Chapter XII
An Unseen Trace
They didn't speak.
There was no need.
The path ahead…
was not a path.
Cracked ground stretched endlessly before them.
And the sky above…
felt dim.
As if even light itself…
had weakened.
Arkath moved forward.
The core in his hand…
pulsed.
Thud.
With each beat—
it pushed him.
Guided him.
Behind him, Zalrik followed one step back.
His eyes never rested.
Watching everything.
The shadows.
The ground.
The air.
He spoke quietly:
"This place… is watching us."
Arkath didn't stop.
But he answered:
"I know."
Silence fell again.
Then—
Thud.
Arkath stopped.
The core pulsed stronger.
It glowed.
A flicker of light appeared before him.
A brief moment.
Then—
gone.
Zalrik spoke:
"Again?"
Arkath nodded slowly.
"We're close."
They moved.
Until—
Arkath stopped again.
Ahead—
A crater.
Wide.
Deep.
As if the earth itself had burst from within.
They approached carefully.
Looked down.
And then—
they saw it.
The second core.
But—
it was not like the first.
It was fractured.
Floating.
Pulsing violently.
THUD!
The ground trembled.
Zalrik stepped back.
"This one… isn't stable."
But Arkath—
did not move away.
As if…
it was calling to him.
Then—
the ground exploded.
And the guardian emerged.
Faster.
Heavier.
More defined.
It landed between them—
and the core.
And stood there.
Guarding it.
Zalrik muttered:
"Protected."
Arkath raised his sword.
And said:
"Then we take it by force."
Zalrik moved first.
He vanished.
Reappeared behind the guardian.
Struck—
But the blow stopped.
Mid-air.
As if something held it.
He pulled back instantly.
"Not a normal body!"
The guardian lunged.
A single strike—
The ground cracked.
They jumped back.
Then—
Thud.
The guardian froze.
They both looked back.
The core.
It was glowing.
Stronger.
Zalrik narrowed his eyes:
"It's affecting it."
But that wasn't all.
The core pulsed again.
Thud.
And with that pulse—
Arkath froze.
He saw—
threads.
Invisible.
Connecting the guardian…
to the core.
He spoke:
"It's linked."
Zalrik responded:
"Then cut the link."
Arkath shook his head.
"Not like this."
The guardian attacked again.
Strike.
Impact.
Arkath was pushed back—
but held his ground.
Then—
THUD!
The guardian stepped back.
For the first time.
Zalrik said:
"It's not just defending…"
He looked at Arkath.
"...it's testing you."
Arkath stepped forward.
Reached out.
"Arkath—!"
But he didn't stop.
He touched the core.
And in that instant—
an explosion.
Light surged outward.
The guardian collapsed.
The link shattered.
Silence.
Arkath stood still.
The core—
had calmed.
But—
it was no longer the same.
Then—
Thud.
He froze.
His body locked.
His eyes widened.
This time—
the light—
came from within.
It burst outward.
The air shook.
The ground cracked.
Zalrik shouted:
"Arkath?!"
No response.
He wasn't there.
He saw—
war.
Pillars.
Shadows falling.
Then—
a voice.
"Rise."
He returned.
But—
his body moved.
On its own.
He raised his sword.
Toward Zalrik.
Zalrik didn't move.
He spoke calmly:
"This isn't you."
The blade came closer.
One moment.
Then—
Thud.
It stopped.
Zalrik acted instantly.
Grabbed his arm.
Forced him down.
They hit the ground.
The light faded.
Silence.
Arkath breathed heavily.
Looked around.
Then at Zalrik.
Then at his hand.
The core—
was calm.
As if nothing had happened.
But—
they both knew.
Zalrik said quietly:
"It almost killed you."
He paused.
"Or me."
Arkath looked up.
"That wasn't me."
Zalrik nodded.
"I know."
Then looked at the core.
"But it's not innocent."
Arkath clenched it tighter.
And said:
"I won't let it go."
Zalrik met his gaze.
Then said:
"Then learn to control it."
Arkath stood.
Slowly.
Eyes fixed on the core.
Then spoke:
"Before it controls me."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
As if something…
was waiting.
Inside him.
Thud.
The core pulsed.
Once.
Then—
stronger.
Thud.
Arkath lifted his head slowly.
His eyes—
flickered.
A faint glow.
Unnatural.
Then—
gone.
End of Chapter XII 🔥