The cold air of the Ironhold presses down on Elorin like a heavy weight. The ancient fortress hums with an energy that she doesn't yet understand, but the relic in her hand pulses in time with it, as though responding to the magic embedded in the very walls. Every corner of the Ironhold feels alive, waiting—watching.

Rhylen paces behind her, his eyes flicking toward the shadows still swirling beyond the gates. They've bought themselves a moment of safety, but that moment won't last.

"You said the relic's connected to this place," Rhylen mutters, his voice tense. "But what does that mean? We need to unlock its power now, not later."

Elorin breathes deeply, her eyes locked on the stone tablet before her. The symbols etched into it glow faintly, matching those on the relic. "I don't know how yet," she admits, frustration bubbling inside her. "But I can feel it—this is the key. It's connected to the relic, and we need to unlock it somehow."

Rhylen stops pacing and steps closer, his eyes scanning the ancient symbols. "We don't have time for guesswork, Elorin. Varkos is out there, and the shadows won't wait much longer."

She nods, her heart racing. The relic hums in her hand, and she knows Rhylen is right. They don't have time. She moves closer to the pedestal, holding the relic over the stone tablet. The relic pulses, its glow intensifying, and suddenly, the symbols on the tablet shift and rearrange themselves, forming new patterns right before her eyes.

Elorin gasps, stepping back in shock. "Did you see that?"

Rhylen's jaw tightens, his grip on his sword tightening. "What's happening?"

The symbols continue to shift, moving faster now, glowing brighter with every second. Elorin's heart pounds in her chest as the relic's warmth spreads through her, a deep connection forming between the relic and the tablet. She can feel the energy building, surging through the air like a storm.

Without thinking, Elorin places the relic directly onto the stone tablet.

The instant the relic touches the tablet, a blinding light explodes from the pedestal, filling the chamber. Elorin staggers back, shielding her eyes from the intense glow. The power surges through her, a tidal wave of energy that almost knocks her off her feet.

And then, as quickly as it appeared, the light fades.

Elorin lowers her hands slowly, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The relic lies on the tablet, now glowing with a deep, golden light. The symbols on the stone tablet pulse in rhythm with the relic, and the air in the chamber feels charged, crackling with raw magic.

Rhylen steps forward cautiously, his eyes locked on the relic. "What did you do?"

Elorin shakes her head, still dazed from the surge of energy. "I… I don't know. But I think the relic is… unlocking something."

Rhylen glances at the relic, then back at Elorin. "Whatever it is, we need to figure it out fast. Varkos isn't going to wait."

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Elorin steps closer to the relic, her hand hovering over it. The warmth it gives off is stronger now, more controlled, as though the relic is coming alive—responding to something. As her fingers brush the surface, a new sensation floods through her: understanding.

"I think it's a map," she whispers, staring down at the relic. "It's showing us something."

Rhylen moves beside her, peering down at the relic. "A map?"

Elorin nods slowly, her mind racing. "Look at the symbols—they've changed. They're showing us the location of something. I think… I think this is the first key."

Rhylen's brow furrows. "First key to what?"

"The relic's true power," Elorin replies, her voice filled with awe. "It was never meant to be wielded on its own. There's something else—another piece we need to find. This is just the beginning."

Rhylen exhales sharply. "So we're looking for more of these things?"

Elorin nods, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and dread. "If we want to stop Varkos, we need to unlock the full power of the relic. But to do that, we need to find the other keys."

Rhylen runs a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. "This complicates things. We're running out of time, Elorin. Varkos is closing in, and we still don't fully understand what we're dealing with."

Elorin bites her lip, her mind racing. "I know. But we don't have a choice. The relic's leading us to something—something that can help us stop him. We have to follow it."

Rhylen stares at her for a long moment, weighing their options. Finally, he nods. "Then we go. But we need to move fast. If Varkos finds out about this…"

"He already knows," Elorin says quietly, her eyes darkening. "That's why he's after the relic. He's looking for the same thing we are."

Rhylen curses under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword. "Then we have to be faster."

Without wasting another moment, Elorin grabs the relic from the tablet, feeling its warmth spread through her as it responds to her touch. The symbols on the relic are now clear, like a map etched into its surface, guiding them to their next destination. But the sense of urgency gnaws at her—time is running out, and Varkos is closer than ever.

They leave the chamber, moving quickly through the dark corridors of the Ironhold. The ancient fortress seems to hum around them, as though it knows their time is limited. As they reach the open gates, the cold night air hits them, and Elorin's heart sinks.

The shadows are waiting.

They shift and swirl at the edges of the forest, their pale eyes glowing with malevolent intent. The shadows seem bolder now, more aggressive, like they've sensed the power of the relic and won't stop until they claim it.

"We don't have time for this," Rhylen mutters, his eyes scanning the dark figures ahead. "We need to make it to the next key."

Elorin grips the relic tightly, feeling its power thrumming in her hand. "We need to go around them. They'll follow, but the relic is protecting us—for now."

Rhylen nods, his expression grim. "Then we move fast."

They slip into the shadows of the trees, weaving through the thick forest as quickly and quietly as they can. The shadows follow them, moving like predators stalking prey, but they don't attack. Not yet. It's as if they're waiting for something—or someone.

Elorin's mind races as they move, the relic's warmth pulsing in her hand, guiding her. She can feel the urgency, the pull of the next key. But as they push deeper into the forest, the sense of dread grows stronger. Varkos is out there, and he's getting closer.

As they reach a narrow path that winds up into the mountains, Elorin's breath catches. The relic flares to life, glowing brighter than ever. "We're close," she whispers.

Rhylen looks up at the path, his expression grim. "And so is Varkos."

The ground trembles beneath them, a deep rumble that seems to echo through the forest. The shadows surge forward, more aggressive now, their pale eyes gleaming with hunger.

Elorin's heart races as she holds the relic out in front of her, the golden light flaring as the shadows recoil. But she knows it won't be enough—not for long.

"We need to move!" Rhylen shouts, drawing his sword as the shadows close in.

Elorin clutches the relic tightly, her pulse pounding in her ears. They have to reach the next key—before it's too late.