The air felt heavier after the traveler vanished, as if the shadows he’d stepped into carried his lingering presence. For a long moment, none of us moved. The fight had left its mark—not just on our bodies, but on our minds.

“Does this world have normal enemies?” Farron finally asked, breaking the silence. “I’d kill for a plain old bandit right about now.”

Jessa wiped her blade clean, her expression hard and unreadable. “That wasn’t a fight. It was a warning.”

“A warning we ignored,” Orin added, his tone grim. “He could’ve killed us, but he didn’t. That means he has an agenda—and we’re not ready for it.”

“We have to be,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Whatever he knows about the Nexuses, it’s more than we do. And if he’s right, we can’t afford to stay in the dark.”

The Nexus entrance loomed before us, the runes on its edges pulsing faintly as if alive. Despite the cold air around us, the hum of energy radiating from it sent a warm vibration through the ground, into my boots.

“We’re still going in, aren’t we?” Ryla asked, her sharp eyes flicking between me and the glowing fissure.

I nodded, though the unease coiling in my chest hadn’t faded. “He said the Nexuses are dangerous. But he didn’t say why. We need to find out for ourselves.”

Jessa stepped forward, her hand brushing the runes along the entrance. “If he didn’t want us going in, it’s because there’s something here worth finding. Something he doesn’t want us to see.”

“That’s a comforting thought,” Farron muttered, but he slung his bow over his shoulder and followed.

The passage inside was narrow, the walls smooth and glistening as if polished by unseen hands. The light from the runes reflected off the stone, casting the corridor in an otherworldly glow that made it hard to tell how far it stretched.

The hum of the Nexus grew louder as we moved deeper, the sound vibrating in my chest like the resonance of a deep, unstruck bell.

“Feels like we’re walking into a heartbeat,” Ryla said, her voice low.

“More like the belly of a beast,” Orin muttered.

“Keep moving,” Jessa said, her tone cutting through the tension.

The corridor opened into a vast chamber, and the sight took my breath away.

The Nexus stood at its center, a massive crystalline structure that pulsed with light and energy. It was shaped like a jagged starburst, its edges shimmering with an iridescent glow that shifted between colors I couldn’t name. The air around it was warm, charged with a power that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

“This is it,” Jessa said, her voice barely above a whisper. “A Nexus.”

The sight should have inspired awe. Instead, it felt oppressive, like the weight of the entire chamber pressed down on us.

As we stepped closer, the light from the Nexus grew brighter, illuminating intricate carvings etched into the floor around it. They looked like runes—similar to the ones on the traveler’s blade and the Vanguard’s masks—but far more complex, almost alive in their design.

“What do you think these mean?” Farron asked, crouching to trace one of the symbols with his finger.

“Don’t touch them,” Ryla snapped, her tone sharper than usual. “We don’t know what they’ll do.”

Farron pulled his hand back, raising his eyebrows. “Noted.”

I stepped closer to the Nexus, the hum in my chest growing stronger with each step. It wasn’t just sound—it was... a presence. A consciousness, faint but undeniable, brushing against the edges of my mind.

I reached out, my hand trembling as it moved toward the crystalline surface.

“Ash, wait—” Jessa started, but it was too late.

The moment my fingers brushed the Nexus, the world shifted.

A flood of images poured into my mind—disjointed, chaotic flashes of places and faces I didn’t recognize. A battlefield shrouded in ash and smoke. A towering spire wrapped in golden light. A man with eyes like molten steel, his expression cold and unyielding.

And then a voice, faint but distinct, whispering through the chaos:

"Not the first. Not the last."

The words echoed, growing louder until they drowned out everything else.

I staggered back, gasping as the connection broke. The others rushed to my side, their voices distant and muffled like they were coming through water.

“Ash! Are you okay?” Jessa’s voice cut through the haze, sharp with concern.

“I’m fine,” I said, though the tremor in my hands betrayed the lie. “It... showed me something.”

“What kind of something?” Farron asked, his usual humor replaced by a rare seriousness.

“Images. A battlefield. A tower. And... a man.” I shook my head, trying to make sense of the fragments. “I think it’s connected to the traveler we met. And whoever came before him.”

Jessa’s expression darkened. “If that’s true, then we need to be careful. This Nexus isn’t just a source of power—it’s part of something bigger. And we’re not the only ones who want it.”

Ryla knelt near the carvings, her sharp gaze studying the symbols. “If the Vanguard are protecting this, it’s because they’re afraid of what happens if it falls into the wrong hands. But who decides what ‘wrong’ is?”

“It’s not the Vanguard,” I said firmly. “And it’s not him.”

The chamber began to tremble, a low rumble that reverberated through the stone. The light from the Nexus pulsed faster, its glow intensifying.

“We need to leave,” Orin said, his voice tense. “Now.”

“But we just got here,” Farron said, though he was already moving toward the exit.

“This place is waking up,” Jessa said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back. “And I don’t want to be here when it does.”

We ran, the tremors growing stronger with each passing second. The hum of the Nexus followed us, growing louder and louder until it felt like it was inside my head, pressing against my thoughts.

As we burst out of the fissure and into the cold air, the trembling stopped. The hum faded, leaving only the howling wind and the sound of our labored breathing.

We turned to look back at the entrance, the faint glow of the Nexus still visible from within.

“That thing isn’t just power,” I said, my voice hoarse. “It’s a message. A warning.”

Jessa nodded, her expression grim. “And we’re just starting to understand what it’s trying to tell us.”

As we gathered our gear and began the descent back into the valley, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were being watched.

The traveler’s words echoed in my mind, as relentless as the hum of the Nexus.

"Not the first. Not the last."

Whatever path the Nexuses were leading us down, it wasn’t just about power.

It was about the truth they had been hiding for centuries.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

And it was a truth I wasn’t sure I was ready to face.

The descent from the Nexus was steep and treacherous, but the silence among us felt heavier than the climb. The chill of the wind bit at my skin, but it was nothing compared to the cold knot in my chest. The words from the Nexus—Not the first. Not the last—played on a loop in my head, each repetition raising more questions than answers.

Jessa walked beside me, her expression unreadable but her posture tense. Farron, usually quick with a joke, had fallen uncharacteristically quiet, and even Orin’s usual dry commentary was absent.

Finally, Farron broke the silence. “Okay, so... we’re all thinking it, right? That guy back there? The traveler? What’s his deal? He looked at Ash like he already knew him.”

“Or like he knew someone like me,” I said, my voice quieter than I intended.

“That’s what scares me,” Jessa muttered.

We stopped to rest near a jagged outcropping halfway down the valley. The glow of the Nexus was still faintly visible above us, pulsing softly against the evening sky like a distant heartbeat.

Ryla pulled out her waterskin and took a long sip before speaking. “If there are other travelers, and they’ve been here longer than Ash... why haven’t we heard about them? Why hasn’t anyone?”

“Maybe because they don’t want to be found,” Orin said. “Or maybe because they’re the ones making the rules now.”

The weight of his words settled over the group like a shroud.

Jessa paced near the edge of the outcropping, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. “If he’s been here long enough to understand the Nexuses, that makes him dangerous. He’s seen things we haven’t, fought battles we can’t imagine. And from the way he fought... he’s more than just skilled. He’s controlled. Calculated.”

“Which means he’s a threat,” Ryla said flatly.

“Not necessarily,” I said, though I wasn’t sure I believed it. “He warned us to stay away, but he didn’t attack unless we forced him to.”

“And the next time?” Jessa asked, turning to face me. “What happens when we cross paths again? Because you know we will.”

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I stared at the glow of the Nexus above us, its light faint but unwavering.

“There’s more to this,” I said finally. “To the Nexuses, to him, to all of it. The Vanguard, Ecclesion—they’re just pieces of a bigger picture, and we’re not seeing it yet.”

“Then what’s the next move?” Orin asked.

“We keep moving forward,” I said, my voice firm. “If the Nexuses are hiding something, we need to figure out what it is. And if that traveler is part of the answer, then we’ll find him again.”

The silence stretched as the others considered my words. Finally, Farron spoke, his voice lighter than before but still tinged with unease.

“Well, if we’re diving headfirst into this mess, I’m going to need more arrows. And maybe a helmet. Do we have time for a shopping trip?”

Despite everything, a small smile tugged at my lips. “We’ll make time.”

“Good,” he said, grinning. “Because I’d hate to face another glowing weirdo without proper accessories.”

We continued our descent, the faint glow of the Nexus slowly disappearing behind us. By the time we reached the valley floor, the sky had darkened, the stars beginning to peek through the clouds.

The village lights were visible in the distance, their warm glow a stark contrast to the cold, oppressive energy of the Nexus.

Jessa fell into step beside me as we approached the outskirts of the village. “You’re sure about this?” she asked quietly.

“No,” I admitted. “But it’s the only lead we have. Whatever’s happening with the Nexuses, it’s bigger than Ecclesion. Bigger than any of us. And we’re already in too deep to turn back.”

The village was quiet when we arrived, the streets deserted and the windows dark. The elder met us near the square, his expression a mixture of relief and apprehension.

“You returned,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “Did you find it?”

“We did,” I said, though the weight of what we’d found still hung heavily in my chest. “And we learned enough to know this isn’t over.”

The elder nodded, his gaze drifting toward the cliffs where the Nexus lay hidden. “It never is,” he said softly.

After a brief discussion with the elder, we made arrangements to rest for the night in one of the empty cottages near the edge of the village. The inside was simple but warm, the crackling fire in the hearth a welcome reprieve from the chill of the valley.

The others settled in quickly—Jessa sharpening her blade by the fire, Ryla inspecting her arrows, Farron already sprawled on a cot with a satisfied sigh.

I sat near the window, staring out at the dark silhouette of the cliffs.

The traveler’s words echoed in my mind, along with the images the Nexus had shown me. The battlefield. The tower. The man with molten steel eyes.

Not the first. Not the last.

What did it all mean? And why had the Nexus chosen to show it to me?

As the firelight flickered against the walls, I tightened my grip on the dagger at my side.

Whatever lay ahead, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.

The path to the truth was opening before us, but it was a path paved with danger—and shadows that seemed all too eager to consume us.

The fire in the hearth crackled softly, casting warm, flickering light against the wooden walls of the small cottage. The others had begun to drift off to sleep, their breathing slow and steady, but I couldn’t relax. My thoughts churned with too many unanswered questions.

I leaned back against the wall near the window, watching the faint outline of the cliffs against the starlit sky. The Nexus still pulsed faintly in my mind, a hum just on the edge of my perception, like a melody I couldn’t quite place.

The traveler’s words refused to let me rest. Not the first. Not the last.

What did that mean? Were there others like him—like me—who had been dragged into this world by forces beyond their understanding? And if so, how many had walked this path before me?

I closed my eyes, but instead of calming my thoughts, it only brought back the flashes from the Nexus. The battlefield, shrouded in ash and fire. The tower, stretching endlessly into the sky. The man with the molten steel eyes.

I gritted my teeth. Those images weren’t random. The Nexus had shown them to me for a reason.

The soft creak of a floorboard pulled me from my thoughts. I opened my eyes to find Jessa standing near the hearth, her blade resting against her hip and her expression unreadable.

“You’re still awake,” she said, her voice low so as not to wake the others.

“Couldn’t sleep,” I replied, gesturing vaguely toward the window. “Too much to think about.”

She walked over, leaning against the wall beside me. For a moment, we stared out at the cliffs together, the silence between us comfortable but heavy.

“You’re carrying a lot,” she said finally.

I let out a bitter laugh. “You noticed, huh?”

She didn’t smile. “This isn’t just about you anymore, Ash. Whatever’s happening with the Nexuses, it’s bigger than all of us. If you let it, it’ll crush you.”

“I can’t just walk away,” I said, my voice firm. “Not after everything we’ve seen.”

Jessa nodded slowly, her gaze distant. “I know. That’s what makes you different.”

Her words settled over me like a thin blanket, offering little comfort but enough to hold onto.

I glanced over at her. “Do you ever think about why you’re here? What brought you into all this?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I stopped asking those questions a long time ago. The answers don’t change anything. The only thing that matters is what you do with the hand you’re dealt.”

I nodded, though the weight of my own questions didn’t ease.

As Jessa moved back toward the hearth, I let my gaze return to the cliffs. Somewhere beyond them, that traveler was out there, watching, waiting. He’d called himself a shepherd, a guardian of the Nexuses—but his warning hadn’t felt like protection.

It had felt like a threat.

The faint hum of the Nexus in my mind grew stronger, sharper, like a string pulled taut. I rubbed my temples, trying to push it aside, but it lingered stubbornly.

And then, just as suddenly as it had come, it vanished.

The absence of it was almost worse, the silence heavy and oppressive.

I glanced toward the dagger lying beside me. Its faint glow had dimmed, the energy within it unusually quiet.

A cold prickle ran down my spine.

I wasn’t alone.

My hand moved instinctively toward the dagger, the hum of Shadow Veil buzzing faintly in my ears.

The door to the cottage creaked open, just slightly, as if nudged by the wind.

I was on my feet in an instant, the dagger drawn as I moved silently toward the entrance. The faint glow of the fire cast long shadows across the room, but the threshold was empty—no movement, no sound.

Jessa was already awake, her blade in hand as she approached from the other side of the room. “You feel that?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

I nodded.

The air outside was cold and still, the village eerily quiet. My breath came out in soft puffs of mist as I stepped into the street, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.

Nothing.

But the feeling of being watched lingered, like eyes pressing against the back of my skull.

Ryla appeared at my side, her bow drawn and her expression sharp. “What is it?”

“I don’t know,” I said, my voice low. “But something’s here.”

Jessa moved to cover the other side of the street, her blade glinting faintly in the starlight. Orin and Farron followed moments later, both alert and tense despite the hour.

“We’re not alone,” I said, gripping the dagger tightly.

“Fantastic,” Farron muttered. “Just what I needed—more glowing weirdos to ruin my night.”

The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the village, soft but deliberate. We turned as one, our weapons raised, but the street ahead was empty.

The steps continued, circling us, growing louder and faster until they seemed to come from all directions at once.

“Stay sharp,” Jessa said, her voice tight.

The sound stopped abruptly, leaving only silence.

And then a voice—low and cold, carrying the weight of the void.

“You shouldn’t have touched it.”

I froze, the words reverberating through the air like a physical force. They didn’t come from any single direction—they came from everywhere.

“You woke something that should have remained silent.”

The ground beneath us trembled faintly, the faint glow of the Nexus pulsing in the distance.

“What are you?” I called out, my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my chest.

There was no answer—only laughter, faint and echoing, as if carried on the wind.

And then the feeling was gone.

The air grew still again, the village silent as if nothing had happened.

We stood frozen, weapons ready, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement.

“What the hell was that?” Farron asked, his voice unsteady.

“Not Ecclesion,” Ryla said, her bow still drawn. “And not the Vanguard, either.”

“Something else,” I said quietly.

Jessa sheathed her blade, her jaw tight. “We’re out of time for rest. Whatever’s happening with the Nexuses, it’s already started. And if we don’t act, we’ll lose what little ground we have.”

I nodded, my gaze fixed on the faint glow of the Nexus above the cliffs.

Whatever we’d stirred awake, it wasn’t done with us.

And this was only the beginning.