The city of Aeryndral buzzed with life as Caelan pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the guild hall. The clamor of adventurers exchanging stories and the smell of ale and roasted meats hit him all at once. But the weight in his chest dulled the atmosphere. The rest of his party trailed behind, their faces clouded with tension.

  The aftermath of the dungeon had left more questions than answers. Torrin, Serin, Daren, and Veyra had fought bravely, but the encounter with the shard-creatures—and the unsettling resonance between Caelan and the shards—had left them shaken.

  Inside the hall, they gathered around a table in the corner, away from the raucous crowd. Daren leaned his shield against the wall, crossing his arms. Serin toyed with an arrow, her expression distant. Torrin avoided Caelan’s gaze, while Veyra studied him carefully.

  Daren broke the silence. “We need to talk.”

  Caelan nodded, though he already knew what was coming.

  “That shard,” Serin began, her voice sharp, “and whatever connection you have to it—it’s not normal. You felt it too, didn’t you?”

  “I did,” Caelan admitted, his voice steady. “And I won’t pretend to understand it. But those creatures… and the visions I saw… they’re tied to my curse.”

  Veyra leaned forward. “Your curse is dangerous, Caelan. It’s not just your problem anymore. The shards react to you. And whatever’s tied to them knows you’re out there now.”

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  Torrin finally spoke, his voice low. “We barely made it out alive. If we keep going, how do we know we won’t be dragged into something worse?”

  The words hung heavily in the air.

  “I didn’t ask you to come with me,” Caelan said, his tone calm but firm. “You joined me knowing the risks.”

  “We did,” Daren said, his gaze steady. “But this isn’t just about risks. It’s about survival. I have a family waiting for me. Torrin has his own reasons. Even Serin, as reckless as she is, values her life.”

  Serin shot him a glare but didn’t argue.

  “I understand,” Caelan said after a moment. He looked at each of them, the faces of those who had fought beside him, risked their lives for him. “If this is where we part ways, I won’t hold it against you.”

  One by one, they nodded.

  “We’ll be staying in Aeryndral for a while,” Daren said. “If you ever need help and can prove the odds are sane, you know where to find us.”

  Caelan gave a small nod of gratitude. “Thank you. For everything.”

  With his companions gone, Caelan found himself wandering the city streets, his thoughts heavy. The shard’s glow and the whispers still haunted him. Seeking answers, he visited the local archivist, who directed him to a secluded village just beyond the northern forests—Caoulus.

  Caoulus was a quiet, mist-shrouded place that seemed forgotten by time. The villagers spoke little, their eyes wary as they passed him. At the heart of the village stood a small hut, its walls adorned with charms and strange symbols.

  The seer was an elderly woman with clouded eyes, her voice soft but commanding. She beckoned him to sit and began her reading without hesitation.

  “You carry a curse not born of this world,” she said, her fingers tracing the air around him. “It doesn’t come from the shards. No… it comes from within you.”

  Caelan frowned. “What does that mean?”

  “It means your very essence is entwined with darkness,” she continued. “The shards merely amplify what’s already there. And what lies within you is tied to a power ancient and vengeful.”

  Her words chilled him. “How do I break it?”

  “You cannot break what is part of you,” she replied. “But there are those who may help you understand it. Seek the elves. In their lands, there are healers and mages who specialize in curses. Perhaps they can help you harness—or suppress—what lies within.”

  “Where?”

  “The continent of Elenvara. It is a perilous journey, but if you wish to find answers, that is where you must go.”

  Caelan left Caoulus with a sense of grim determination. Returning to Aeryndral, he gathered what supplies he could and prepared for the journey ahead. The port city of Velaris, where ships sailed to Elenvara, was several days’ travel away.