The days following the Blackwood Rift mission were a whirlwind of recovery and reflection. The academy buzzed with rumors about the team’s success, but for Jin and the others, the victory felt hollow. The memory of the Shade—a creature that was not just powerful but intelligent—hung over them like a storm cloud.

Jin sat in the library late one evening, the dim light of enchanted lanterns casting long shadows across the rows of ancient tomes. He poured over a dusty book titled “Manifestations of the Rift: A Comprehensive Study.” The pages were filled with illustrations of Feralis, theories on Rift anomalies, and warnings about creatures that defied categorization.

“What are you looking for?” Lira’s voice broke the silence. She approached with her usual grace, setting a cup of tea beside him before taking a seat.

“Anything on Shades,” Jin replied, his voice heavy with frustration. “They’re barely mentioned in the academy’s lessons, and even the instructors seem reluctant to talk about them.”

Lira sipped her tea, her expression contemplative. “Maybe that’s because they don’t understand them. The Rifts are unpredictable, and Shades… they feel like something outside the natural order.”

Jin nodded, running a hand through his hair. “But that’s what worries me. If the Rifts are evolving—creating creatures like the Shade—how are we supposed to fight back?”

Lira didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she reached across the table and placed a hand on his. “We don’t have to have all the answers right now. What matters is that we keep pushing forward, together.”

Jin managed a small smile. “Thanks, Lira. I just wish I knew what we’re dealing with.”

The next morning, the recruits were summoned to the Grand Hall for an unexpected assembly. Lady Ilaris stood at the podium, her expression grave. Behind her were several senior instructors and a new face—a man with sharp features, silver hair, and piercing blue eyes. He wore the insignia of the High Council, the governing body overseeing Rift Hunter operations across the continent.

“Recruits,” Lady Ilaris began, her voice steady but somber. “In light of recent events, the High Council has decided to accelerate certain initiatives. Allow me to introduce Envoy Therion, who will be overseeing these changes.”

Therion stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the gathered recruits like a predator assessing its prey. “The Rifts are changing,” he said, his voice cold and authoritative. “We’ve received reports of increased activity across multiple regions. New anomalies. New creatures. And yes, beings like the Shade your team encountered.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Jin felt a chill run down his spine.

“To combat this threat,” Therion continued, “we will be implementing advanced training protocols and deploying more recruits into the field. The time for hesitation is over. If you are not prepared to face these dangers, step aside now.”

No one moved, though the tension in the room was palpable.

“Your team,” Therion said, his eyes locking onto Jin, Lira, and the others, “will be among the first to participate in these new operations. Your experience with the Shade makes you uniquely qualified. However, this also makes you a target. The Rifts are drawn to those who disrupt their balance.”

Jin exchanged a glance with Ryen, who looked as unsettled as he felt. Corin, however, smirked and whispered, “No pressure, huh?”

Later that day, the team gathered in the briefing room with Captain Varok and Envoy Therion. A map of the region was spread out on the table, marked with glowing runes that indicated Rift activity.

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“Our next target is here,” Varok said, pointing to a dense forest known as the Whispering Glade. “A Tier-2 Rift has formed in the area, and it’s been destabilizing the surrounding environment. Local wildlife has been corrupted, and nearby villages are reporting strange occurrences.”

“Strange how?” Kaela asked, her arm still bandaged from the last mission.

“Disappearances,” Varok replied. “Lights in the sky. Unexplainable sounds. Classic signs of Rift influence, but amplified.”

“Why send us?” Ryen asked. “This sounds like something for a seasoned team.”

Therion folded his arms. “Because we need answers, not just brute force. If there’s a Shade involved, we need to know how and why it’s appearing. You’ve already faced one. That gives you an edge.”

Jin wasn’t sure he agreed with that logic, but he nodded all the same. “What’s the mission objective?”

“Neutralize the Rift and gather as much information as possible,” Varok said. “Be prepared for anything.”

The journey to the Whispering Glade took two days by enchanted carriage. As they neared their destination, the air grew colder, and an unnatural fog rolled in, muffling sound and obscuring vision.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Corin muttered, gripping his twin daggers tightly.

“Stay focused,” Varok said. “The Rift could be anywhere in this area. Lira, can you sense anything?”

Lira closed her eyes, extending her magical senses. After a moment, she frowned. “There’s… something. It’s faint, but it feels like it’s moving.”

“Moving?” Jin asked, his stomach tightening.

Before she could respond, a piercing howl echoed through the fog. Shadows moved in the distance, and moments later, a pack of corrupted wolves emerged. Their eyes glowed with an eerie light, and their fur was matted with black, tar-like substance.

“Form up!” Varok shouted.

The wolves attacked with terrifying speed. Ryen stepped forward, swinging his hammer in wide arcs to keep them at bay. Lira summoned a barrier of water, protecting the rear, while Corin darted between the creatures, landing quick, precise strikes.

Jin focused on supporting the team, using his wind magic to knock the wolves off balance and create openings for his teammates. Despite their coordination, the creatures seemed endless, their snarls and growls filling the air.

“Fall back to higher ground!” Varok ordered. The team retreated to a rocky outcrop, giving them a better vantage point.

From their elevated position, Jin spotted a glowing figure in the distance—a humanoid shape wreathed in light. It stood motionless, watching the battle.

“Captain!” Jin shouted. “There’s something out there!”

Varok followed his gaze and cursed under his breath. “It’s not attacking. Why?”

The glowing figure raised an arm, and the wolves abruptly stopped their assault. They retreated into the fog, leaving the team battered but alive.

“What was that?” Kaela asked, her voice trembling.

“A Warden,” Therion said, appearing behind them. He had followed the team unnoticed. “A guardian created by the Rift. It’s testing you.”

“Testing us for what?” Jin demanded.

Therion’s expression was unreadable. “To see if you’re worthy of facing what lies within.”

As night fell, the team pressed deeper into the glade, guided by the faint glow of the Rift in the distance. The forest grew quieter with each step, the usual sounds of nature replaced by an oppressive silence.

When they finally reached the Rift, it was unlike anything they had seen before. The portal was massive, its energy crackling with an unnatural intensity. Floating around it were dozens of smaller orbs, each pulsing with light.

“What are those?” Lira asked.

“Manifestations of the Rift’s power,” Varok said. “Destroying them should weaken it.”

As the team prepared to engage, the glowing figure from before reappeared, stepping out of the Rift. This time, its features were clearer. It had a face—pale and angular, with glowing blue eyes that seemed to pierce through them.

“Why do you fight us?” the figure asked, its voice echoing like a chorus. “We only seek balance.”

“Balance?” Jin stepped forward, anger rising in his chest. “You call corruption and destruction balance?”

The figure tilted its head. “Your world has tipped the scales. We are the correction.”

Before anyone could respond, the figure raised its hand, and the orbs around the Rift began to glow brighter. Creatures emerged from the portal—dozens of Feralis, more than the team had ever faced.

“Get ready!” Varok shouted. “This is it!”

The battle began, chaos erupting around them. As the team fought to destroy the orbs, Jin couldn’t shake the figure’s words from his mind. What did it mean by balance? And why did it feel like the Rifts were more than just random anomalies?

For now, those questions would have to wait. Their survival depended on destroying the Rift—and whatever lay beyond it.