The weeks after the sealing of the Void passed in relative peace, but Kael could not shake the feeling that something lingered on the edge of his consciousness. The villagers rebuilt their homes, the fields flourished once again, and his companions each found ways to settle into the new normal. Yet, Kael often found himself wandering to the edge of the forest, staring into the distance as though waiting for something—or someone.“Kael, are you all right?” Lyra asked one evening as she approached him. The twilight bathed the village in hues of gold and purple, but Kael seemed distant, his gaze fixed on the horizon.“I keep feeling it, Lyra,” he admitted. “The Flameblade… even though its fire is gone, I can still sense something. It’s faint, but it’s there. Like an ember refusing to die.”Lyra frowned. “I thought the Void was sealed completely. Seris was certain of it.”“So did I,” Kael said, running a hand through his hair. “But this is different. It’s not the Void—it’s something else.

The ruins of Solarith lay sprawled across the edge of a jagged cliff, its once-mighty towers reduced to crumbling skeletons of stone. Vines and moss clung to every surface, as if nature itself had sought to claim the remnants of the ancient city. The air was thick with an unnatural stillness, and a faint hum seemed to emanate from the ground beneath their feet.Kael and his companions stood at the edge of the ruins, gazing at the haunting beauty of what had once been a thriving civilization. The pull Kael had felt earlier was stronger now, like a thread tugging at the core of his being.“Solarith,” Eira whispered, her voice tinged with awe. “The city of light. They say its people harnessed the power of the sun itself.”“Looks more like the city of rubble to me,” Darian muttered, adjusting the strap of his sword. “What are we even looking for in this mess?”Kael turned to the group, his expression resolute. “The artifact. Whatever it is, it’s here. I can feel it.”Brynn knelt on the gr

The group stood amidst the aftermath of their victory. The dark storm that had raged across the horizon was now a dissipating mist, leaving the barren wasteland eerily silent. The air, once heavy with the oppressive force of shadow magic, now felt lighter, almost breathable. But the scars of their battle were etched into the land—jagged cracks in the earth, scorch marks from magical spells, and the lingering essence of malevolence that refused to dissipate entirely.Kael planted the tip of the Flameblade into the ground, leaning on it for support. His body ached from the clash with the Shadow Warden. Though the creature had been vanquished, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that it had been testing him rather than truly attempting to kill him. The words of the Warden still echoed in his mind: “Your light will be extinguished.”“Kael.” Eira’s voice broke through his thoughts. She stepped closer, her face pale but calm. “Are you alright?”He nodded, though he didn’t feel alright. “It’s no

The chamber dissolved into darkness, leaving Kael face to face with his shadowy doppelgänger. The air was thick with an oppressive energy that seeped into his mind, amplifying every fear and doubt he had ever buried. His Flameblade sputtered weakly in his hand, its once-mighty flames reduced to a flicker as if the sword itself shared in his uncertainty.The shadow smirked, its dark blade gleaming with a malevolent light. “You’re not worthy of the Phoenix’s power,” it hissed, its voice an eerie echo of Kael’s own. “You’ve been fighting for nothing. Every step you’ve taken has been a mistake, and every victory has come at a cost too great to bear.”Kael clenched his jaw, gripping the hilt of the Flameblade tighter. “You’re wrong,” he said, his voice trembling but resolute. “I’ve fought for my people. For my friends. For a world that’s been drowning in darkness.”The shadow laughed, a hollow, mocking sound. “And what have you accomplished? The colossus nearly killed you. The artifacts ar

The morning air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and earth as the group packed up their camp. The tensions from the previous night had eased somewhat, but an unspoken heaviness lingered between them. Each of them felt it—a growing unease that neither sleep nor the fleeting comfort of the fire could dispel.Kael tightened the straps of his pack, his mind already racing ahead to their next destination: the Abyssal Rift. It was said to be a place where the veil between the physical world and the Shadow Realm was the thinnest, a place where the Phoenix’s light could be most vulnerable. The Rift was their only chance to seal the spreading darkness, but it was also a treacherous path. Few who ventured near it returned whole—if they returned at all.“Ready to move?” Darian’s voice broke through Kael’s thoughts. His tone was practical, his expression unreadable as he adjusted the straps of his sword sheath.Kael nodded. “Let’s go.”The group moved in silence, the weight of their journ