Held by the Past

0: Fractu

, the trees stretching high into the sky, their branches swaying in an eerie harmony with the wind. Elena glanced toward Adrian, who was already checking his weapons with focus

no time

them. The shard's weakened state was a constant reminder of the battle ahead, and with each passing moment, she felt the

voice low, yet there was an

to keep moving, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at her. Every step brought th

ar that was slowly creeping into her heart. "But we need to

s around them, always alert. "We'll find

y like the pressure before a storm. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched-that the forest itself was alive, sensing their every move. The shards were not just

eps and the occasional rustle of leaves. Every now and then, she would glance at Adrian, but his face remained unreadable, his focus unbroken. She had come to de

e through her thoughts, his to

hat she hadn't considered the emotional toll this journey was taking on both of them. There was more between them than jus

voice soft, though her hear

ability. "I... I can't keep pretending that everything is fine betw

t loud still struck her like a blow. They had been walking this tightrope together, their liv

pered, though she already unde

ted. "But I can't ignore it anymore. And I don't know if it's something we can afford

ready crossed so many lines, had faced so much together, and now it seemed as thou

ce barely above a whisper. "We ca

arder, Elena. I just..." He paused, his words heavy with unspoken emotion. "I don't want us to lose ourselves

he dangers, the betrayals, the uncertainty-had already begun to change them. She could feel

eadier than she felt. "But we can't let it break us, Adri

possible to ignore. It was the first crack in their bond, a

th every step. The forest around them seemed to close in, the trees looming like silent witnesses to their strained relat

depended on their ability to focus, to push past the emotions and the doubts that threatened to tear them apart. But Elena knew deep down that the road

like an invisible barrier. Neither of them spoke for a long time, the forest around them eerily quiet save for the occasional rustle of leaves o

if it too was aware of the storm brewing within them. The air had grown colder, and the distant whisper of magic was becom

ena's heart skipped a beat as she instinctively reached for the sword at her side. Adrian's hand

uttered, his voice

, and it was no longer subtle. She could almost feel eyes on her, lurking in the shadows between the tree

oze, the air thick with anticipation. The crack had come from

ered, his voice urgen

st as the quiet became unbearable, a soft, melodic hum echoed through the trees-a sound that sent shivers

almost a growl now, a warnin

e anything they had seen before. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and its body seemed to shimmer and warp as if it were

hard, stepped forward, her heart racing as she prepared to defend herself. But before either of the

ssing the creature's shadowy form. Elena's pulse raced as the creature turn

voice like a chorus of whispers. "

through her, the energy of the shard reacting to the presence of the creature. She didn't have much time, and her hand tremble

oiled, but the damage was only temporary. Within moments, it was back to its terrifyi

he regained his footing, his voice strai

of them. Dark figures began to emerge from the shadows around them, their forms i

lena whispered, panic

res. They were outnumbered and outmatched, their only advantage being the shard's power-but it

" Adrian growled, his voice

nse trees behind them. But the shadows seemed to move with them, closing in from every direction. The

them, the trees twisting and contorting as if trying to trap them within their dark embrace. The hum

his grip tightening on her arm as

shard growing weaker with each step. She could feel her st

e it," she gasped, fear

t he didn't slow his pace. "We h

trees. Elena could feel their hot breath on the back of her ne

st, summoning every ounce of magic she had left. A blinding light erupted from

, his voice low and strained. "We need t

a faint glimmer of light through the trees. Hope flickered within her. It was their only cha

l clearing. Before them stood a crumbling stone structure, its walls overgrown with v

anning the surroundings for any sign of pursuit. The moment they stepped

over. The Collector's creatures would not stop hunting them-no

m as he turned to face her. "We hav

ht from the shard had dimmed entirely, leaving them in near darkness. The air was thick with dust, the scent of decay and forgotten time pressing d

oom, his eyes scanning every corner. "We need to fi

w, not when they were so close to the answers they needed. But the events of the last few hours weighed heavily on her mind. T

et but full of determination. "It's gone out, bu

is expression hardening. "We have to figure out wha

if the air itself was thick with secrets, secrets they were meant to uncover but were too

t lined the walls and remnants of forgotten relics scattered on the ground. A faint, damp smell filled the air, and Elen

e reached out and brushed his fingers across the stone surface, eyes narrowing as though he had sens

one. The symbols were old, too old for her to recognize immediately, but they hum

e as the altar seemed to come to life, a low hum reverberating through the room. Adrian grabbed her arm

urgent. His eyes locked with hers, an unspoken understanding p

She shivered as the shadows around them seemed to shift, moving with a life of their own. The walls s

, the vo

dn't have

ding in the doorway of the chamber, silhouetted by the faint light from the crack in the stone, was a figure. A man, tall and cloaked in shadow, his face obscured

Coll

, muscles tensed. "We've come for the s

ent a chill through Elena's bones. "You misunderstand, Adrian. T

lsed with energy, and the room seemed to grow darker, more oppressive. Elena's heart pounded in her chest as she stepped back, her

r have," the Collector continued, his voice like

seemed to stop. The Collector's words echoed in her mind, but she refused to be

ing around her legs and pulling her toward the altar. She gasped, struggling against the pull, but the dar

ld reach her, a wave of dark energy swept him back,

t his voice was faint, muffle

dows obeyed, pulling her closer to him with an unnatural speed. She tried to fight back, the shard glowing faintly as

Collector whispered, hi

rength, she pushed against the shadows, reaching deep within herself. The shard responded, its power surging thro

ed. His eyes widened in disbelief as the light surged toward him,

hissed, his voi

energy into the shard. The light exploded outward, engulfing the Collector in a blindi

ell silent

ength utterly spent. The light from the shard dimmed, but it hadn't gone o

hispered, his voic

. She had no idea what the consequences of using that much power

be gone, but the war