The evening air was thick with the scent of damp earth and smoke. Arin leaned against the splintered wooden railing of the safe house’s balcony, the shard resting in his palm. Its faint, otherworldly glow cast soft light onto his face, a stark contrast to the turbulent emotions swirling within him.
He traced his thumb over its jagged edges, marveling at how something so small could wield such immense power—and bring so much trouble. The shard had saved his life, sure, but it had also painted a target on his back. And now, with the resistance depending on him, the weight of it all felt suffocating.
“You’re brooding,” Kaelith’s voice interrupted his thoughts. She stepped onto the balcony, her presence as casual as ever. “Not your best look.”
Arin sighed, pocketing the shard. “Just thinking.”
“Dangerous pastime,” Kaelith teased, leaning against the railing beside him. Her sharp eyes scanned his face. “Let me guess… You’re wondering if you’re cut out for this.”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he watched the distant lights of Crestborne patrols moving through the forest. Their presence was a constant reminder of how precarious their situation was.
“It’s not just that,” he admitted finally. “I feel like I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, and every step I take just makes the ground crumble beneath me.”
Kaelith’s smirk softened into something more empathetic. “Yeah, that’s pretty much the life we signed up for. But you? You’ve got a gift. That shard chose you for a reason.”
“And what reason is that?” Arin asked, his voice tinged with bitterness. “To be hunted? To put everyone around me in danger?”
Kaelith shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe to be the one person who can turn the tables. It’s all about how you use what you’ve got.”
Before he could respond, the door behind them creaked open. Roderic stepped out, his imposing figure framed by the warm glow of the safe house interior.
“We’ve got something,” he said, his tone serious. “A lead on a Crestborne supply route. If we can hit it, we’ll cripple their operations in this region for weeks.”
Kaelith straightened, her teasing demeanor replaced by focus. “What’s the plan?”
Roderic’s gaze shifted to Arin. “We’ll need the shard. Its energy can disrupt their wards long enough for us to slip in unnoticed.”
Arin’s stomach churned. “You want me to go?”
“You’re the only one who can wield it,” Roderic said bluntly. “We’ll be there to back you up, but this is your fight as much as it is ours.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Arin wanted to argue, to insist that they’d be better off without him. But deep down, he knew Roderic was right. If he wanted to stop being a burden, he had to start being an asset.
“Alright,” he said, squaring his shoulders. “When do we leave?”
The journey to the Crestborne supply route was shrouded in darkness. The forest was alive with nocturnal sounds, but every crack of a twig or rustle of leaves set Arin’s nerves on edge. He clutched the shard tightly, its faint glow partially obscured by his fingers.
Kaelith led the way, her movements silent and precise. Roderic brought up the rear, his crossbow at the ready. They moved like shadows, blending seamlessly with the forest around them.
“This is it,” Kaelith whispered as they reached the edge of a clearing. Ahead, a caravan of armored wagons was parked in a narrow pass, flanked by Crestborne soldiers. Lanterns hung from the wagons, casting flickering light over the scene.
“How many?” Arin asked, his voice barely audible.
Kaelith counted quickly. “Twelve guards, maybe more inside the wagons. Wards on the perimeter, too.”
“That’s where you come in,” Roderic said, nodding at Arin. “Disrupt the wards, and we’ll handle the rest.”
Arin swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the shard. He could feel its energy pulsing, like a heartbeat beneath his skin. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, his mind racing.
The first step was the hardest. As he approached the warded boundary, he could see faint lines of magical energy shimmering in the air. The shard responded instinctively, its glow intensifying. He held it out, willing it to act.
The effect was immediate. The wards flickered and distorted, their once-impenetrable barrier unraveling like threads. Arin felt a surge of power course through him, but it was accompanied by a sharp pang of exhaustion. The shard’s energy was not without cost.
“It’s down!” Kaelith hissed. She and Roderic sprang into action, darting toward the caravan with practiced efficiency. Arin followed, his heart pounding in his chest.
The fight was a blur of chaos and noise. Kaelith’s daggers flashed in the lantern light as she took down one guard after another, while Roderic’s crossbow bolts found their marks with deadly precision. Arin stayed back, clutching the shard like a lifeline. He wasn’t a fighter, but he wasn’t helpless, either.
When a guard spotted him and charged, Arin acted on instinct. He thrust the shard forward, and a pulse of energy erupted from it, sending the guard sprawling. The effort left Arin trembling, but he felt a small spark of pride. He’d done something.
By the time the dust settled, the caravan was theirs. Roderic and Kaelith were already rifling through the wagons, pulling out crates of supplies and documents. Arin leaned against a tree, his chest heaving.
“Not bad,” Kaelith said as she passed him, a grin on her face. “Maybe you’re not as useless as you look.”
Arin managed a weak laugh. For the first time since this whole mess began, he felt like he belonged. The shard might have been a curse, but tonight, it had been his strength.
Later, as they made their way back to the safe house, Arin couldn’t help but wonder about the shard’s true nature. Its power was undeniable, but it came at a cost. What else would it demand of him? And more importantly, what would he be willing to give?
For now, though, he allowed himself a moment of quiet triumph. He’d faced his fears and come out the other side. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
should i stop?
