THE FIRST FRAGMENTS FOUND
979 Words
The journey began before sunrise.
A cold mist covered the valley as Kael stood at the edge of Eldermere, staring at the mountains in the distance. Just a day ago, his biggest concern had been helping his father at the forge.
Now…
He was leaving to save the world.
Kael adjusted the small pack slung over his shoulder.
“I still can’t believe I agreed to this,” he muttered.
Behind him, Sylvara stood in her human form, calm as ever. Zephyra leaned lazily against a tree, the wind playing with her silver hair.
“You didn’t have much of a choice,” Zephyra teased.
Kael sighed.
“Yeah, I noticed.”
Sylvara stepped forward.
“The first fragment lies beyond those mountains,” she said, pointing toward the horizon. “An ancient temple hidden within the cliffs.”
Kael squinted.
“You mean the place no one in the village ever goes near?”
Zephyra grinned.
“That’s the one.”
“Great,” Kael said. “That’s always a good sign.”
The Road to the Mountains
By midday, the forest had begun to change.
The deeper they traveled, the quieter it became.
Kael could feel it now—the connection Sylvara had spoken about. The trees whispered to him, warning him.
Something wasn’t right.
“Do you feel that?” Kael asked.
Sylvara nodded.
“Yes.”
Her expression grew serious.
“The land here is wounded.”
The ground beneath their feet was dry and cracked. Leaves had turned dark, almost black. Even the air felt heavy.
Zephyra landed lightly beside them after scouting ahead.
“We’re not alone,” she said.
Kael tensed.
“Shadow Beasts?”
Zephyra shook her head.
“Worse.”
Before Kael could ask, a deep rumble shook the ground.
The earth split open ahead of them.
From the c***k emerged something massive.
A creature made of stone… and shadow.
Its body was jagged like broken rock, but dark energy pulsed through the cracks.
Its glowing eyes locked onto them.
“What is THAT?!” Kael shouted.
Sylvara stepped forward.
“A corrupted guardian,” she said.
“This place was once protected. Now it has been twisted by Vorthyx’s power.”
The creature roared and slammed its massive fist into the ground.
The impact sent a shockwave toward them.
Kael barely managed to raise his hand.
The earth responded.
A wall of roots burst upward, blocking the attack—but it shattered instantly.
Kael was thrown backward.
He hit the ground hard.
“Okay!” he groaned. “That’s definitely worse!”
Zephyra shot into the air.
“I’ll distract it!”
She moved like a blur, wind spiraling around her as she slashed at the creature. But her attacks barely slowed it.
“It’s too strong!” she called out.
Sylvara turned to Kael.
“You must focus.”
Kael struggled to stand.
“I AM focusing!”
“No,” Sylvara said firmly.
“You are reacting.”
The creature charged again.
“Listen to the earth, Kael!”
Kael closed his eyes for a split second.
The world slowed.
He could feel the ground beneath him.
Deep… steady… powerful.
“Don’t fight alone,” Sylvara’s voice echoed.
“Let the earth fight with you.”
Kael opened his eyes.
The creature was almost on top of him.
This time, he didn’t panic.
He raised both hands.
And listened.
The ground trembled.
Not from the creature—
But from him.
Massive stone pillars erupted from the earth, slamming into the creature and forcing it backward.
Kael clenched his fists.
“Again!”
The earth responded.
Chains of rock and roots wrapped around the creature, pinning it in place.
Sylvara nodded.
“Now, Kael!”
Kael focused everything he had.
The energy surged through him.
With one final motion—
The ground split open beneath the creature, swallowing it into darkness.
Silence.
The forest grew still again.
Kael dropped to his knees, breathing heavily.
“Okay…” he gasped. “That… was new.”
Zephyra landed beside him, impressed.
“Not bad, human.”
Kael smirked slightly.
“I’m getting used to this.”
Sylvara smiled.
“You are learning.”
The Temple of Stone
By evening, they reached the mountains.
Towering cliffs rose into the sky, ancient and unyielding.
Hidden within them was the temple.
As they approached, Kael felt something pulling him forward.
A faint glow appeared between the rocks.
“There,” Sylvara said.
They stepped into a narrow passage that opened into a massive underground chamber.
At its center stood a pedestal.
And floating above it…
A fragment of the Ancient Core.
It shimmered with golden light, pulsing with energy.
Kael stepped closer.
“So that’s what we’re risking our lives for…”
Sylvara nodded.
“That is a piece of the world’s balance.”
But as Kael reached out—
The ground trembled.
The chamber darkened.
A cold voice echoed through the temple.
“You really thought it would be that easy?”
Kael froze.
Sylvara’s expression hardened.
“Vorthyx…”
Dark shadows gathered at the far end of the chamber.
And slowly…
A figure stepped forward.
Not fully the dragon—
But not entirely human either.
Vorthyx’s shadow form.
His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness.
“You’ve done well,” he said mockingly.
“Finding the first fragment so quickly.”
Kael stepped back.
“That’s him…?”
Sylvara moved in front of Kael.
“Yes.”
Vorthyx’s gaze shifted to Kael.
“So… this is your first champion.”
He smiled darkly.
“How fragile.”
Kael clenched his fists.
“I’m not afraid of you.”
Vorthyx laughed softly.
“You should be.”
The shadows around him twisted.
“Because this…”
The entire chamber shook violently.
“…is where your journey ends.”
🔥 To be continued…
- Writer
