The relentless sound of the wind howling through the mountains accompanies Elorin and Rhylen as they climb the narrow, rocky path that winds ever higher into the craggy peaks. The relic's light has dimmed to a faint glow, barely illuminating the jagged rocks beneath their feet. The terrain is unforgiving, and the deeper they go, the colder it gets. Each step forward feels like a battle against the elements—and time.

Elorin grips the relic tightly, her fingers numb from the cold. The symbols on its surface still pulse faintly, guiding them onward. But with every passing moment, the weight of what they're doing presses harder on her chest. The sense of urgency gnaws at her as the relic's warnings grow more insistent.

Varkos is coming.

"We need to keep moving," Rhylen says, his voice tight, his eyes scanning the mountain path ahead. He glances back at the swirling shadows that linger in the forest far below, their pale eyes watching them ascend but making no move to follow. "The shadows are waiting for something."

"Or someone," Elorin mutters, shivering. "Varkos won't let us get far."

Rhylen's jaw clenches, his gaze hardening. "Then we need to find the key before he catches up."

They continue to climb, the mountain path becoming steeper and more treacherous. The air grows thinner, and Elorin's breath comes in ragged gasps. She feels the relic's pulse in her palm, guiding her like a heartbeat, steady and unrelenting. The path winds between jagged cliffs, and the further they go, the more the landscape around them transforms. The trees become sparser, replaced by cold, jagged rocks that rise up like ancient, forgotten sentinels.

Elorin shivers again, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders. She feels exposed up here, out in the open, with no cover from the elements or the lurking shadows below.

"How much further?" Rhylen asks, his breath visible in the cold mountain air. "That relic of yours better not be leading us into a trap."

Elorin glances down at the relic, watching its glow pulse faintly. "We're close. I can feel it. The key is just beyond this ridge."

They push on, rounding a sharp bend in the path that opens into a narrow plateau, hemmed in by towering cliffs on either side. In the center of the plateau stands a stone archway, ancient and weathered, its surface covered in symbols similar to those etched into the relic.

Elorin's heart skips a beat. "This is it."

Rhylen approaches the archway cautiously, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Are you sure?"

Elorin nods, stepping forward. "The relic brought us here for a reason."

She holds the relic out toward the stone archway. As she approaches, the symbols on the arch begin to glow, responding to the relic's presence. The air hums with energy, the same ancient magic that thrummed in the Ironhold. The relic pulses in time with the symbols, and Elorin feels the power building, rising up from the ground beneath her feet.

Rhylen watches her carefully, his eyes scanning the surrounding cliffs for any sign of movement. "Be ready, Elorin. Varkos won't let us take this key without a fight."

Elorin swallows hard, her fingers tightening around the relic. "I know."

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As she steps closer to the archway, the air around them shifts. A low rumble echoes through the mountains, and the ground beneath them trembles. Elorin gasps, her heart pounding in her chest as the relic flares with a sudden, blinding light.

The stone archway groans as the symbols glow brighter, pulsing in time with the relic. The energy surges through the air, crackling like a storm. Elorin can feel the power in the air, thick and electric. The ground shakes harder, and the archway begins to open, a dark void swirling in the space between the stones.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Rhylen asks, his voice tense.

"I—I don't know," Elorin stammers, her eyes wide as she stares into the swirling void. "But I think this is where the key is."

Rhylen steps closer to the void, his expression grim. "We don't have much choice. We have to go through."

Elorin nods, steeling herself. She takes a deep breath and steps toward the void, her heart hammering in her chest. The relic pulses again, urging her forward. The swirling darkness seems to beckon her, drawing her closer with every step.

But just as Elorin is about to cross through the archway, a voice cuts through the air like a blade.

"You're too late."

Elorin freezes, her breath catching in her throat. She doesn't need to turn around to know who it is.

Varkos.

Rhylen spins around, his sword raised as the shadows at the edge of the plateau surge forward, coalescing into a dark, hulking figure. Varkos steps out of the swirling shadows, his eyes glowing with that unnatural, malevolent light. He moves with a fluid grace, his cloak billowing behind him as the shadows obey his every command.

"You really thought you could outrun me?" Varkos sneers, his eyes locking onto Elorin. "The relic belongs to me, little one. And I'll take it from you—whether you're alive or not."

Elorin's pulse races as she steps back, clutching the relic tightly in her hand. The void behind her swirls ominously, but she knows they can't afford to back down now.

"You can't have it," she says, her voice shaking but defiant. "We won't let you."

Varkos laughs, a low, cruel sound that sends a chill through her bones. "You still don't understand, do you? The relic was created for this—created to bring about the invasion. You're only delaying the inevitable."

Rhylen steps between them, his sword gleaming in the dim light. "We're not giving it to you, Varkos. If you want it, you'll have to take it from us."

Varkos's eyes narrow, and the shadows around him twist and writhe like living creatures. "So be it."

In an instant, the shadows surge forward, faster than Elorin can react. Rhylen swings his sword, slicing through the darkness, but the shadows reform just as quickly, circling around him like predators. Elorin stumbles back, her heart racing as she watches the battle unfold.

Varkos moves toward her, his eyes glowing with dark intent. Elorin grips the relic tighter, the warmth of its power flooding through her. She can feel the relic's energy building, but it's wild—untamed. She doesn't know how to control it, but if she doesn't do something soon, Varkos will take the relic.

Her mind races. She has to protect the relic. She has to stop him.

The void behind her pulses, and for a split second, an idea flickers through her mind. The key is beyond the archway. If she can get through, she might be able to unlock the relic's full power. It's a risk, but it might be their only chance.

"Rhylen!" she shouts, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We have to go through the archway!"

Rhylen glances back at her, his expression tight with concentration as he fends off the shadows. "Are you sure?"

Elorin nods, her heart racing. "It's the only way!"

Without another word, Rhylen slashes through the nearest shadow and makes a break for the archway. Elorin spins around, the relic pulsing in her hand as she steps toward the swirling void.

But Varkos is faster.

Before she can react, Varkos is on her, his hand closing around her wrist like a vice. The force of his grip makes her cry out, the relic slipping from her hand. It hits the ground with a heavy thud, its light flickering weakly.

Varkos's eyes burn with triumph as he leans in, his voice a low whisper. "It's over, little one."

Elorin's heart races, her mind spinning as the darkness of the void beckons behind her. In a last, desperate move, she reaches out with her free hand and grabs the relic from the ground.

And then, without thinking, she steps into the void.

The world spins around her as she's pulled through the swirling darkness, the air rushing past her like a storm. The last thing she sees is Varkos's furious expression, the shadows swirling around him as the void swallows her whole.