Chapter 6: The Black Crystal
1007 Words
The faint light of dawn filtered through the trees as Drayen and Keryth emerged from the underground passage. The cavern’s oppressive darkness seemed a distant memory, but the weight of their encounter lingered heavily in the air.
Drayen glanced at Keryth as she leaned against a tree, her breaths shallow. She hadn’t said much since they escaped, and her pale face betrayed her exhaustion.
“We need answers,” he said, breaking the silence. “And we need them fast.”
Keryth nodded weakly, her grip on her staff tightening. “There’s a place... a sanctuary of sorts. It’s hidden, but it holds ancient texts about the Rift. If anyone can help us, it’s there.”
Drayen crossed his arms. “Where?”
“West of here, deep in the Veylian forest,” she said. “It’s dangerous, but it’s our best chance to figure out what those summoners were trying to do—and what that voice wants.”
He frowned. “And why they called you the key.”
Keryth flinched, her expression hardening. “I didn’t ask for this. If you think I enjoy being hunted by summoners and dragons alike, you’re wrong.”
Drayen stared at her for a moment before sighing. “Then let’s move. If this sanctuary can help us, we can’t waste time.”
As they started westward, the forest around them grew denser, its ancient trees twisting like gnarled hands. The sunlight barely penetrated the canopy, casting the path in perpetual twilight.
The silence was unnerving. No birds, no rustling leaves—just the sound of their footsteps.
“You’re awfully quiet, witch,” Drayen said, glancing back at her.
“Thinking,” Keryth muttered, her gaze scanning the trees.
He smirked faintly. “You think a lot. Usually right before something tries to kill us.”
She gave him a tired glare. “Do you ever stop talking?”
Before he could reply, a sharp c***k echoed from behind them. Both froze, instincts kicking in. Drayen’s flames flickered to life as he turned, scanning the shadows.
Keryth raised her staff, its runes glowing faintly. “We’re not alone.”
From the darkness, a low growl emerged, followed by glowing red eyes. A pack of creatures stepped into view—canine in form but twisted, their fur patchy and their bodies wreathed in dark mist. Their jagged teeth glinted as they snarled, their gaze fixed on the duo.
“Corrupted wolves,” Keryth whispered. “Creatures of the Rift.”
Drayen cracked his knuckles, his flames flaring brighter. “Then we put them down.”
The wolves charged, their movements unnaturally fast. Drayen met them head-on, his dragonfire roaring to life. His fists collided with the first wolf, flames engulfing it instantly.
Keryth stood back, chanting a spell. A barrier of light formed around her, deflecting the wolves that lunged her way. She raised her staff, releasing a pulse of energy that sent several creatures flying.
But the wolves didn’t relent. For every one they took down, two more seemed to emerge from the shadows.
“This isn’t working!” Keryth shouted, her voice strained.
Drayen growled, incinerating another wolf. “Then we make it work!”
One of the wolves broke through his flames, its claws raking his side. He hissed in pain, retaliating with a blast of fire that turned it to ash.
Keryth faltered, her barrier flickering as the strain of maintaining it took its toll. A wolf lunged at her, its claws inches from her throat—
Drayen’s arm shot out, grabbing the creature mid-air and slamming it to the ground. Flames erupted around him, driving the remaining wolves back.
Keryth staggered, her energy nearly spent. “We can’t keep this up!”
Drayen gritted his teeth, his flames dimming as he fought to catch his breath. “Got a better idea?”
Before she could answer, the wolves suddenly stopped, their snarls fading into eerie silence. They stood frozen, their glowing red eyes fixed on something behind Drayen and Keryth.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air. Drayen turned slowly, his heart sinking as he saw the source.
The black crystal from the altar floated between them and the wolves, its surface pulsing with dark energy. Tendrils of shadow snaked outward, curling like fingers.
“What is that?” Drayen demanded, his flames flickering uneasily.
Keryth’s face was pale. “A shard of the Rift. It must have formed during the summoning ritual.”
The crystal pulsed, and the wolves began to dissolve into mist, their forms merging with the shadows emanating from the shard.
Drayen stepped in front of Keryth, his flames reigniting. “Is it alive?”
“Not exactly,” she said, her voice trembling. “It’s more like a vessel. A fragment of the Rift’s power.”
The crystal floated closer, its dark energy growing more intense. Drayen could feel its pull, like it was reaching for something inside him.
“Get back,” he said, pushing Keryth behind him.
The crystal pulsed again, and a voice whispered through the air, cold and taunting.
“You cannot escape me, little dragon. The Rift calls to its kin.”
Drayen’s eyes widened, his flames faltering. “What... does that mean?”
Keryth grabbed his arm, her expression urgent. “We have to go. Now!”
Before he could argue, the crystal surged, releasing a shockwave of dark energy. Drayen barely had time to throw up a barrier of flames as the force slammed into them, sending both sprawling.
When the dust settled, the crystal was gone—but its presence lingered, a dark shadow that seemed to cling to the forest.
Drayen groaned, pushing himself up. “What the hell was that?”
Keryth didn’t answer. She was staring at the spot where the crystal had vanished, her face pale and her hands trembling.
“It’s following us,” she whispered.
Drayen frowned. “What is?”
She met his gaze, her violet eyes filled with dread. “The Rift.”
- Writer
