The Fortress of Shadows
The fortress loomed before Zyra—a monstrous thing of black stone and shifting energy. The very air around it pulsed with unnatural power, as if the structure itself was alive.
She clenched her fists and stepped forward, ignoring the way the rift's energy pressed against her skin. Kieran was inside. She could feel it.
Riven walked beside her, his golden eyes scanning the entrance with casual interest.
"This place is older than I expected," he murmured.
Zyra didn't care about its history. She cared about getting Kieran out.
"Can you sense him?" she asked, her voice tight.
Riven glanced at her, then exhaled. "Yes. But his magic is—" He paused, tilting his head.
Zyra's stomach twisted. "What?"
Riven's expression darkened. "Something is draining him faster than I anticipated."
A surge of cold fear shot through her chest.
No.
She didn't hesitate—she ran.
---
The Path of the Lost
The moment she crossed the threshold, a wave of chilling energy washed over her.
The corridor inside was endless—a shifting maze of flickering walls, each path stretching into infinity.
Zyra ground her teeth. A trap.
Behind her, Riven chuckled. "Oh, this is clever."
She shot him a glare. "Fix it."
Riven raised an eyebrow. "I could. But where's the fun in that?"
Zyra's patience snapped. "If you don't get us through this right now, I swear I will—"
"Fine." He sighed, rolling his shoulders. "You're no fun."
He stepped forward, reaching into his coat. When he withdrew his hand, a small, glowing dagger pulsed in his palm.
With a casual flick of his wrist, he slashed through the air—
And the illusion shattered.
The maze collapsed inward, revealing the true path—a long, spiraling staircase leading down.
Zyra wasted no time. She sprinted forward.
She didn't see the way Riven's smirk faded. Didn't notice how, for the first time, his golden gaze held something unreadable.
She only cared about Kieran.
---
The Chamber of Chains
Zyra burst into the chamber at full speed—and stopped cold.
Kieran hung suspended in the center of the room, chains of pure darkness wrapped around his body, digging into his skin. His normally brilliant silver eyes were half-lidded, his breathing shallow.
The sight of him like that—**helpless, trapped—**sent a sharp pain through Zyra's chest.
"Kieran!"
His head barely lifted at the sound of her voice. But then—his eyes locked onto hers.
And something inside her snapped.
The bond between them ignited.
A surge of power raced through her veins, her magic roaring to life in a way it never had before. The air crackled, the rift itself seeming to tremble at the force of their connection.
And then—
The darkness moved.
From the shadows behind Kieran, a monstrous shape began to emerge.
Something ancient. Something hungry.
Zyra barely had time to react before it lunged.
---