SHADOWS OF THE FUTURE
The camp was shrouded in a strange silence, broken only by the crackling of the fire. The group had decided to stop after the intense confrontation at the altar and the unexpected arrival of Quindarion, who now sat near the fire, observing the others with a calculating expression.
Zyrion, seated across from him, studied him cautiously.
"So… you want to help us? Forgive me if this sounds distrustful, but we don't usually accept allies who appear out of nowhere."
Quindarion gave a faint smile, but his eyes remained serious.
"I don't expect you to trust me immediately, Zyrion. But believe me, our interests are aligned. The enemy we face is after something none of us can allow."
"That sounds mysterious," Karion interjected, chewing on a piece of dry bread.
"Can you make it less cryptic? Because so far, all of this sounds like the beginning of a bad horror story."
"Karion," said Caelithra sharply, "perhaps you should let the fragment bearer speak before mocking him."
Karion raised his hands in surrender.
"Alright, alright. I'm just trying to lighten the mood, but please, continue with the dramatic exposition."
Quindarion turned his gaze to Caelithra, tilting his head slightly.
"I see you have an interesting group, Zyrion. But to clarify, I'm not here for you. I'm here for what you face. Umbraek has already begun moving his pieces. If we don't act quickly, none of us will survive."
The name Umbraek made everyone tense. Zyrion leaned forward.
"What do you know about Umbraek? And why are you so sure he's behind this?"
Quindarion pulled a small map from his cloak and spread it on the ground. The marks and runes inscribed on it seemed to glow faintly under the firelight.
"Umbraek isn't just after the fragments. He's trying to reconstruct the original crystal. If he succeeds, he'll have the power to undo reality itself. I've already felt his influence in several regions. This place, this altar, was just one of the key points he planned to control."
Sylphra, who had remained silent, finally spoke.
"If he's so powerful, why hasn't he faced us directly? Why send creatures instead of coming himself?"
Quindarion looked at her intently.
"Because even Umbraek needs time. Destroying the crystal weakened him as much as it did Calessia. Now it's up to us to stop him before he regains all his power."
The group fell silent, processing the information. Finally, Gravon stood, breaking the uncomfortable moment.
"Alright, sounds important and all, but I don't trust someone who shows up out of nowhere claiming to help. You could be a spy."
Quindarion looked at him calmly, unflinching.
"It's natural to be suspicious. But if I were a spy, do you think I would have intervened to save you from the monster at the altar?"
"Maybe it was an act to gain our trust," Gravon insisted, crossing his arms.
"Or maybe you should think less and listen more," Caelithra interjected, her eyes throwing daggers at Gravon. "We're not in a position to reject help, especially when Umbraek is involved."
Zyrion raised a hand, halting the discussion.
"Calm down, both of you. Gravon is right to be cautious, but we also have to recognize that Quindarion helped us. Now the question is: how do we work together from here?"
Quindarion nodded, appreciating Zyrion's mediation.
"We need to reach Kyrethron. That's where the next fragment is, but it won't be easy. It's protected by a magical barrier that only the chosen can cross. And from what I've seen, you, Zyrion, are one of them."
"Of course he is," said Karion with a grin, patting Zyrion on the back. "The guy is like a magnet for problems and impossible solutions."
"How do you know I'm one of them?" Zyrion asked, ignoring Karion's comment.
Quindarion stood, looking up at the sky. "Because your fragment reacts in a way none of ours can match. I saw it at the altar. You're more important in this fight than you realize."
Later that night, while the rest of the group slept, Zyrion and Quindarion remained awake near the fire.
"Quindarion, I know you have your own reasons for being here. But I want to know… why did you decide to come with us?"
Quindarion stared into the flames, as if searching for something in them."Because I know what it's like to face Umbraek and fail. I lost my brother trying to stop him. I can't let that happen again."
Zyrion felt the weight of his words and nodded slowly."We can't do it alone. I know that. But I also know it won't be easy to trust you immediately."
"I'm not asking you to. Just let me help while we can."
"Deal," said Zyrion, extending his hand.
Quindarion hesitated for a moment, then shook Zyrion's hand.
At first light, the group set out, using Quindarion's map as their guide. Although tension was still palpable among some, there was renewed determination in their faces. They knew the road to Kyrethron would not only be dangerous, but also decisive in their fight against Umbraek.
Zyrion looked toward the horizon, his fragment pulsing faintly in his chest. Though he didn't say it aloud, he felt that each step brought them closer not only to victory, but also to the sacrifice he knew he would eventually have to make.
The group moved through a dense forest, where the treetops blocked most of the sunlight, creating a shadowy, oppressive atmosphere. Tension lingered in the air, especially between Gravon and Quindarion, who exchanged cautious glances whenever their paths crossed.
Karion broke the silence with an exaggerated sigh. "Does anyone else feel like we're walking in circles? Because this forest has the same vibe as my bad jokes: dark, confusing, and no one gets them."
"Maybe if you talked less, we could focus," Caelithra said without turning her head.
Karion placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense."Ouch! It hurts more when it comes from you, Caelithra. I thought we had something special."
"We do have something special," she replied coldly. "My patience with you."
Before Karion could respond, Zyrion raised a hand to stop them.
"Wait. Something's wrong."
The group stopped immediately, all on high alert. A soft hum began to fill the air, growing louder by the second. The leaves on the ground lifted slightly, as if a gust of wind had reached them—but there was no breeze.
"What the hell is that?" Sylphra asked, looking around.
Suddenly, a figure appeared among the trees, moving so fast it was barely visible. Before anyone could react, Karion was shoved backward, crashing into a trunk with a grunt of pain.
"Hey! What was that?" he shouted as he got up, rubbing his shoulder.
The figure stopped in the center of the group, finally revealing itself. It was a tall man with messy black hair that seemed to move with every slight turn of his body. His eyes glowed with an electric blue flash, and on his right hand, he wore a ring that emitted a faint glow.
"So you're the ones causing all the commotion," he said with a confident smile. "I didn't expect to find such a… diverse group."
"Who are you?" demanded Zyrion, stepping forward with his sword drawn.
"Relax, hero," the stranger replied, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "My name is Velkran. Bearer of the Speed Fragment. And who are you to challenge my dramatic entrance?"
"Zyrion," he said cautiously. "We're in the middle of an important mission, so if you have something to say, make it quick."
Velkran laughed.
"Quick! Good choice of words. But don't worry, I'm not here to fight… yet. I'm here because I heard you have information about the fragments. And it turns out I have a very personal interest in that."
Quindarion stepped forward, watching him carefully."And what makes you think we want to share information with you? We don't know your intentions."
Velkran turned to him with a mocking smile."My intentions? Well, let's just say I like to keep things interesting. But I'm not an enemy, if that worries you."
"Can we trust him?" Gravon asked, his hand still on his weapon.
Zyrion studied him carefully before answering."That remains to be seen. Velkran, why are you really here? I don't think crossing paths with us was a coincidence."
Velkran stepped toward Zyrion, his eyes filled with a playful yet dangerous glint. "Let's just say I want to see if you live up to the stories. They say you're destined to change the course of this war, Zyrion. And if that's true, I want to make sure you don't mess it up."
"Are you joking?" Karion interrupted. "You want to test our leader like this is some fairground contest? Because I'll tell you, we already have enough drama here."
"This isn't a game, Karion," Velkran replied seriously. "If Zyrion can't face me, he has no chance against what's coming."
Zyrion sighed, tired of the provocations."If you're looking for a fight, we can settle this quickly. But don't mistake me—I have no interest in proving anything to you."
"That's what I want to hear," Velkran replied, a gust of wind swirling around him. "Then let's see what you're made of."
Before Zyrion could react, Velkran vanished, moving at incredible speed. He appeared behind Zyrion, delivering a swift blow that Zyrion barely managed to block. The clash echoed in the air, followed by a flash of blue light.
"He's faster than he looks!" Sylphra shouted, preparing to intervene.
"Don't interfere!" Zyrion said, retreating while trying to keep up with Velkran's movements.
The fight became a display of skill and precision. Velkran moved like lightning, attacking from unexpected angles. But Zyrion, with intense focus, began to anticipate his moves, blocking each strike with a mix of skill and sheer determination.
Finally, Velkran stopped, breathing lightly but still smiling. "Impressive. You've got talent, Zyrion. Maybe you really can make a difference."
"Was this just a test for you?" Zyrion asked, lowering his sword but keeping his guard up.
"Exactly," Velkran replied. "And I must admit, I'm intrigued. So here's the offer: I'll join you. After all, this journey seems far more interesting than I expected."
Although some still distrusted him, Zyrion accepted Velkran into the group."Welcome aboard," he said seriously. "But if you betray our trust, you'll regret it."
Velkran laughed. "I promise, I'm not the type to betray my allies. As long as we keep moving forward, count me in."
With their new member, the group resumed their journey, unaware that Velkran brought not only his speed but also secrets that would change the course of their mission.
TO BE CONTINUED…