The air in the cavern was thick and oppressive, as if the world itself held its breath. Shadows danced along the jagged walls, cast by a faint, unnatural glow emanating from a fractured black crystal embedded in the ground. The crystal pulsed faintly, each flicker accompanied by a low, resonant hum that seemed to echo from the depths of the earth.

A figure cloaked in dark robes knelt before the crystal, their head bowed in reverence. Around them, tendrils of shadow writhed and swayed, responding to the crystal’s rhythm. The figure raised a hand, and the tendrils coiled tighter, their movements almost eager.

“It is not over,” the figure murmured, their voice a chilling whisper that seemed to carry the weight of ancient malice. “The guardians think they have won, but they have merely delayed the inevitable. The darkness cannot be extinguished—it adapts, evolves, and waits.”

The crystal pulsed brighter, and a distorted voice resonated from within. “The balance falters. The Kali’tan Domain remains fragile. The guardians will not be enough.”

The figure nodded, rising to their feet. “I will gather the fragments, as you command. And when the time comes, they will kneel before the true power of the void.”

As the figure stepped back into the shadows, the crystal flared briefly before dimming, leaving only the faint hum to mark its presence.

In Another Place

Far from the cavern, in a secluded grove surrounded by towering trees, Sarlon sat cross-legged on a smooth stone. Her feline companion rested at her side, its ears twitching occasionally at the sounds of the forest.

Stolen novel; please report.

Though her sightless eyes stared ahead, Sarlon’s mind was elsewhere, drawn to a disturbance she could not yet place. A sense of unease had crept into her thoughts over the past days, like a faint echo of something familiar yet unwelcome.

She reached out, her fingers brushing the fur of her companion. “You feel it too, don’t you?” she whispered.

The feline let out a low, rumbling purr—not of comfort, but of vigilance.

Suddenly, the wind shifted, carrying with it a voice she hadn’t heard in decades.

“Sarlon.”

The name was spoken softly, almost lovingly, but it carried an undercurrent of menace that sent a chill through her. She stood abruptly, her fingers tightening around the staff she always carried.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “You can’t be here. You’re gone.”

But the voice came again, closer this time.

“Did you think I would stay gone forever? The darkness calls, and I answer.”

Sarlon turned toward the sound, her heart racing. Her companion hissed, its fur bristling, as the shadows beneath the trees seemed to grow longer, stretching toward her.

“Show yourself!” she demanded, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest.

A figure stepped out of the darkness, their features obscured but their presence unmistakable. It was someone she had once trusted, someone she had once loved. But their aura now carried the taint of the void, and their eyes glowed with a cold, unholy light.

“It’s been a long time, hasn’t it?” the figure said, their tone mockingly warm. “I’ve come back for you, Sarlon. And this time, I won’t leave without what I came for.”

The shadows surged, and the grove seemed to darken as if the sun itself recoiled. Sarlon stood her ground, her grip firm on her staff.

“I defeated you once,” she said, her voice low and determined. “I will not hesitate to do it again.”

The figure chuckled, a sound devoid of joy. “Oh, Sarlon. You’ve grown so wise. But the stakes are higher now. You’ll see soon enough.”

As the shadows withdrew, taking the figure with them, the grove returned to its tranquil state. But Sarlon knew the peace was an illusion.

She knelt beside her companion, her fingers trembling slightly as she stroked its fur. “The guardians must be warned,” she murmured. “This fight isn’t over. And this time... it’s personal.”

Above the grove, the sky darkened, clouds swirling ominously as if the world itself braced for the storm to come.