When they passed through the Ancient Gate, the world changed once more. The veil they left behind had shimmered and sealed shut with the guardians' destruction. There was no turning back now. The scorching heat and blinding glare of the Crystal Desert were behind them, replaced by a sharp, cold wind. The wind swept down from the peaks of the Broken Fang Mountains, carrying with it a sulfurous stench like rotten eggs. It was the breath of volcanic mountains.
Finis knelt just beyond the gate, still unable to shake off the exhaustion of battle. Sirius stood beside him, resting his head on Finis's shoulder. The burns in the young lion's mouth had healed, but he occasionally stuck out his tongue and licked it, betraying that he still felt pain. Finis stroked his head. "You'll heal, my friend. It will take time, but you'll heal."
The group gathered on the other side of the gate. Everyone was wounded, everyone was spent. Torin had been healed by the awakening of the Secret of Iron, but the golden fire in his eyes had faded, replaced by deep fatigue. He clutched the pouch Brynja had given him to his chest, breathing silently. Liriel's shoulder had healed, but she still felt a dull ache, as Finis's healing energy had been weak. Mira's hands had recovered from the shadow energy burns, but her skin was newly pink and tender. Kael, though the gash on his chest had closed, seemed to bleed from a wound within. His eyes were locked on the distant mountains.
"Obsidian Keep," Kael said, his voice little more than a whisper. "There. Atop the highest peak."
Finis turned to look where Kael was gazing. The Broken Fang Mountains lived up to their name—jagged, irregular peaks tearing at the sky. Some stood straight, others leaned sideways, and some were split down the middle, like the rotten teeth of a giant. Dark clouds drifted between the peaks, and lightning flashed. And atop the highest peak, a colossal fortress built of black volcanic stone, pulsing with dark energy, rose defiantly against the heavens. Obsidian Keep. One of the Shadow Legion's command centers.
But what truly drew Finis's attention was the landscape stretching out at the foot of the mountains. This side of the gate was a world entirely different from the desert. Before them lay a vast plateau, split here and there by deep canyons and covered with sparse, dark grass and thorny scrub. The ground was littered with sharp volcanic rocks; every step demanded caution. In the distance, at the far end of the plateau, the silhouette of a dark forest was visible. And beyond that, the glimmer of a misty sea.
"Eterra," Kael said, drawing a deep breath. "The true Eterra. The Crystal Desert was merely a borderland. But this... this is the heart of the continent."
Finis pulled out his journal and began sketching what he saw. "Tell me about this world, Kael. All the kingdoms, the regions, the peoples. You said the Shadow Legion has more than one fortress. Where are they? How many are there?"
Kael sat down on a rock. He took out his pipe, hesitated for a moment as if to light it, then thought better of it and put it away. "It's a long story. But I'll tell you as we walk. It's dangerous to linger here. The Shadow Legion's patrols roam this side of the gate as well. Besides, the guardians' destruction will have put them on alert."
They set out. The plateau was more difficult than it appeared. The ground was not only littered with sharp volcanic rocks but also riddled with deep fissures that opened without warning. From these fissures seeped the red glow of the magma layer beneath the earth, radiating a suffocating heat. Sirius bounded over the rocks and crevices with agility, occasionally stopping to wait for the rest of the group. He moved now like a true predator, his ears constantly alert, his nose testing the wind.
Kael began his tale.
"Eterra is the largest continent in the known world. It stretches from the Glacier Sea in the north to the Endless Sands in the south, from the Storm Ocean in the east to the Misty Sea in the west. But no one knows what lies beyond those boundaries. Some say there are other continents. Others say the world spills over into the void like a great waterfall."
"The continent itself is divided into seven great kingdoms. In the far north lies the Glacier Kingdom. There, humans and ice giants live side by side. Eternal winter reigns, and the sun does not rise for months. Its people are harsh, ruthless, but also honorable. Their king sits on the Icebreaker Throne and commands the ancient ice magic. The Shadow Legion holds three fortresses in the Glacier Kingdom. One lies just outside the capital of Icebreaker, the other two in the mountain passes. Those fortresses were built to suppress the ice magic of the north."
Liriel spoke up. "I have heard of the Glacier Kingdom. Elves rarely trade with them. Their ice wines and furs are famous."
Kael nodded. "South of the Glacier Kingdom lie the Iron Mountains. The homeland of Torin's people. The dwarves have built cities deep within those mountains, mining and forging. Seven great dwarf clans rule there. But the Shadow Legion holds no fewer than seven fortresses in the Iron Mountains. The largest is built atop the ancient capital of Khazad-Vorn. The dwarves have fought for years to reclaim that fortress, but they cannot. For that fortress guards the source of the Secret of Iron."
Torin bowed his head at the mention of the Iron Mountains. "Khazad-Vorn... My grandfather was born there. Before the Legion came, it was our clan's greatest city. Now it is only a memory. My father dreamed of reclaiming that city. But his life was not long enough."
Kael placed a hand on Torin's shoulder. "Perhaps you can fulfill your father's dream. The Secret of Iron has awakened within you. That is no coincidence."
Then he continued. "East of the Iron Mountains stretch the Endless Steppes. A land where orcs, goblins, werewolves, and many other nomadic peoples dwell—a place where law is written with the sword. There are no kingdoms there, only tribes and warlords. Each tribe defends its own territory and enforces its own laws. The Shadow Legion holds twelve fortresses in the Steppes. But interestingly, while some orc tribes cooperate with the Legion, others fight against them. Like Korgath's tribe. The Broken Fang Tribe is the largest orc tribe resisting the Legion."
Mira asked with curiosity, "And what lies south of the Steppes?"
"South of the Steppes begin the Elven Forests. The Serinwood is only one of them. The Ancient Wood, Silverleaf, Deep Roots, Moonlight Grove... Each is home to a different elven clan. Elves live in harmony with nature and guard ancient magics and songs. But the Shadow Legion has built fortresses in our forests as well. Five in total. The darkest is the Thorn Keep in the heart of the Ancient Wood. That fortress has poisoned even the spirits of the trees and rotted a portion of the forest."
Liriel's eyes darkened. "Thorn Keep... After my clan's destruction, I thought of going there. For revenge. But I lacked the courage. Now I understand that if I had gone alone, I would have died."
Kael went on. "West of the Elven Forests lie the Human Kingdoms. Three great kingdoms: Valdoria, Tarannon, and Ironcoast. Valdoria is the strongest. Its knights are bound by ancient oaths and serve the light. Yet even in Valdoria, the Shadow Legion holds two fortresses. Tarannon, however... Tarannon is a kingdom that cooperates with the Legion. Its king is controlled by the Legion's shadow magic. Ironcoast is a merchant kingdom; it tries to remain neutral but is under the Legion's pressure. In total, there are eight Legion fortresses in human lands."
Mira thought of her own people. "And what of the cat-folk? Nephar?"
Kael's face darkened. "Nephar once lay in the south of the continent, just beyond the Crystal Desert, on the Golden Coast. The city of the cats was a center of trade and art. The royal family was allied with Albaris and guarded the knowledge of the light. But the Shadow Legion chose Nephar as one of its first targets. Because after Albaris's fall, Nephar was the last refuge of the light. The city was destroyed, its people scattered. Now, one of the Legion's largest fortresses rises there: the Black Tower. And that tower controls the entire southern coast."
Mira's hands trembled. "One day... one day I will tear down that tower. I will avenge my mother and my people."
Kael looked at Mira. "Vengeance can consume you. Your mother would have wanted you to fight not for revenge, but to preserve the honor of your people. Remember that."
Mira touched her necklace and nodded.
Kael continued. "In the south, beyond the Golden Coast, lie the Endless Sands. There dwell the ruins of ancient civilizations, forgotten temples, and the savage peoples of the desert. The Shadow Legion has fortresses there as well—four in total. But they are isolated from the rest of the continent."
"And finally, rising from the very center of the continent, are the Broken Fang Mountains. This is the Shadow Legion's main stronghold. On the peaks, in the underground cities, in the depths of the canyons... Twenty-three fortresses in all. Each serves a different purpose. Some are military training centers, some conduct magical research, some run prison camps, and some harvest shadow energy. But three are the most important: Obsidian Keep, the Shadow Citadel, and the heart of the Legion—the Tower of Nothingness."
Finis was taking rapid notes in his journal. "Obsidian Keep... The fortress we're heading to. Why is it important?"
"Obsidian Keep is one of the Legion's command centers. There rules Shadow Lord Malachar, one of the Legion's highest-ranking commanders. Moreover, Obsidian Keep is an energy hub where shadow energy is gathered and distributed. If we can bring down that fortress, the Legion's power in this region will be greatly weakened. But it will not be easy. Malachar is one of the Legion's most ruthless and powerful lords. Fighting him will be nothing like fighting the guardians."
Finis looked at the fortress. Even from a distance, Obsidian Keep was menacing. Its black walls pulsed as if alive, shadow runes dancing across their surface. A constant dark energy radiated from its towers, blanketing the sky with clouds. And at the very center of the fortress, a massive black crystal rose toward the heavens, continually drawing lightning to itself.
"What of the Shadow Legion's purpose?" Finis asked. "You said it was to preserve balance. But these fortresses, this oppression... That is not balance."
Kael drew a deep breath. "To them, it is balance. They destroyed Albaris because Albaris was a source of pure light, and the light had grown too strong. They destroyed Nephar because Nephar was allied with Albaris and spread the knowledge of light. The fortresses in the elven forests are to suppress the ancient elven magics. The fortresses in the dwarf cities are to find and destroy the Secret of Iron. The fortresses in the Glacier Kingdom are to control the ancient ice magic of the north. They are everywhere. And everywhere, they seek to prevent the light from growing too strong."
"And what of the darkness?" Liriel asked. "Does their own darkness not grow too strong?"
Kael nodded with a bitter smile. "Therein lies the irony. While they control the light, they do not realize that their own darkness has begun to consume them. Or perhaps they realize it but do not care. Because to them, no matter how much the darkness grows, it can never be as dangerous as the light. After what Albaris did to them, they have lost all trust in the light. Now, they wish to trap the world in an eternal twilight. Neither full light nor full darkness. But this twilight is not balanced like your Twilight Light. It is a world where darkness dominates, and light is but a memory."
Finis closed his journal. "Then we must show them true balance. A world where light and darkness are equal, where they complete one another."
Kael looked at Finis. "That is a very dangerous path. They will not listen to you. Especially Malachar. He hates the light. The last mages of Albaris destroyed his clan. To him, light means death."
"Then we must show him that light does not only destroy. It also heals."
The march continued until evening. As the twin suns sank low on the western horizon, the group made camp at the mouth of a canyon. The canyon walls were covered with ancient runes carved into them. The runes did not belong to Albaris; they were the traces of an older, more primitive civilization. Perhaps they dated back to the First Age, when the gods still walked the earth.
"These runes," Torin said, examining the walls, "resemble dwarf runes, but they are not. Older. From the First Age, perhaps even earlier. Look, here is a symbol of a scale. But the pans of the scale are equal."
Liriel touched the runes. "Something is written here. 'Darkness is the mother of light. Light is the child of darkness. Without both, nothing can exist. Balance is the breath of the universe. If balance is broken, the universe suffocates.' This is the philosophy of balance. But it is far older than the Shadow Legion. Perhaps they have forgotten this ancient wisdom, or twisted it."
Finis copied the runes into his journal. "These lands knew of balance long before the Shadow Legion," he wrote. "Perhaps the Legion has forgotten or corrupted this ancient wisdom. It may be our task to remind them. When we reach Obsidian Keep, we must fight not only with our swords but with this ancient wisdom as well."
At midnight, they were woken by Sirius's growl. The young lion was staring toward the canyon entrance, his fur bristling, teeth bared. Mira immediately drew her swords and listened to the darkness.
"Something is there," she whispered. "Many of them. They're approaching."
They extinguished the campfire and seized their weapons. From the canyon entrance, red eyes appeared. First one pair, then dozens. And finally, the creatures revealed themselves.
Shadow hounds.
But these were different from the ordinary shadow hounds they had encountered in the desert. They were larger, darker, more savage. Each was the size of a wolf, formed of absolute darkness, with only their eyes and teeth visible. Black smoke seeped from their jaws, and their claws could melt even stone. Their leader was a giant hound twice the size of the others, with bone spikes protruding from its back. But most terrifying were the leader's eyes. They glowed not red, but violet. This marked it as specially empowered by the Shadow Legion.
"Shadow hounds," Kael said, drawing his sword. "But these are the Legion's elite hunters. Shadow Lord Malachar's personal pack. They must have been tracking us since the gate. The guardians' destruction has alerted Malachar."
The lead hound howled. The sound echoed off the canyon walls, deafeningly loud. The howl was not merely a sound; it was a spell. It sought to instill fear into the group's minds, to paralyze them. Liriel immediately began to murmur the Lament of Light. The notes of the song suppressed the howl's magic and protected the group.
And the pack attacked.
The battle descended into chaos within the narrow confines of the canyon. Torin swung his axe with the power of the Secret of Iron. The blade burned with golden flames. He cleaved the first attacking hound in two. But the creature continued to move even in two pieces. The golden flames burned away the shadow-flesh, destroying it—but slowly. Torin swung his axe again, this time aiming for the hound's head. The head vanished in flames.
Liriel continued to sing the Lament of Light. The notes of the song clung to the hounds, slowing them. But they could not stop them entirely. The lead hound seemed unaffected by the song. It attacked Liriel directly. She cut off her song and leaped aside, barely escaping. The hound's claws melted the rock where she had stood.
Mira, empowered by the royal seal's speed, danced among the shadows. She plunged her swords into the hounds' eyes, blinding them. But the hounds could also hunt by scent. One sank its teeth into Mira's leg. Mira cried out in pain and drove her sword into the hound's skull. The hound went limp, but blood gushed from Mira's leg.
Kael had released the light within himself, burning the hounds. But his light was weaker than before. The exhaustion of battle had drained him. Still, he reached Mira's side and protected her from the hounds. "Hold on, Mira!"
Finis wielded the Twilight Light. But this time, he struggled to maintain its balance. The chaos of battle fueled his anger, causing the darkness within the light to weigh heavier. He shaped the light into a sword and pierced a hound through. But the light had taken on shades of violet and black. The hound howled in agony and dissolved. But with each attack, Finis felt himself slipping further away.
Sirius had come face to face with the lead hound. The young lion was dwarfed by the giant creature, but he was not afraid. With the confidence of a warrior who had avenged his mother, he roared. The lead hound hesitated for a moment in surprise. This was no sound a cub should be able to make. Sirius seized the moment, leaped, and sank his teeth into the hound's throat. But the hound's throat was made of solid shadow. His teeth sank in but could not tear anything. The hound threw Sirius off and slashed with its claws. Sirius was hurled through the air, slammed into the canyon wall, and crumpled to the ground. Blood gushed from his flank, his ribs visible.
"Sirius!" Finis screamed.
In that moment, the balance within Finis shattered completely. The Twilight Light burst uncontrollably from his palms. But this time, the balance of light and shadow was gone. The fury and fear within him had caused the darkness to dominate entirely. The light transformed into absolute darkness, an energy of nothingness shot through with violet lightning. Finis hurled this energy at the lead hound.
The energy enveloped the hound. The creature howled in agony and thrashed. The dark energy began to tear it apart from within. But at the same time, it was consuming Finis. He collapsed to his knees. Blood began to seep from his eyes, his nose, his ears. His own darkness was devouring him.
"Finis! Stop!" Kael shouted. "You're losing yourself!"
But Finis did not hear. His entire being was focused on destroying the lead hound. With a final convulsion, the hound howled and dissolved into dark smoke. With their leader gone, the other hounds panicked and fled. Within minutes, the canyon fell silent.
Finis collapsed to the ground. He was on the verge of losing consciousness. Sirius, despite his own wounds, crawled to his side and laid his head on Finis's chest. He let out a weak rumble.
Liriel rushed to Finis's side. "He needs healing! But he can't heal himself in this state. He expended too much energy."
Kael lifted Finis's head. "We have to carry him. We can't stay here. More hounds could come."
Torin hoisted Finis onto his back. Mira, limping, helped Sirius. The young lion struggled to stand but managed to walk. They left the canyon and moved to a safer area on the plateau.
Toward dawn, Finis came to. His head was spinning, his body aching. But he was alive. Sirius slept beside him. His wound had closed thanks to the weak healing energy Finis had emitted at the last moment, but he was still frail.
Finis pulled out his journal and began to write with trembling hands.
"Today, I faced my own darkness. And I nearly lost. My anger disrupted the balance of the Twilight Light, turning me into pure darkness. The power I used to protect Sirius nearly destroyed us both. If not for my friends, I would not be writing these lines now."
"The Shadow Legion's fortresses are spread across all of Eterra. Hundreds of fortresses. Each controls a region, oppresses a people. But their purpose is to preserve balance. At least, in their own minds. Yet their balance is one where darkness dominates and light is suppressed. That is not true balance."
"When we reach Obsidian Keep, I will face Shadow Lord Malachar. I must show him true balance. But first, I must find my own balance. I must learn to control my anger, to accept my darkness and balance it with my light. Otherwise, when I stand before Malachar, my own darkness will consume me, and I will become a part of the Legion."
He closed his journal and looked at Sirius. The young lion murmured in his sleep, his paws twitching. Was he dreaming of his mother, or of the battle? No one could know.
Finis stroked his head. "I will protect you, Sirius. But first, I must learn to protect myself. I promise."
The twin suns began to rise on the eastern horizon. A new day, a new beginning. And ahead of them lay the long, dangerous road to Obsidian Keep. But now, Finis knew what he was fighting. Not only the Shadow Legion, but the darkness within himself.
And that battle was the hardest of all.