The Call of the Shard

Chapter 7: The Call of the Shard

The tavern’s warm firelight flickered as Kaelin sat in silence, mulling over the old woman’s words. Anara, still tense, tapped her daggers rhythmically against the edge of the table. The shard in Kaelin’s pocket grew restless, its faint glow seeping through the fabric.

“Kaelin,” Anara said quietly, her eyes darting toward his pocket. “The shard. It’s doing something.”

Kaelin reached into his pocket and pulled it out. The shard’s light was stronger now, pulsing rapidly. As it did, the room seemed to darken, the conversations around them fading into an eerie hush.

“What’s happening?” Anara asked, gripping her daggers.

The old woman leaned forward, her gaze fixed on the shard. “It’s calling to something—or something is calling to it.”

Before Kaelin could ask what she meant, the shard flared, flooding the room with light. The tavern seemed to dissolve around them, the walls and people fading into a swirling mist. Kaelin blinked, and suddenly he and Anara were standing in an entirely different place.

They were in a massive chamber carved from stone, its walls lined with intricate runes that pulsed faintly in the dim light. The air was heavy, humming with an ancient energy.

“Where... are we?” Anara asked, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.

Kaelin shook his head, clutching the shard tightly. “I don’t know. The shard must have brought us here.”

The old woman was nowhere to be seen, and the tavern was a distant memory. In the center of the chamber stood a large, circular pedestal, its surface inscribed with the same runes that adorned the walls. At its heart was a glowing crystal, similar in appearance to the shard Kaelin carried, though much larger.

Kaelin took a cautious step forward. The shard in his hand pulsed in unison with the crystal, as if responding to its presence.

“This doesn’t feel right,” Anara muttered, her eyes scanning the room for danger. “It’s too quiet.”

As they approached the pedestal, a deep voice rumbled through the chamber, ancient and commanding.

“Bearer of the shard, why have you come?”

Kaelin froze, looking around for the source of the voice. “We didn’t mean to come here. The shard brought us.”

A figure began to materialize above the pedestal, formed from light and shadow. It was humanoid but featureless, its form constantly shifting. The voice echoed again, coming from all around them.

“The shard seeks its kin. Its presence awakens the fragments of the Crown.”

Kaelin stepped closer, the shard in his hand glowing brighter. “What is this place? What does the shard want?”

“This is the Sanctuary of the Forgotten,” the voice said. “A remnant of the old world, hidden from the eyes of those who seek power. The shard seeks unity, but its path is fraught with peril. The Crown of Eternis was shattered for a reason.”

Anara narrowed her eyes. “Why does everyone keep saying that? What’s so dangerous about this Crown?”

The figure’s light dimmed slightly, as if in sorrow. “The Crown holds the power to bend reality, to reshape existence. In the wrong hands, it could unmake the world.”

Kaelin felt the weight of the shard grow heavier in his palm. “And in the right hands?”

The figure paused before answering. “In the right hands, it could heal the wounds of the past and forge a new future. But the path to wielding such power requires sacrifice and resolve. You must decide if you are willing to pay the price.”

The room grew darker, the glow of the runes fading. The figure’s voice became sharper, more urgent.

“But beware, bearer. The Crown’s fragments are waking, and with them, the darkness stirs. Forces will come for you—some seeking to aid, others to destroy. Trust carefully, for not all who offer help are allies.”

Before Kaelin could respond, the chamber began to quake. The crystal at the center of the pedestal shattered into a thousand shards, which swirled around them like a storm. The voice boomed one final time.

“The shard has chosen you. Its burden is yours to bear. Prove yourself worthy, or be consumed by the darkness.”

The storm of shards grew blinding, and Kaelin felt himself being pulled backward, the world spinning around him.

When the light faded, they were back in the tavern. The fire crackled as if nothing had happened, and the patrons continued their quiet conversations. The old woman was seated where she had been before, her expression unreadable.

“You’ve been touched by the Crown’s will,” she said, her voice soft but knowing.

Kaelin looked at Anara, who was pale but steady. “That... wasn’t just a vision,” he said.

The old woman shook her head. “No. The shard has shown you a piece of its truth. But it’s only the beginning.”

Kaelin slipped the shard back into his pocket, his thoughts racing. The sanctuary, the crystal, the warning—all of it left him with more questions than answers.

Anara crossed her arms, her expression guarded. “So, what now? We’re supposed to find the rest of these fragments while everyone in the world tries to kill us?”

Kaelin nodded slowly. “If we don’t, someone else will. And I don’t think we’ll like what happens if they succeed.”

The old woman leaned back, her gaze distant. “Then you must move quickly. There’s another shard to the north, hidden in the ruins of Everglen. But know this—the journey will test you, and the enemies you’ve faced so far are but shadows of what’s to come.”

Kaelin and Anara exchanged a glance. The road ahead was uncertain, but they had little choice.

“We’ll find it,” Kaelin said, his voice steady. “Whatever it takes.”

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