The trail wound higher into the foothills, the air growing colder and thinner with each step. Jagged cliffs rose on either side, their shadowy recesses stark against the pale winter sky. It was a quiet, haunting place, as if even the wind hesitated to disturb the silence.

The tension among us had settled into a steady rhythm, unspoken but palpable. Redspire was behind us, but the weight of our choices lingered, a reminder that the war against Ecclesion was only becoming more dangerous.

We crested a ridge, the view opening up to reveal a deep valley below. A small village nestled at its heart, its thatched roofs dusted with snow and its fields lying fallow in the cold season. Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and the faint sound of a bell echoed across the distance.

“A village?” Farron said, shielding his eyes as he scanned the scene. “Didn’t expect civilization this far up.”

“It’s isolated,” Jessa said. “That could mean it’s neutral. Or...”

“Or Ecclesion’s already sunk its claws in,” Orin finished grimly.

“Guess we’re about to find out,” I said, adjusting my cloak.

As we descended into the valley, the village grew clearer. The streets were quiet, but not in the way of a town at peace. There was no bustle, no children playing, no chatter from open windows. The few people we saw moved quickly, their heads down and their shoulders hunched against an invisible weight.

“They’re afraid,” Ryla said softly.

“Of Ecclesion?” I asked.

“Or something worse,” she replied, her hand drifting to the hilt of her blade.

We reached the village square, where the bell we’d heard earlier hung in a weathered wooden tower. A small crowd of villagers had gathered near the edge of the square, their faces pale and their voices hushed as they whispered among themselves.

One man, older and hunched with age, noticed us first. His eyes widened, and he stepped forward hesitantly. “Travelers?” he said, his voice trembling. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“Why not?” Jessa asked, her tone cautious but firm.

The man glanced over his shoulder, his expression fearful. “It’s not safe. Not anymore.”

Before we could press him further, a sharp cry rang out from the crowd. A young woman, clutching a small child to her chest, pointed toward the far end of the village.

“They’re back!” she shouted.

The villagers scattered, retreating into their homes and bolting their doors. We turned in unison, weapons drawn, as a group of figures emerged from the shadows of the trees.

They wore mismatched armor, their faces obscured by crude masks, and their movements were deliberate, almost mechanical.

“Bandits?” Farron asked, his voice low.

“No,” I said, my grip tightening on my dagger. “Something worse.”

The figures stopped just short of the square, their leader stepping forward. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his mask etched with strange, glowing runes. He held no weapon, but the air around him seemed to ripple with a faint, unnatural energy.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his voice cold and distorted.

“And who are you to say that?” Jessa asked, her blade glinting in the weak light.

The man tilted his head, as if considering her question. “We are the Vanguard,” he said. “The chosen protectors of the Nexus. You are trespassing.”

The word hit me like a physical blow. Nexus.

This village wasn’t just some isolated settlement—it was built near another Nexus, one that Ecclesion hadn’t yet claimed. And these so-called Vanguard were guarding it for reasons I couldn’t yet fathom.

“Protectors?” I said, stepping forward. “The Nexuses don’t need protecting. They’re ancient, powerful—”

“—and fragile,” the man interrupted, his glowing mask seeming to flicker. “You don’t understand their purpose, Chosen One.”

My blood ran cold.

“How do you know who I am?” I demanded.

“Because you’re not the first,” he said.

The weight of his words pressed down on me, sharp and suffocating.

“Not the first?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

The man’s mask tilted slightly, as if he was smiling beneath it. “The Nexuses choose their champions carefully. You were summoned here for a reason, just as others before you were. But you are a fool if you think you’re the only one who’s been... touched by their power.”

The pieces began to click together, each revelation more unsettling than the last.

“Where is this Nexus?” Jessa demanded, her blade inching upward.

The man didn’t answer. Instead, he raised a hand, the air rippling again as a surge of energy shot toward us.

The fight was chaos.

The Vanguard moved with precision, their glowing runes pulsing in time with each attack. They weren’t just soldiers—they were enhanced, their strength and speed unnatural.

I activated Shadow Veil, the familiar hum surrounding me as I dodged a strike from one of the Vanguard. My dagger flashed in the dim light, finding its mark in a gap in the man’s armor. He stumbled but didn’t fall, the runes on his mask glowing brighter as he lunged again.

Ryla moved like a shadow, her bowstring snapping as she loosed arrows into the fray. Farron’s blades flashed as he darted between two opponents, his grin sharp and wild despite the danger.

Jessa’s movements were calculated, her strikes efficient as she pushed toward the leader.

But they were relentless. For every Vanguard we felled, another seemed to take their place, their glowing runes a constant, eerie reminder of their connection to the Nexus.

The leader watched from the edge of the fight, his gaze locked on me.

“You’re strong,” he said, his distorted voice cutting through the chaos. “But you don’t understand the power you wield. Not yet.”

“Then why don’t you enlighten me?” I shot back, my voice laced with defiance.

“Because you’ll learn soon enough,” he said. “The Nexuses will teach you—just as they taught the others.”

His words sent a chill down my spine.

Others.

He wasn’t just talking about someone like me. He was talking about someone specific. Someone who had been here long before me, walking this same path.

The fight ended as suddenly as it had begun. The remaining Vanguard retreated into the shadows, their leader vanishing with them.

We stood in the square, breathing heavily as the last echoes of the battle faded.

“They weren’t here to kill us,” Jessa said, her voice grim. “They were testing us.”

“Testing me,” I corrected, my grip on the dagger tightening.

“What did he mean by ‘others’?” Orin asked.

I shook my head, my thoughts racing. “I don’t know. But we need to find that Nexus. If there’s someone else out there—another traveler—they might know something. About this world. About getting home.”

The villagers began to emerge from their homes, their fear replaced by cautious hope as they saw the Vanguard were gone.

“We’ll need their help,” Jessa said, gesturing toward the village elder. “If the Nexus is nearby, they’ll know where to find it.”

I nodded, though my mind was elsewhere.

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Who was this other traveler? How long had they been here? And why did the Vanguard seem more afraid of them than of me?

The questions burned in my mind as we began to speak with the villagers, their answers leading us toward the next step in this journey.

The village square was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the battle, the faint rustle of the wind the only sound as we regrouped. The villagers remained huddled at the edges of the square, their fear palpable despite the Vanguard’s retreat.

I turned to the elder—the same man who had first approached us when we entered the village. His hands shook as he gripped the edge of his cloak, but there was a glimmer of defiance in his eyes now.

“You know something about the Nexus,” I said, my voice steady but pressing. “Where is it?”

The elder hesitated, his gaze flicking to Jessa, then to the others, before settling back on me. “You’ve brought danger to our village,” he said. “But you also saved us. I will tell you what I know—but only if you promise to leave us in peace once you’ve found what you’re looking for.”

I nodded. “We’re not here to harm anyone. We just need answers.”

The elder gestured for us to follow him. He led us through the narrow streets to a small, weathered building near the outskirts of the village. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old wood and dust, and the faint glow of a single lantern illuminated shelves lined with crumbling books and scrolls.

He picked up one of the scrolls, his hands trembling slightly as he unrolled it. The parchment was old, its edges frayed, and the symbols drawn on it were faint but familiar—the same runes I had seen glowing on the Vanguard’s masks.

“This village was built here for a reason,” the elder said, his voice low. “The Nexus lies deep within the cliffs beyond the valley. It is ancient, older than the village itself, and its power has always drawn those who seek to control it.”

“Like Ecclesion,” Jessa said.

The elder nodded. “And others. The Vanguard appeared several months ago, claiming they were protectors of the Nexus. At first, we believed them—they fought off Ecclesion’s scouts, kept the village safe. But then they changed. They became... obsessed.”

“Obsessed with what?” I asked.

“With finding someone,” the elder said, his voice trembling. “Someone they called the First Chosen.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“The First Chosen?” Farron repeated, frowning. “What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know,” the elder said. “But they spoke of him as if he were a legend. A traveler from another world, like you, who came here long ago. They believe he is tied to the Nexus—perhaps even its creator.”

“That’s impossible,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction.

“Is it?” Ryla asked, her sharp gaze meeting mine. “You were brought here. Who’s to say you’re the first?”

The elder set the scroll down, his expression grave. “If you truly seek the Nexus, you must be prepared. The path is dangerous, and the Vanguard will not let you approach without a fight.”

“That’s never stopped us before,” Jessa said.

I nodded, though my thoughts were a storm of doubt and unease. If there was another traveler—someone who had been here long before me—what did that mean for everything I thought I knew about this world?

And why did the Vanguard fear him?

We left the elder’s home with the location of the Nexus burned into my mind. The cliffs beyond the valley were jagged and treacherous, a labyrinth of narrow paths and hidden dangers. But it was our next step, and we couldn’t afford to hesitate.

As we prepared to leave, the villagers gathered near the square, their expressions a mixture of fear and hope.

“Will you come back?” the young woman from earlier asked, clutching her child tightly.

I hesitated, unsure how to answer. “If we can,” I said finally. “But for now, stay safe. Keep your doors locked, and don’t trust anyone who claims they’re here to protect you.”

The woman nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

We set out at dawn, the rising sun casting long shadows across the valley as we began the climb toward the cliffs. The path was narrow and uneven, the jagged rocks slicing through the frost-covered ground like the spines of some ancient creature.

The air grew colder as we ascended, the wind howling through the gaps in the rocks.

“This is a bad idea,” Farron muttered, his voice barely audible over the wind.

“You say that about every idea,” Jessa said, her tone sharp.

“And I’m usually right,” he shot back.

As we climbed, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched. Every shadow seemed to shift, every gust of wind carried a faint whisper just beyond the edge of hearing.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Ryla asked, her voice low.

I nodded. “We’re not alone.”

“We haven’t been alone since we entered that village,” she said.

By the time we reached the entrance to the Nexus, the sky had darkened, heavy clouds blotting out the sun. The entrance was a narrow fissure in the cliff face, its edges carved with runes that glowed faintly in the dim light.

“This is it,” Jessa said, her voice tight with anticipation.

I stepped forward, my heart pounding. The air around the entrance was thick, almost suffocating, and the faint hum of energy resonated deep in my chest.

As I reached out to touch the runes, a voice echoed from the shadows behind us.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

We spun around, weapons drawn, to find a figure standing at the edge of the cliff. His armor was battered, his cloak torn, and his face was obscured by a hood.

But his voice was steady, calm, and filled with an unsettling authority.

“The Nexuses are not for you to claim,” he said. “Turn back now, before it’s too late.”

“Who are you?” I demanded, my dagger raised.

The figure stepped closer, his face still hidden in shadow.

“Another traveler,” he said. “Like you. But I’ve been here far longer than you can imagine. And I know what the Nexuses truly are.”

The air around us grew colder, the hum of the Nexus growing louder as his words sank in.

If he was telling the truth, then my questions had just multiplied.

But one thing was certain.

This other traveler wasn’t here to help.

And whatever he knew about the Nexuses, it was something he didn’t want me to learn.

The fight wasn’t just against Ecclesion anymore.

It was against the shadows of the past—and the secrets they held.

The figure stood at the edge of the cliff, his presence heavy and unmoving like the jagged rocks around him. The hood obscured most of his face, but I caught a faint glimmer in his eyes—a cold, detached look that sent a chill down my spine.

“You don’t belong here,” he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of warning.

“And you do?” I shot back, tightening my grip on the dagger.

He tilted his head slightly, his posture eerily relaxed. “I’ve earned my place. You, however, have barely scratched the surface of what this world demands. You think you’re special because you were chosen. That this war hinges on you.”

He stepped closer, his boots crunching against the frost-covered ground. “But you’re just a pawn in a game far older and far more dangerous than you can imagine.”

Jessa shifted beside me, her blade half-drawn. “If that’s true, why don’t you enlighten us?”

The figure chuckled softly, a humorless sound that echoed against the cliff walls. “Because some truths aren’t meant to be shared. Not with someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” I asked, my voice steady despite the unease clawing at me.

“You’re naive,” he said, his tone sharp. “Chasing answers without understanding the consequences. The Nexuses aren’t keys to salvation—they’re anchors to something far greater, far darker. And the more you meddle with them, the closer you bring this world to ruin.”

My mind raced, the weight of his words pressing against my thoughts like a storm.

“If that’s true,” I said slowly, “then why are you here? Why protect the Nexuses if they’re so dangerous?”

His eyes narrowed beneath the hood, the faint glimmer of light catching the sharp edges of his face. “Because someone has to. I’ve seen what happens when they’re left unguarded. When people like you try to use them for their own gain.”

His voice hardened. “And I won’t let that happen again.”

The tension in the air was electric, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring.

“Who are you?” I demanded.

He hesitated for the briefest moment, his expression unreadable. Then he spoke, his voice low and deliberate.

“Once, I was like you—a traveler, plucked from my world and thrust into this one. I fought, I bled, I believed that I could make a difference. But the longer I stayed, the more I understood the truth. This world doesn’t need saviors. It needs shepherds. And it punishes those who forget that.”

His hand drifted to the hilt of a blade at his side—a weapon that pulsed faintly with the same energy as the Nexus.

“My name doesn’t matter anymore,” he said. “But if you’re smart, you’ll turn back now and leave this place to those who understand it.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. My pulse quickened, every instinct screaming that this man—this traveler—wasn’t someone I could reason with.

Jessa stepped forward, her blade fully drawn now. “You’re not giving us much of a choice,” she said.

The man’s gaze shifted to her, cold and unflinching. “You always have a choice. But you won’t like where it leads.”

“Enough riddles,” I said, stepping between them. “If you’ve been here so long, you must know something about how to go back. About how to leave this world.”

For the first time, his expression shifted. A flicker of something—anger, maybe regret—crossed his face before he composed himself again.

“There is no going back,” he said, his voice flat. “Not for you. Not for me. The Nexuses aren’t bridges—they’re walls. And you’d do well to accept that before it destroys you.”

The words hit like a physical blow, my mind reeling with the weight of them. No going back? No bridge?

But before I could respond, the man’s hand moved to his blade, drawing it in a smooth, fluid motion. The energy around him crackled, the air growing heavy as the runes on his weapon flared to life.

“I warned you,” he said, his voice colder now. “But it seems you’re determined to make the same mistakes I did.”

The battle erupted in an instant.

The traveler moved with a speed and precision that took my breath away, his blade a blur as it clashed against Jessa’s. Sparks flew as their weapons met, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through the air.

“Spread out!” Jessa shouted, her voice tight as she deflected another strike.

Ryla’s arrows flew true, but the traveler was faster. He dodged effortlessly, his movements like water as he closed the distance between us.

I activated Shadow Veil, the familiar hum of the ability cloaking me in darkness as I darted around him. My dagger lashed out, aimed for the exposed gap in his armor—but he twisted at the last moment, his blade meeting mine in a burst of energy.

“You’re quick,” he said, his tone almost approving. “But you’re not ready.”

The fight pressed on, every strike a test of wills. Orin and Toren joined the fray, their coordinated attacks forcing the traveler to retreat several steps. But even against all of us, he didn’t falter.

He was stronger. Faster. And every strike he delivered felt calculated, as if he wasn’t just fighting us—he was teaching us.

In a final, explosive move, the traveler unleashed a wave of energy, forcing us to scatter. He stood at the center of the chaos, his blade crackling with power as he regarded us with something resembling pity.

“You have potential,” he said. “But potential means nothing without purpose.”

He sheathed his blade in a single, fluid motion, the energy around him dissipating as quickly as it had flared.

“This is your only warning,” he said, his voice cutting through the stillness. “Stay away from the Nexuses. If you don’t, I won’t hold back next time.”

Before we could respond, he stepped into the shadows, his form dissolving into the darkness as if he’d never been there.

The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of his words pressing heavily on all of us.

“Who the hell was that?” Farron asked, his voice shaky but defiant.

“Someone we’re going to see again,” Jessa said, her tone grim.

I stared at the spot where he’d vanished, my thoughts racing.

If he was telling the truth, then everything I thought I knew about the Nexuses—and about getting home—was wrong.

But there was one thing I was certain of.

This wasn’t the last time we’d cross paths.

And next time, I’d be ready.