. It will assist you, but its utilisation comes at a cost.”

“What sort of price?” I inquired, stepping closer.

The woman’s gaze locked onto mine. “The fragment binds to its wielder, amplifying their magic or strength. How- ever, it will demand a part of you in return, memories, emotions, even fragments of your soul. It is not a gift to be accepted lightly.”

Elara glanced at me, then at Darius. Her expression was resolute. “We have no choice. Show us where to find it.”

“Descend,” the woman said. “But remember: it is not power alone that can save you. Only unity and determi- nation will see you through.”

The light began to fade, and the spectral woman’s form dissipated. The nexus fell silent once more, leaving only the faint hum of energy and the open path before us.

Elara turned to me, her eyes aflame with determination. “Are you ready?”

I nodded, grasping my sword. “Always.”

Together, we descended into the chamber, the air becoming heavier with each step. Whatever lay ahead would alter the course of our struggle and our lives forever.

The chamber beneath the pedestal was chillier than the courtyard above, the air damp and infused with the aroma of stone and age.

A faint glow illuminated the narrow staircase as we descended, casting long, flickering shadows upon the walls.

The further we went, the more the hum of the nexus vibrated in the air, resonating in my chest like a second heartbeat.

When we reached the bottom, the corridor opened into a circular chamber.

The chamber’s walls were adorned with the same runes as the pedestal above, though these glowed faintly, their light pulsating in a slow, steady rhythm.

At the centre of the room stood a dais, and atop it rested an artifact unlike anything I had ever seen .

The fragment.

It hovered in the air, a shard of pure, crystalline energy.

Light fractured and refracted through it, casting intricate patterns on the walls.

The artifact seemed alive, pulsing in time with the runes, and its presence filled the room with a palpable sense of power.

Yet, there was something darker beneath its brilliance, a weight, a warning.

Elara steps forward, her gaze fixed on the fragment.

“This is it,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe. “This is what she meant.”

Darius places a hand on her shoulder, preventing her from moving closer. “Wait,” he said, his voice low. “If it demands something from its wielder, we need to be certain. What exactly are you willing to offer?”

Elara turned to him, her jaw set. “Whatever it takes. You heard her, this is the only way.” I stepped forward, positioning myself between them and the dais. “We can’t rush into this. The nexus warned us for a reason. If this thing takes a part of you, we need to understand what that entails.”

Darius nods, his expression serious. “The old order wasn’t renowned for restraint. If this artifact was concealed, it’s because even they dreaded its cost.”

Elara glanced between us, her frustration evident. “And if we don’t take it? What then? Do we return to battling the Council with nothing but scraps of knowledge and half-formed plans? This could be the advantage we need.”

“Or it could ruin you,” I said, my voice now softer. “We need you, I need you, Elara, not merely your power, but you. If this thing demands more than you can give...”

She held my gaze, her expression softening. “I understand the risks, Azrael. But this fight isn’t solely about me. It’s about everyone the Council has harmed; everyone they’ve taken from. If I can bear this burden, then I shall.”

Darius lets out a deep sigh, his hand falling away from her shoulder. “If you’re certain, we’ll stand by you. But we’ll face this together. No one carries this alone.”

Elara nodded, her determination apparent.

She steps towards the dais, the light from the fragment casting a halo around her as she neared.

The hum in the room grew louder, vibrating through the air as if the artefact itself acknowledged her presence.

She hesitated, her hand hovering just above the fragment.

“What happens now?” she murmured, more to herself than to us.

The fragment pulsed, its light intensifying, and a voice, not the spectral woman’s but something older and colder, filled the chamber.

“Claiming me entails sacrifice. What will you provide?”

Elara stood frozen, her eyes widened as the voice echoed through the air. “What do you mean?” she inquired, her tone steady yet cautious.

“Your memories. Your dreams. Your hopes. Choose, and I shall bind myself to you.”

The air grew colder, the weight of the fragment’s demand pressing down on us all. Elara glances back at me, her eyes searching mine for guidance.

I move nearer, my voice resolute. “You don’t have to do this.” She shook her head. “I do.”

Turning back to the fragment, she squares her shoulders. “I

offer my dreams.”

The fragment pulsed once more, its light becoming blind-

ingly bright. The room trembled, and a sharp, piercing noise filled the air. Elara cries out, her hand clutching the fragment as its energy surged through her. I lunge forward, but Darius holds me back, his grip unyielding.

“She must finish this!” he shouts above the noise.

The light from the fragment enveloped Elara, lifting her from the ground as its power surged into her. Her scream reverberated through the chamber, filled with both pain and something else, determination. When the light finally receded, she fell to her knees, her breathing laboured.

I was at her side in an instant, catching her before she could fall completely. “Elara,” I said, my voice urgent. “Are you all right?”

She nods faintly, her eyes unfocused for a moment before they fixed on mine. “I’m... I’m fine,” she said, although her voice quivered. “It’s done.”

The fragment had disappeared, its energy now embedded within her. The runes on the walls dimmed, their light fading to a faint glow. Darius kneels beside us, his expression a blend of relief and concern.

“What did it take?” he asks softly.

Elara’s eyes shimmered as she gazed down at her hands, now faintly pulsing with the same crystalline light. “I don’t know,” she confesses. “But I can feel it, its power, its purpose. It’s... overwhelming.”

I helped her to her feet, my arm steadying her as she swayed. “Whatever it takes, we’ll face it together.”

She nods, her gaze unwavering despite the fatigue etched on her face. “We must move. The Council will detect this. They will come for us.”

Darius seizes the tome and nods. “Then we shall make sure they regret it.”

As we climbed the stairs back to the surface, the weight of the fragment’s presence lingered in the air. Elara had gained its power, but the cost remained unknown. One thing was certain, however: the Council would stop at nothing to claim it or destroy her.

And we would stop at nothing to ensure they failed.