🔥 Chapter 2 — Northern Highlands
The northern highlands rose like jagged teeth from the earth, cliffs twisting toward the crimson-tinted sky. Kael rode beside Rhyne, every nerve on edge. The landscape was eerily silent—no birds, no wind, only the faint hum of the distant crack above.
"Rhyne," Kael said, breaking the silence, "why is it always silent before one of these pulses?"
Rhyne's eyes scanned the horizon. "Because nothing in the natural world exists like this. The Rift responds first. The creatures follow. Silence is the warning."
Kael clenched his hands around the reins. The Ember under his skin pulsed with anticipation. He had learned to control it better since Ardentreach, but the fire still had a will of its own. And whatever awaited them here would test it like never before.
They reached a narrow pass, and Kael felt the ground tremble faintly beneath the horses' hooves. Then the first wave appeared—shadowy figures, humanoid but elongated, moving like liquid darkness across the rocks. Their eyes burned with faint violet light, a warning of the King's magic at work.
"Vanguard scouts," Rhyne whispered. "No mistakes. We can't let them warn the rest."
Kael raised his arm, summoning the Ember. Blue fire twisted around his fingers, illuminating the dark shapes. The creatures hissed, recoiling for only a moment before surging forward.
Rhyne leapt into the fray, striking with precision. Kael followed instinctively, flames streaking through the pass, each strike cutting through shadow like lightning. But the creatures were faster than any Riftspawn or Shadeborn they had faced before. They split and reformed, attacking in coordinated waves, forcing Kael to anticipate rather than react.
One shadow lunged at Kael from above. He barely caught it with a whip of fire, feeling the Ember pulse violently at the risk. The energy surged through him, almost overwhelming him—but instead of breaking, Kael focused, letting the fire guide him.
Rhyne's voice echoed: "Trust it, Kael! Let it flow through you!"
The Ember obeyed. Fire arced across the pass, creating walls, slicing waves of darkness, and forcing the vanguard back. But in the distance, Kael glimpsed movement—massive, armored shapes, larger than any Harrowed Knight.
The Harrowed King's army was already assembling.