Chapter 5: Into the Abyss

The group moved swiftly through the forest, their footsteps silent on the damp earth. Zeryn followed at the rear, her eyes darting nervously between the figures in front of her. The man who had spoken—the leader—walked with a confidence that unnerved her. He didn’t look back, as though certain she wouldn’t run.

The forest grew darker as they traveled, the canopy overhead blotting out the moonlight. The air was heavy, laced with the scent of moss and decay. Shadows stretched unnaturally, twisting and shifting in ways that made Zeryn’s skin crawl.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice cutting through the silence.

The leader didn’t turn but answered coolly, “To a place where the truth begins.”

“That’s not an answer,” Zeryn muttered, gripping the pouch her aunt had given her. Its contents remained a mystery, but the weight of it was oddly reassuring.

One of the cloaked figures glanced back at her, their face obscured. “You ask too many questions for someone who was nearly captured.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have been if you hadn’t shown up,” Zeryn shot back, her temper flaring.

The figure stiffened, but the leader raised a hand, silencing them. “Enough.” His voice was sharp, commanding. “Let her speak. She has every right to question her fate.”

Zeryn frowned but said nothing more, her unease growing. The leader seemed almost too calm, too calculated.

After what felt like hours, they emerged into a clearing. At its center stood a towering stone obelisk, its surface etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly in the darkness. The air around it buzzed with energy, making the hairs on Zeryn’s arms stand on end.

“What is this place?” she whispered.

The leader turned to her for the first time, his gray eyes gleaming. “This is where it begins. The Obelisk of Shadows—a relic of the Eclipseborn.”

Zeryn took a hesitant step closer, drawn to the strange energy radiating from the stone. The runes seemed to shift as she looked at them, forming shapes and symbols that felt both familiar and alien.

“The obelisk responds to those who bear the mark,” the leader said, his voice softer now. “Touch it, and you will see.”

Zeryn hesitated, her hand hovering just above the stone. “See what?”

“The truth,” he replied simply.

Every instinct told her to pull back, to turn and run. But something about the obelisk called to her, a silent pull she couldn’t resist. Slowly, she placed her hand against the cold, rough surface.

The world around her vanished.

She was no longer in the clearing. Darkness enveloped her, endless and suffocating. And then, out of the void, came a flicker of light—a single flame, burning faintly but defiantly.

Images began to form within the flame. She saw a great battle, shadows clashing against blinding light. Figures like her—marked by the eclipse—stood at the forefront, their powers tearing the world apart.

The flame shifted, revealing a towering figure cloaked in darkness, their face hidden. Their voice echoed in Zeryn’s mind, deep and resonant.

“You are the key, Zeryn Kaelith. The balance between light and shadow depends on you. Choose wisely, or all will fall.”

The flame flared, and the vision shattered. Zeryn stumbled back, gasping for air. She was back in the clearing, the obelisk towering silently before her.

The leader watched her intently. “You saw it, didn’t you? The truth of what you are.”

Zeryn shook her head, her hands trembling. “I don’t understand. What does it mean? Why me?”

“Because you are Eclipseborn,” he said, his tone reverent. “And with that comes a choice: to wield the darkness as a weapon of salvation—or destruction.”

The other cloaked figures bowed their heads, as if acknowledging some unspoken truth.

Zeryn backed away, her mind racing. She hadn’t asked for this power, this responsibility. And yet, the weight of it pressed down on her, undeniable and inescapable.

“What if I don’t choose?” she whispered, her voice cracking.

The leader’s expression darkened. “Then the darkness will choose for you.”