The Ruins of Everglen

Chapter 11: The Ruins of Everglen

The journey from the clearing to the ruins was quiet, tension simmering beneath every step. The towering spires of Everglen grew larger as the sun rose, casting the broken city in harsh light. Vines twisted around crumbling walls, and shattered stone bridges stretched precariously over deep ravines.

Kaelin’s eyes scanned the ruins, a strange mix of awe and dread washing over him. “This place feels… wrong.”

“It should,” Verrin said, his voice low. “Everglen wasn’t just abandoned—it was cursed. The shard’s energy lingers here, warping the land and those who dare enter.”

Anara rolled her eyes, though her grip on her daggers tightened. “Another lovely detail you forgot to mention. Let me guess—this is where the real fun starts?”

“Something like that,” Verrin said, his tone calm but distant.

They approached the city’s entrance—a massive archway carved with faded runes. As Kaelin stepped closer, the shard in his pocket began to hum softly, its warmth spreading through him. The runes glowed faintly in response.

“They’re reacting to the shard,” Kaelin murmured.

“Of course they are,” Verrin said, studying the archway. “The shard is the key to the city. Without it, we’d never make it past the outer walls.”

Kaelin pulled the shard from his pocket, its light flaring as he held it closer to the runes. The ground trembled slightly, and the runes pulsed in rhythm with the shard. A deep, resonant sound echoed through the ruins, and the archway opened, revealing a narrow path lined with jagged stone.

Anara peered inside, her expression wary. “I don’t like this. Too easy.”

Verrin smirked. “It won’t be easy for long.”

The three of them stepped through the archway, the air growing colder as they entered the ruins. The path twisted and turned, the walls lined with strange carvings that seemed to shift when Kaelin looked away.

“What are these carvings?” he asked, tracing one with his fingers.

“Stories of Everglen,” Verrin said. “Its rise, its fall. And the power it tried to wield.”

Kaelin frowned, his fingers tingling as he pulled them away. “It feels alive.”

“It is,” Verrin replied. “The shard’s energy flows through everything here. It’s why the city fell. They tried to harness the shard’s power, but it consumed them.”

“Sounds familiar,” Anara muttered, shooting Verrin a pointed look.

The path opened into a wide courtyard, its floor cracked and overgrown. In the center stood a massive stone pedestal, and atop it rested a faintly glowing shard. It was smaller than the one Kaelin carried, its light dim but steady.

“There it is,” Verrin said, his voice low.

Kaelin stepped forward, but Verrin grabbed his arm. “Wait.”

“What now?” Kaelin asked, his pulse quickening.

“This is where it gets dangerous,” Verrin said. “The shard won’t let you take it without a fight.”

“Wonderful,” Anara said. “So what’s the plan? Hope for the best?”

Verrin shook his head. “The shard will test you. It’ll draw on your fears, your doubts. If you’re not strong enough, it will destroy you.”

Kaelin swallowed hard, his grip tightening on his own shard. “And if I pass?”

“Then it’s yours,” Verrin said simply. “But I can’t help you. This is something only you can face.”

Kaelin nodded, stepping toward the pedestal. The air grew heavier with each step, the shard’s light pulsing in time with his racing heart. When he reached the pedestal, he hesitated, glancing back at Anara and Verrin.

“You’ve got this,” Anara said, her voice steady despite the tension in her eyes.

Kaelin reached out, his fingers brushing the shard’s surface.

The world around him vanished.

---

Kaelin stood in a void, the darkness stretching endlessly in all directions. The only light came from the shard in his hand, its glow faint and flickering.

“Kaelin...”

The voice came from the darkness, soft and familiar. He turned, his breath catching as a figure stepped into the light. It was his mother, her eyes filled with sorrow.

“You failed us,” she said, her voice trembling. “You left when we needed you most.”

Kaelin staggered back, his heart pounding. “No. That’s not true. I—”

“You ran,” another voice said, sharper this time. A man stepped forward, his face twisted with anger. It was Kaelin’s father. “You abandoned your family. You abandoned everything.”

Kaelin shook his head, the shard’s glow dimming. “I didn’t have a choice.”

The figures advanced, their voices growing louder, more accusatory. Shadows swirled around them, and Kaelin felt his strength draining away.

“Stop it!” he shouted, clutching the shard.

The light flared suddenly, and the shadows froze. A new voice echoed in the void, calm and steady.

“Do you believe their words, Kaelin?”

Kaelin turned, and before him stood a figure cloaked in light. Their features were obscured, but their presence was comforting.

“No,” Kaelin said, his voice firm. “I did what I had to. I’ve carried that guilt long enough.”

The figure nodded, and the shadows dissolved. The light from the shard grew brighter, filling the void with warmth.

“Then you are worthy,” the figure said. “But remember—power without purpose leads to ruin.”

The world shifted again, and Kaelin found himself back in the courtyard. The shard in his hand was warm, its light steady and strong.

Anara rushed to his side. “You’re alive. That’s a good sign.”

Verrin studied him, his expression unreadable. “You passed.”