Chapter 23: Echoes of the Past

The shattered remains of the Guardian lay still, but the air around the spire remained charged with an unsettling energy. Zeryn could feel it pulsing through her veins, a constant reminder of the shadows now bound to her.

The leader moved closer to the spire, inspecting its surface. His hand hovered over the glowing symbols, his expression unreadable.

“Something’s wrong,” he muttered.

Zeryn stepped closer, though every instinct told her to stay back. “What do you mean?”

“This spire isn’t just corrupted,” he said. “It’s… alive. And it’s been waiting.”

“Waiting for what?” the green-eyed figure asked, though their tone suggested they already knew the answer.

“For someone like her,” the leader said, his gaze shifting to Zeryn.

Zeryn’s heart sank. “Me?”

Before anyone could respond, the symbols on the spire flared to life. A deep, resonating hum filled the air, and the ground trembled once more. The crimson glow intensified, spreading across the clearing like veins of fire.

“We need to move—now!” the leader barked.

But it was too late. The spire erupted with energy, a blinding burst of light that engulfed the group. Zeryn shielded her eyes, her body instinctively bracing against the force. When the light faded, they were no longer in the forest.

They stood in a vast, empty expanse. The ground beneath them was smooth and reflective, like black glass, and the sky above was a swirling void of darkness.

“Where are we?” Zeryn asked, her voice echoing unnaturally in the space.

“The spire’s heart,” the leader said grimly. “We’ve been pulled into its domain.”

Before Zeryn could process his words, a figure materialized before them—a woman cloaked in shadows, her features obscured but her presence commanding. Her voice was both soft and powerful, carrying an undeniable weight.

“Welcome, bearers of the light and the dark,” she said. “You have ventured far, but your journey has only begun.”

The green-eyed figure tightened their grip on their weapon. “Who are you?”

“I am a fragment of the past,” the woman replied. “A remnant of what once was. And I am here to test your resolve.”

The shadows around her shifted, forming into countless shapes—figures, beasts, and formless voids. Zeryn’s breath hitched as they began to move, surrounding the group in a tightening circle.

“Prove your worth,” the woman said. “Or be consumed by the darkness.”