The descent into The Obsidian Rift was unlike anything we’d faced before. The deeper we went, the more the world warped around us. Cracks of glowing red and blue energy laced the stone, pulsing like faint heartbeats. Gravity felt inconsistent—stones floated lazily in midair, and the pathways twisted in impossible angles, defying logic and reason.

The Rift wasn’t just corrupted; it was fighting us, rejecting our presence with every step forward.

Selene walked ahead, her daggers drawn, her amber eyes sharp as they scanned every shadow. Devon followed closely behind me, his greatsword balanced over his shoulder, his presence looming and protective.

I stayed in the middle, my shadows flickering faintly around my feet, curling and unraveling like ink in water. My HUD pulsed with error messages every few minutes, glitching faintly as the system struggled to keep up with the instability around us.

[WARNING: ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD – STABILITY AT 25%]

The path narrowed into a jagged stone bridge suspended over an endless chasm. Pieces of the bridge floated in and out of existence, glitching in random patterns.

Selene halted, holding up a hand. “We’ll need to time this perfectly. The stone slabs are unstable—they’ll collapse if we linger too long.”

Devon let out a low whistle. “Well, isn’t this a fun little obstacle course?”

I glanced down at the shadows flickering at my feet, an idea sparking in my mind. “I think… I can help us cross.”

Selene’s sharp gaze flicked to me. “What are you thinking?”

I raised my hand, shadows swirling into my palm as I summoned Shadow Maw. The spectral wolf emerged, its violet eyes locking onto mine as it waited for a command.

“Go,” I whispered, pointing to the first floating slab.

The shadow wolf dashed forward, leaping onto the unstable stone. As it landed, the slab flickered faintly, stabilizing briefly.

“It worked!” I said, grinning.

Selene nodded. “We follow its path. Move fast.”

We moved one at a time, following Shadow Maw as it leaped from slab to slab, creating temporary stability in its wake. My shadows strained under the effort, flickering and trembling as I focused more on maintaining the wolf’s form.

When we reached solid ground again, I was panting, sweat dripping down my temple. The shadow wolf let out a faint growl before dissolving into wisps of dark smoke.

[Skill Progression: Shadow Maw +10% Mastery]

Devon clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grin wide. “Nice work, sis. You’re getting the hang of this.”

Selene’s gaze lingered on me for a moment, something unreadable in her amber eyes, before she turned away. “Let’s keep moving. The Rift isn’t going to wait for us.”

The terrain became more treacherous as we moved deeper—unstable platforms, glitching zones of gravity inversion, and pools of shimmering red corruption that hissed faintly when approached.

At one point, we reached a cavern with multiple branching paths, each one disappearing into inky darkness.

Selene knelt by the ground, examining faint footprints in the corrupted dust. “This path here—it’s been disturbed recently. Someone’s passed through.”

Devon frowned, resting his greatsword against his shoulder. “Or something. You sure we shouldn’t take a more open route?”

Selene stood, her voice sharp. “Open routes leave us exposed. If we stay low and quiet, we’ll have the element of surprise.”

Devon crossed his arms. “Yeah? And if we walk straight into a trap because we can’t see ten feet in front of us?”

The tension between them crackled like static.

“Guys,” I said softly, stepping between them. “We can’t afford to argue right now. Selene, you’re right—we need to be careful. But Devon’s also right. If we’re walking blind, we’re vulnerable.”

Selene sighed, turning away. Devon grumbled under his breath but followed as Selene took the lead again.

As we walked, Devon’s voice came softly beside me. “You’re getting good at keeping the peace, Kiera.”

I nudged him lightly with my elbow. “Somebody has to.”

He smirked faintly, but the tension lingered in his shoulders.

A sudden growl echoed through the cavern, and shapes emerged from the corrupted shadows—Rift Crawlers, spider-like creatures with glowing red eyes and jagged limbs.

[ENEMY ENCOUNTER: RIFT CRAWLERS]

* Level: 18-22

* Weakness: Light and Fire-based Abilities

They came in swarms, skittering along the walls and floor.

“Formation!” Selene barked, spinning her daggers into her hands.

Devon planted his greatsword into the ground with a sharp clang, creating a defensive line.

I stepped back, shadows flickering wildly at my feet.

Think, Kiera. Think!

“Abyssal Chains!” I shouted, slamming my hand into the ground. Dark chains erupted, snaring several Rift Crawlers and locking them in place.

I followed up with Shadow Bolt, my shadows cracking with violet energy as I blasted one of the creatures to pieces.

But there were too many.

“Time to try something new,” I muttered, raising my hand. “Shadow Maw!”

The wolf emerged again, but this time, I focused—really focused.

“Go through them!”

The spectral wolf lunged forward, its form splintering into several smaller wolves that tore through the horde in synchronized chaos. Rift Crawlers screeched as the shadows shredded them to pieces.

Selene whistled softly. “Impressive.”

Devon grinned, swinging his greatsword in a wide arc and obliterating the last group of spiders. “You’re starting to make this look easy.”

My HUD pinged:

[LEVEL UP!][Level 14 Achieved]

* Skill Points +5

* Stat Points +15

* New Skill Unlocked: Shadow Mirage (Create shadow duplicates to confuse enemies briefly)]

After the fight, we found shelter in a narrow alcove, faintly lit by glowing fragments embedded in the walls.

I collapsed against a stone outcrop, shadows pooling lazily at my feet as the exhaustion hit me.

Selene crouched beside me, her gaze softer now. “You did good, Kiera. Better than good.”

Devon sat across from us, cleaning his greatsword with a faint frown. His eyes flicked briefly toward Selene, then back to me.

For a moment, everything felt… still. Quiet.

Selene’s amber eyes met mine, and something warm flickered in her expression before she turned away slightly, her voice soft.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Get some rest. We’ll move again soon.”

Devon reached out and gave my knee a light pat. “You’re doing great. I’ve got your back, always.”

I nodded, leaning back and letting my shadows settle around me like a comforting blanket.

The Rift still pulsed faintly in the distance, its red and blue glow seeping through the cracks in the stone.

But for now, in this fleeting moment of stillness, we rested—three fragile souls stitched together by purpose, survival, and something else unspoken.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

The path deeper into The Obsidian Rift felt endless. Every step forward brought a new hazard—unstable platforms, gravity-defying chasms, and the constant flicker of corrupted code rippling across every surface. Yet, despite the tension hanging over us like a sword on a fraying thread, there were small, fleeting moments that felt almost… normal.

We had stopped briefly in a more stable section of the Rift, a small alcove carved naturally into the jagged stone wall. A thin stream of light glowed faintly from above, filtering through fractured cracks in the ceiling. Devon stood at the alcove's edge, his greatsword resting against his shoulder, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows beyond.

Selene knelt nearby, sharpening one of her daggers with deliberate, precise movements. Her amber eyes flickered occasionally toward me, though her expression remained unreadable.

I sat on a flat rock a few feet from Devon, trying to catch my breath. The shadows at my feet stirred faintly, reflecting the lingering unease twisting in my chest.

“You holding up?” Devon’s voice broke the silence. It was soft but steady, cutting through the low hum of static that seemed ever-present in the Rift.

I glanced up, offering a faint smile. “Yeah… I think so.”

He stepped closer, lowering his greatsword to lean it casually against the rock beside him. His heavy armor clinked faintly as he crouched in front of me, his sharp brown eyes scanning my face.

“You’re tense,” he said softly, his gloved hand resting briefly on my knee. “You’ve been carrying the weight of this whole thing, Kiera. You need to let yourself breathe.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the warmth of his hand through the layers of my outfit. “It’s hard to breathe when every step feels like it might collapse under us.”

Devon’s lips curved into a faint smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m here. Selene’s here. You’re not carrying this alone.”

For a moment, the Rift’s static hum faded away, leaving only the two of us in this small pocket of stillness. Devon’s hand lingered on my knee before sliding away as he stood, his armored form casting a faint shadow over me in the pale glow of Rift light.

“Get some rest while we can,” he said, his voice softer now. “I’ll keep watch.”

As he turned away, his fingers briefly brushed against mine—a fleeting, almost accidental touch that sent a spark flickering up my arm. I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I watched him return to his position at the alcove's edge.

I glanced briefly toward Selene, who had paused to sharpen her dagger. Her amber eyes were sharp and focused on me, something unreadable flickering behind them before she returned to her blade.

After some rest, we ventured deeper into the Rift again. The terrain became even more chaotic, like a puzzle someone had smashed and then hastily glued back together. Gravity twisted oddly in places; loose stones floated in mid-air, pulsing faintly with corrupted energy.

We moved cautiously, Selene leading us down a narrow stone path suspended over a chasm stretching forever downward.

“Watch your step,” she said, her voice low but firm.

Devon walked just behind me, his presence a steadying force as the narrow path crumbled slightly underfoot.

I felt the shadows reacting to the chaotic energy around me, almost… eager.

A growl echoed ahead, and three Rift Hounds—glitching, wolf-like creatures with jagged teeth and glowing eyes—emerged from a cluster of floating rubble.

[ENEMY ENCOUNTER: RIFT HOUNDS]

* Level: 20-22

* Weakness: Ranged Attacks

The hounds snarled, their forms flickering like static-filled holograms.

Selene darted forward, daggers flashing in her hands as she drew the attention of one. Devon moved to intercept another, his greatsword cutting through the air in a wide, brutal arc.

The third hound locked eyes with me.

Time to try something new.

“Shadow Mirage!” I called out, raising my hand.

For a moment, nothing happened—but then, three shadowy figures stepped out from me, flickering copies of my form, each wreathed in faint violet light. The Rift Hound lunged, sinking its teeth into one of the copies, and it dissolved instantly.

“YES!” I shouted, realizing the opportunity. While the creature was distracted, I summoned Shadow Maw. The spectral wolf lunged at the hound, snapping its jaw around its neck and dragging it to the ground.

“Venom Kiss!” I followed up, my dagger glowing faintly as I slashed downward into the beast’s glitching body.

The Rift Hound shrieked before dissolving into shards of corrupted data.

[XP GAINED: 350][Skill Progression: Shadow Mirage +10% Mastery]

Selene made short work of her opponent, her daggers striking with surgical precision. Devon crushed the last one beneath his greatsword, the creature vanishing in a burst of fragmented pixels.

“That was… creative,” Selene said as she approached me, wiping her daggers clean. “You’re learning fast.”

Devon grinned as he rested his greatsword against his shoulder. “That was slick, Kiera. You’re starting to look like you belong here.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, I smiled. Not a forced, fleeting smile—but something genuine.

After what felt like hours of navigating the collapsing paths and fending off unstable anomalies, we stumbled across another temporary refuge—a small settlement tucked within the Rift’s depths. Unlike Sanctuary Outpost, this place felt… hidden. Lanterns flickered with faint purple light, and makeshift tents were scattered across rocky platforms.

NPCs bustled about, their faces tight with exhaustion. A sign hung above one of the main tents:

[NIGHTHAVEN REFUGE]

“Looks like we’ve found another hideout,” Devon said, his voice low as he scanned the surroundings.

We approached cautiously. A hooded NPC—name tag faintly flickering as [Caretaker Vynn]—greeted us.

“You’ve come far to reach this place,” he said, his voice weathered but kind. “Rest, resupply, and gather your strength. The Rift does not forgive weakness.”

We spent some time browsing vendors, repairing equipment, and listening to fragmented rumors from other adventurers who had passed through. The fragmented binary trail on my HUD pulsed faintly, pointing deeper into the chaos.

The makeshift tent we’d set up was cramped but functional, its canvas walls glowing faintly from the distorted light of the Rift outside. Devon had taken first watch again, his silhouette visible just beyond the entrance flap.

Selene and I sat across from each other in the small space, the flickering light of a lantern casting soft shadows across her sharp features.

“You and Devon seem… close,” Selene said suddenly, her voice smooth but carrying a faint edge of curiosity.

I blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, yeah. I mean… he’s Devon. We’ve always been close. Kind of a sibling thing, I guess?”

Selene’s lips twitched faintly into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Sibling thing? You sure about that?”

I felt my face heat up instantly. “W-What do you mean?”

Selene leaned slightly forward, her amber eyes sharp but softened by something else—something warm. “I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Kiera. And how you look at him.”

I stammered, my voice cracking. “No—no, it’s not like that. He’s just… Devon. Protective, overbearing Devon. He’s always been like that.”

Selene tilted her head slightly, her gaze never leaving mine. “But what about you, Kiera? How do you feel about him?”

The air in the tent felt impossibly heavy. Shadows flickered faintly at my feet, betraying my nervous energy. “I—I don’t… I mean… Devon’s important to me. But it’s not like… that...”

My words stumbled over each other, my cheeks burning as I tried—and failed—to form a coherent response.

Selene’s lips curved into the faintest of smirks, but her amber eyes softened. “You’re terrible at lying, you know that?”

I let out a soft, nervous laugh, running a hand through my thick curls. “I’m… really bad at this.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Selene’s gaze lingered on me, her expression softer now—unguarded in a way I’d rarely seen from her.

She leaned closer, her face inches from mine. Her voice was barely above a whisper. Her eyes were half-lidded, reminding me of "bedroom eyes." “You know… Devon isn’t the only one who looks at you like that.”

My breath caught in my throat. Her amber eyes flickered briefly to my lips before returning to my gaze.

The shadows around my feet stilled completely, their faint flickering going quiet as if holding their breath.

Selene’s face was so close now that I could feel the faint warmth of her breath. Her hand reached out, her fingertips just grazing mine—

But then—

“Everything okay in here?”

Devon’s voice cut through the stillness like a blade.

Selene froze, her sharp mask sliding back into place in an instant. She turned her head slightly toward the tent flap, her voice cool and steady. “We’re fine.”

I jerked back slightly, my cheeks burning as I tried to compose myself. “Y-Yeah. Everything’s fine, Devon.”

Devon stepped halfway into the tent, his dark brown eyes flickering between us. His posture was relaxed, but there was something sharp in the way his gaze lingered on Selene before shifting to me.

“Good,” he said, his voice carrying an edge I couldn’t quite place. “Try to get some rest. We move at dawn.”

He stepped back out of the tent, the flap closing softly behind him.

The silence that followed felt suffocating.

Selene leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker across her amber eyes—something like regret or hesitation—but then she looked away, adjusting the straps of her daggers.

I swallowed hard, shadows flickering faintly at my feet once more.

“Get some sleep, Kiera,” Selene said softly, her voice quieter now.

I nodded, pulling the thin blanket around my shoulders as I curled up on the tent floor. But sleep wouldn’t come easily—not with my heart racing, my thoughts tangled, and the faint warmth of Selene’s closeness still lingering on my skin.

Outside, the faint glow of the Rift pulsed steadily as if echoing the rhythm of my unsteady heartbeat.