The night outside the sanctum was eerily quiet, but within its depths, Kael Thorn was anything but. He stood before the glowing shard, its faint pulsations reflecting off his calculating eyes. The visions it had shown him earlier haunted him, yet they had solidified his resolve. The shard had chosen him—or so he believed—and he intended to uncover every secret it held.
Kael ran his fingers over the ancient markings on the shard's surface, trying to decipher the cryptic inscriptions that seemed to shift when viewed at different angles. He had learned many languages in his lifetime, but this script was unlike anything he had encountered. Its patterns felt alive, resonating with an energy that defied comprehension.
On the desk behind him, Liana Sevier sat cross-legged, flipping through a battered notebook filled with sketches and translations Kael had made during his years of research. She didn't trust the shard, but curiosity had a way of overriding caution. Her sharp green eyes darted between Kael and the glowing artifact, watching for any signs of madness overtaking him.
"You know," Liana said, breaking the silence, "whatever power you think you're going to get from that thing—it's not worth losing your mind over."
Kael didn't look away from the shard. "Power always comes at a price, Liana. The question is whether you're willing to pay it."
She rolled her eyes. "Right. And what if the price is your sanity? You're already walking on the edge."
Kael finally turned to face her, his smirk laced with arrogance. "Sanity is overrated. What matters is results."
Liana muttered something under her breath but didn't argue further. She knew Kael well enough to realize that once his mind was set on something, there was no turning back. Instead, she refocused on the notebook, tracing her finger over one of the diagrams Kael had sketched—a map indicating the locations of other shards.
"These coordinates…" she began, narrowing her eyes. "Are you sure they're accurate? If these shards are as dangerous as this one, getting them won't be a walk in the park."
Kael walked over and leaned against the desk, his confidence radiating. "The Eternals didn't scatter them randomly. They placed them in sites of significance—temples, ruins, places where the veil between this world and others is thin. Dangerous? Yes. Impossible? No."
Liana tapped the notebook thoughtfully. "And you think you're the one who can do what no one else has done? Gather them all?"
Kael's smirk widened. "I don't think . I know ."
Before Liana could respond, a sudden rumbling echoed through the room. The shard's light intensified, casting strange shadows on the walls. Both Kael and Liana froze, their eyes locked on the artifact. The pulsations grew stronger, faster, and the air around it seemed to shimmer.
Kael stepped forward, his excitement mounting. "It's reacting again."
Liana grabbed his arm. "Don't get too close. We don't know what it's capable of."
He ignored her and reached out, his fingertips brushing against the shard's surface. Instantly, his mind was flooded with images—ancient cities crumbling into darkness, figures consumed by shadow, and voices whispering cryptic words he couldn't understand. But amidst the chaos, one image stood out: a towering obelisk surrounded by fire and storm, its base inscribed with the same symbols as the shard.
Kael gasped, stumbling back. "I saw it. The next shard—it's at the Obelisk of Storms."
Liana frowned. "You saw it? How?"
Kael shook his head, struggling to process the overwhelming visions. "The shard showed me. It's a map—a guide. It's leading me to the others."
Liana's expression darkened. "Or it's manipulating you. Have you considered that?"
Kael shot her a cold look. "I don't need your paranoia clouding my judgment."
Before Liana could argue further, the shard's glow began to fade, its pulsations slowing until the room was once again filled with silence. Kael clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. The Obelisk of Storms was the next destination, and he would do whatever it took to reach it.
"We leave at dawn," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
Liana sighed but nodded. "Fine. But if this thing kills you, don't say I didn't warn you."
Kael smirked. "If it kills me, I'll make sure to come back and haunt you."
As the night wore on, Kael began preparing for the journey ahead. The Obelisk of Storms was said to be guarded by fierce tempests and deadly traps, but Kael was undeterred. The shard had shown him a glimpse of eternity, and he intended to claim it—no matter the cost.
Liana watched him quietly, her unease growing. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were venturing into something far darker than either of them could comprehend. But she knew one thing for certain: Kael Thorn would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even if it meant losing himself in the process.