The light from the orb surged through me, brighter and more forceful than anything I’d ever known. It wasn’t just light-it was alive, pulsing with intent and energy far beyond my comprehension. It poured out like a river released from a dam, washing over the square in a cascade of warmth and power.
The figure recoiled, their shroud twisting in agony as the light cut through it like a blade. Their form staggered, cracks webbing across their stony skin as they shielded themselves against the radiance. “Impossible!” they hissed, their voice fractured with a strange mix of rage and fear. “The key cannot-”
But their words cut off as the orb pulsed again, the rhythm syncing perfectly with the racing of my heart. I felt my grip tighten, though the orb no longer felt like an object in my hands. It was part of me now, responding to my emotions, my will. And my will was clear: Protect them. Destroy this threat.
Logan’s voice rang out behind me. “Audrey, don’t-!”
I didn’t have time to listen. The orb drew more energy from within me, pulling on reserves I didn’t even know existed, but I let it flow freely. The light surrounding us concentrated into a narrow beam that shot forward, colliding directly with the figure.
They screamed-not just with pain but with fury, their voice twisting into a cacophony that felt more than heard, reverberating in my bones. Their shroud disintegrated, black tendrils dissipating into nothingness as they stumbled back.
“You do not understand what you’re meddling with!” the figure howled, their once-imposing presence now flickering like a dying flame. They raised a cracked hand toward me, as if trying to grasp the orb or me-perhaps both-but the light grew brighter still, pushing them farther away.
“Stay back!” I shouted, my voice carrying an authority I hadn’t known I possessed.
With one final, desperate snarl, the figure took another step back, their crimson eyes burning into mine. “This is far from over,” they spat, their voice fractured and weak. “You cannot lock away what has always been free. The Nexus calls to you, whether you wish it or not.”
And with that, their form shattered, breaking apart into fragments of shadow that dissolved into the air. The oppressive weight in the square lifted instantly, replaced by an eerie, unnatural stillness.
For a moment, no one moved. The orb dimmed, its brilliant light fading until it was no more than a faint glow once again. My body swayed, the energy I’d summoned leaving me in waves of exhaustion. Strong arms caught me before I could collapse.
“I’ve got you,” Logan murmured, his voice steadier now but still edged with worry. I leaned into him, the tension in my body giving way to the realization that the immediate danger had passed.
“Is it… gone?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mal stepped forward cautiously, her blades still in her hands but lowered. She kicked at the spot where the figure had last stood, as if testing to see if they might reappear. “They’re gone for now,” she said, though her tone was far from confident. “But that was no ordinary void-touched. That thing-it had intelligence. Power.”
“Too much power,” Liam muttered. His runes faded from his hands as he looked at me, his expression torn between fear and awe. “Audrey, what was that? And what exactly did you just do?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the orb hum faintly in my grasp. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “It felt like… it wasn’t just me. The orb-it acted on its own. Like it knew what to do.”
“That’s not comforting,” Logan said, his golden eyes dark and unreadable. He still held me, his warmth grounding me as the reality of what had happened began to settle in. “Whatever just happened, that thing
wasn’t bluffing. It’s coming back. And if it’s tied to you…” His voice trailed off, leaving an unspoken weight in the air.
Liam folded his arms, pacing a few steps before stopping abruptly. “It said The Nexus,” he muttered. “The place where all power converges. That’s a myth-or it was supposed to be. No one’s ever found evidence of its existence, let alone linked it to the void heart.”
Mal sheathed her blades, her expression unusually grim. “If it’s real and that thing was telling the truth, we’re in deeper trouble than we thought. The Nexus isn’t just a source of power-it’s said to be a place that can rewrite the rules of magic. Control the void, the elements-everything.”
A heavy silence followed, the implications sinking in. I glanced at the orb in my hands, its faint glow pulsing in time with my heartbeat. A key to something that powerful… The thought was terrifying. If the Nexus was real, this wasn’t just about the void anymore. It was about the balance of everything.
Logan turned to me, his hand brushing lightly against mine. “Audrey,” he said, his voice low but firm. “We need to figure out what’s happening before it’s too late. If that thing-and whatever’s backing it-is hunting you, we can’t stay out in the open.”
He was right. The town square suddenly felt too exposed, as though the figure’s presence still lingered in the shadows. I nodded, summoning what little strength I had left. “We’ll go back to the safehouse,” I said, forcing conviction into my voice. “And we’ll start looking for answers. Together.”
Liam scoffed softly, shaking his head. “That’s a nice sentiment, but it might not be enough. That thing might not just come back-it could bring reinforcements. And if it knows where to find us, the safehouse won’t hold.”
“She’s right, though,” Mal interjected. “We need information first. We can’t fight blind, and we sure as hell can’t run forever.”
Logan frowned but didn’t argue. He wrapped an arm securely around my waist, his support steadying me as exhaustion weighed down my limbs. “Fine,” he said. “But we move quickly, and if we even think it’s not safe, we leave-got it?”
Everyone murmured their agreement, though tension hung thick in the air. As we started toward the safehouse, my mind raced with questions.
The orb pulsed faintly, a reminder of the strange bond I now shared with it. What had the figure meant when they said I was the lock and the orb was the key? And why did this connection make me feel both powerful and vulnerable?
I glanced at Logan beside me, his protective stance unyielding despite the pain etched on his face. Whatever lay ahead, I didn’t have to face it alone. For now, that was enough to keep the fear at bay.