The journey back from the Black Summit was a harrowing one. The storm above Vaelmir had intensified, twisting the very air into a tight coil of energy that pressed against their chests. Jack and Nyssa moved in silence, their breath forming mist in the cold air as they carried Kael's unconscious form between them. His once sturdy frame now felt frail and lifeless, his shallow breaths barely a sign of life.
Jack's heart hammered in his chest, a mix of dread and desperation gnawing at him. He hadn't felt this helpless since the moment they first set foot on this cursed world. He kept his gaze forward, willing himself not to think of what might happen if they didn't reach Auren in time.
Nyssa's brow was furrowed with worry, but her steps were steady as she kept pace with Jack. She didn't speak, but he could feel the weight of the unspoken thoughts between them. Kael's life hung by a thread, and they had no guarantee of salvation.
By the time they reached Auren's abode, the sky had darkened completely, as though the heavens themselves were closing in on them. Auren stood waiting at the entrance, his expression unreadable as he watched them approach.
"Is he…" Auren started, but his voice trailed off as he saw the state Kael was in.
"Unconscious," Nyssa answered, her voice tight. "We need your help."
Auren's hands flexed as he stepped forward, his eyes scanning Kael's unmoving body. He placed a hand over Kael's chest, feeling for the faintest sign of a pulse. After a long moment, he looked up, his face grim.
"He lives," Auren said quietly. "But just barely."
Jack's stomach twisted. "Can you heal him?"
Auren's gaze shifted toward the darkening sky, as if weighing something heavy in his mind. "Healing magic won't be enough this time," he said softly. "The wound Kael has suffered is not physical. His soul has been corrupted."
Jack froze. "Corrupted?"
Auren nodded, his expression grave. "The Warden's attack wasn't just an assault on Kael's body. It tore at his spirit, left scars that no spell can mend. His soul is fractured—twisted by dark energy. It's as though it's been tainted, and now it's trapped between life and death."
The weight of Auren's words hung heavy in the air. Jack felt as though the ground had been ripped out from under him. "So, we can't save him?"
Auren hesitated before replying. "Not unless we can cleanse the corruption. There is a way, but it's not simple. There's an artifact—the Heart of Elandir. It's said to purify even the darkest of wounds, to heal what is beyond mortal reach. But it lies deep within the Eldertree Forest."
"Then we'll go get it," Jack said without hesitation.
Auren's eyes darkened. "The Eldertree Forest is no place for the faint of heart. The journey is treacherous, and the Heart is protected by trials that test more than your strength. It will test your very will. It's not certain that Kael will survive the journey or the trials. And even then, there's no guarantee that the Heart will work."
Jack's chest tightened. "We don't have a choice," he said, his voice resolute. "Kael is our friend. We can't leave him like this."
Nyssa stepped forward, her jaw clenched in determination. "We'll do whatever it takes."
Auren nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "You must be careful. The forest is ancient, filled with dangers and spirits that have not been seen for centuries. There are those who seek the Heart, and they won't hesitate to stop you. But if you are truly determined to save him, then go. I will keep Kael safe here until you return."
Jack and Nyssa exchanged a look, silently agreeing that they had no time to waste. They had a chance to save Kael, and they weren't about to let it slip away.
"Thank you, Auren," Nyssa said, her voice filled with gratitude.
Auren's gaze softened for a brief moment. "May the gods watch over you."
With that, they left Auren's abode, heading into the darkening world beyond. The storm above Vaelmir raged louder, a harbinger of the darkness that was coming. Jack's thoughts turned to Kael, to their friend lying unconscious and fragile. They would do whatever it took to bring him back—no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, in the Shadows of Vaelmir,
Isolde stood atop the Black Summit, her eyes fixed on the ever-growing rift in the sky. The storm had reached its apex, an unholy force that threatened to tear the very fabric of Vaelmir apart. The Devourer of Realms was awakening, and her armies—an endless horde of wraiths, beasts, and cursed soldiers—stood ready to serve her will.
The wind howled around her, but she stood unmoving, her expression one of cold satisfaction. The ritual had been completed, and now the Devourer stirred beyond the veil, ready to descend upon Vaelmir and consume everything in its path. She could feel its power, its hunger, growing stronger by the second.
"Soon," she murmured to herself, her lips curling into a dark smile. "Soon, all of Vaelmir will belong to me."
A figure emerged from the shadows behind her—the Warden of the Maw, his form a mass of darkness. He bowed low before her, his hollow voice reverberating in the air.
"The boy lives," the Warden said, his voice like gravel grinding together.
Isolde's lips twisted into a thin smile. "Yes. But for how long?"
"I will ensure he does not reach the Eldertree," the Warden said, his voice an eerie promise.
Isolde turned toward him, her eyes glinting with malice. "Good. Let him try to stop me. I want him broken before the end."
The Warden bowed again, disappearing into the shadows.
Isolde turned back to the rift, her thoughts drifting to the boy—Jack. He had awakened something in the Sanctum, something she had never anticipated. But it was too late for him to stop her now. The storm was coming, and the Devourer would feast on all that opposed her.
With a final glance at the armies below, she whispered to herself, "Let the realms tremble."
As Jack and Nyssa made their way toward the Eldertree Forest, they knew the stakes had never been higher. Kael's life hung in the balance, and with Isolde's armies gathering strength and the Devourer drawing closer, time was running out.
But they were determined. They would find the Heart of Elandir. They would save Kael.
And they would stop Isolde.