Chapter 17: The Guardians
of the Abyss
As the
light subsided, the spire began to hum. Figures emerged from the
shadows—creatures similar to Selan but darker, their forms fractured and their
eyes glowing with an unsettling amber light.
“Guardians?”
Mira guessed, stepping back cautiously.
One of
the figures stepped forward, its voice resonating in the cavern. “Who awakens
the Abyssal Nexus?”
“We mean
no harm,” Rhea said quickly, holding up her shard. “We’re connected to the
Heartstone. Selan guided us here.”
The
creature’s glowing eyes focused on the shards. “You carry the essence of the
Heartstone, yet you trespass into the Forbidden Depths. The balance restored
above has left these depths vulnerable. The darkness you faced before was but a
shadow of the true threat.”
“What
kind of threat?” Kiran asked, gripping his shard tightly.
The
Guardian’s form shifted, and a faint image appeared in the air—a swirling void,
consuming light and matter alike. “The Abyss. A force older than the Luminal
Realm itself. It was sealed here long ago, but the fractures in the Heartstone
weakened the seal. If it escapes, both realms will fall.”
Rhea’s
breath caught. “What do we have to do?”
The
Guardian’s gaze bore into her. “To strengthen the seal, you must delve deeper
into the Abyss. But beware—its influence is insidious. It will twist your
fears, your memories, your very sense of self. Only by trusting one another and
the light of the shards can you survive.”
Mira
exchanged a look with Rhea and Kiran. “We’ve come this far. We’re not stopping
now.”
The Guardians stepped aside, revealing a spiraling path that descended into darkness
