The snowstorm had subsided when the sisters left the cave, leaving the mountains painted in a stark, icy serenity. The sunlight reflected off the snow, blinding in its intensity, but the bitter cold seeped through their cloaks and boots, reminding them that they were far from the safety of the lowlands.
Rannah led the way, her hand resting protectively on the pouch where the shards pulsed faintly. The faint pull of their magic guided her steps, though it was weaker than before. She frowned, wondering if the encounter with the corrupted creature had drained them—or if they were nearing something even more dangerous.
Hannah followed close behind, her bow slung across her back and her eyes scanning the landscape. The encounter with the ice creature had left her on edge, and she didn’t trust the apparent calm of their surroundings.
“Do you feel that?” Hannah asked, breaking the silence. She was not yet over it. She's ready to fight in case the creature would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
“Feel what?” Rannah replied, glancing back at her sister.
“The stillness. It’s... too quiet. No wind, no birds. Just...” Hannah trailed off, her voice dropping. This time she realized it too.
Rannah stopped, realizing her sister was right. The air was unnaturally heavy, as if the mountains were holding their breath. Even the faint hum of the shards seemed subdued.
“It’s the magic,” Rannah said, her voice low. “The shards are pulling us toward it, but whatever’s up ahead... it’s not natural.”
Hannah tightened her grip on her bow, her expression grim. “We keep going, though. Right?”
Rannah nodded, though doubt flickered in her mind. She couldn’t ignore the growing unease, but turning back wasn’t an option. They had come too far.
The path grew steeper as they climbed, the jagged rocks slick with ice. The sisters moved carefully, their breaths coming in short bursts as the altitude and cold took their toll. Hours passed in grueling silence, the landscape growing harsher with every step.
Finally, they crested a ridge, and the sight before them made them both stop in their tracks.
Nestled in the valley below was a massive stone structure, half-buried in ice and snow. The architecture was unlike anything they had seen before—ancient and foreboding, with jagged spires that seemed to pierce the sky. Colossal statues of hooded figures flanked the entrance, their faces obscured but their hands outstretched as if in a warning.
“What is this place?” Hannah whispered, her voice barely audible.
“I don’t know,” Rannah replied, her eyes fixed on the structure. “But the shards are pulling me toward it. This is where we need to be.”
Hannah didn’t look convinced. “Looks more like a place we need to stay away from.”
Rannah couldn’t argue with that. The air around the structure seemed charged with an oppressive energy, and she could feel the weight of countless eyes—unseen, but undeniably there—watching them.
As they descended into the valley, the feeling of being watched grew stronger. The snow underfoot felt heavier, as though it were resisting their movements.
When they reached the entrance of the structure, the shards in Rannah’s pouch began to hum louder, their rhythm quickening. She pulled them out, and they glowed faintly in the dim light.
The massive doors of the structure were carved with intricate runes, their meaning lost to time. Rannah hesitated, her hand hovering over the stone surface.
“Wait,” Hannah said, grabbing her sister’s arm. “Are you sure about this? We don’t even know what’s in there.”
“No,” Rannah admitted. “But the shards brought us here for a reason. We have to see this through.”
Hannah sighed, her grip loosening. “Fine. But if something jumps out at us, I’m blaming you.”
Rannah gave her sister a faint smile before pressing her hand against the door. The moment her fingers touched the stone, the shards in her other hand flared brightly, and the runes on the door began to glow.
The ground trembled as the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a dark hallway that stretched into the depths of the mountain. A cold wind rushed out, carrying with it a faint whisper—a sound that wasn’t quite words but sent a shiver down their spines.
“Lovely,” Hannah muttered, nocking an arrow.
Rannah stepped inside, the shards’ glow illuminating the ancient corridor. The walls were lined with more runes, their light pulsing faintly as if responding to the shards. The whispers grew louder, forming a discordant chorus that seemed to echo in their minds.
As they moved deeper into the structure, the air grew colder, and the oppressive energy pressed down on them like a physical weight. The corridor opened into a vast chamber, its ceiling so high it was lost in shadows.
In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, and on it rested another shard—larger than the two they carried, its surface glowing with a brilliant blue light.
“That’s it,” Rannah said, her voice trembling. “The next shard.”
Hannah raised her bow, her eyes scanning the chamber. “Yeah, and I’m guessing it’s not just sitting there for us to take.”
As if in response to her words, the whispers grew into a deafening roar, and the ground beneath them shook violently. From the shadows, figures began to emerge—tall, cloaked beings with glowing eyes, their movements eerily smooth.
“Guardians,” Rannah said, her heart pounding.
Hannah loosed an arrow, but it passed harmlessly through one of the figures, embedding itself in the wall behind.
“Not good,” she muttered, reaching for another arrow.
The figures advanced, their hands outstretched as the air around them crackled with dark energy.
Rannah gripped the shards tightly, their power surging in response to the danger. “We’ll have to use the shards,” she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her.
Hannah nodded, stepping closer to her sister. “Do it fast, whatever you’re planning.”
Rannah focused on the shards, letting their energy flow through her. The blue shard on the pedestal seemed to respond, its light growing brighter as the magic within it resonated with the others.
The chamber erupted in light and sound as the shards’ power collided with the energy of the guardians.