The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the camp. The air was still, but there was a tension—a weight that pressed on everyone. Caden sat by the fire, staring into the flames, his thoughts racing. The artifact was safely stowed away in a heavily reinforced box beside him, but the danger still lingered. He could feel it in his bones.
Lira sat across from him, her eyes reflecting the flickering firelight. She watched him carefully, her concern evident. Finn was pacing nearby, unable to shake off the nervous energy that had built up since their last confrontation with the Demon King’s soul.
“We’ve been quiet for too long,” Lira finally spoke, breaking the silence. “What’s next, Caden?”
He looked up, meeting her gaze. The question had been lingering in his mind too. After everything that had happened—the dungeon, the possession, and the narrow victory over the Demon King’s soul—it felt like they were standing at the edge of something even greater. But what? Where did they go from here?
“I don’t know,” Caden admitted, his voice low. “The artifact… it’s still dangerous. Even though I was able to fight off the Demon King’s soul, there’s more power inside it. And others—others who would want to use it.”
Finn stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing. “Then we should destroy it, right? That’s what we said before.”
Lira frowned, her brows knitting together. “If it were that simple, we would’ve done it by now. The problem is, we don’t know what would happen if we try to destroy it. It could release more of that power. Or worse… it could awaken something else.”
Caden’s hand instinctively moved toward the box containing the artifact, but he stopped himself. The memory of the dark presence trying to take over his body still haunted him. He wasn’t sure he could survive another confrontation like that.
“There has to be a way,” Caden said, though his words were more for his own reassurance than anything. “A way to safely contain it—or get rid of it for good.”
Finn sighed, dropping down next to Lira. “So, what? We just carry this thing around forever? Hoping nothing worse comes out of it?”
Lira shook her head. “We need more information. Maybe there’s someone out there—someone who knows about artifacts like this. The scholars in the capital… or even the ancient texts. Someone has to know how to deal with this.”
Caden nodded slowly. The idea of heading to the capital felt right. It wasn’t just about getting rid of the artifact; it was about understanding what had happened to him—what the Demon King’s soul had meant by calling him a vessel.
Before he could respond, the crackle of a nearby branch startled them. All three stood instantly, weapons at the ready.
From the trees, a cloaked figure emerged, their face hidden in shadow. Caden’s grip tightened on his sword, his instincts screaming danger. The figure moved with deliberate calm, stopping just at the edge of the firelight.
“Who are you?” Lira demanded, her voice cold and sharp.
The figure lowered their hood, revealing an elderly man with piercing eyes. His presence alone seemed to carry a weight of knowledge and power.
“I mean you no harm,” the old man said, his voice deep and measured. “But I have come to warn you.”
Caden stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. “Warn us? About what?”
The old man’s gaze shifted to the box containing the artifact. “That artifact you carry… it is far more dangerous than you realize. You’ve already faced a fragment of its true power, but the real threat has yet to awaken.”
Finn glanced at Caden, his expression tense. “What do you know about it?”
The old man sighed, stepping closer to the fire. “I am one of the last remaining Keepers of the Ancient Relics. I have spent my life studying artifacts like the one you now possess. That object is called the **Eclipse Core**, a vessel meant to contain the soul of the Demon King himself. You were fortunate to survive the encounter with his fragmented soul, but make no mistake—he is still inside, waiting for the right moment to fully emerge.”
Caden’s heart sank. He had suspected the artifact held more power, but to hear that the Demon King was still inside was worse than he imagined. “Then how do we stop him? How do we destroy it?”
The old man shook his head slowly. “Destroying the Eclipse Core is impossible. It was crafted using magic far beyond our understanding. But there is a way to seal it permanently. That’s why I’ve come.”
Lira stepped closer, her eyes searching the old man’s face for any sign of deception. “Seal it? How?”
The old man’s eyes bore into Caden’s. “You, Caden, are the key. The Demon King chose you for a reason. His soul latched onto your essence, but because of that, you are the only one who can bind him back into eternal slumber.”
Caden stared at the old man, disbelief and fear warring within him. “Me? Why me?”
The old man’s voice softened. “It is not by chance. There is something within you—an ancient bloodline, perhaps—that made you the perfect vessel. But now, that same bloodline may be your salvation.”
Caden felt the weight of those words like a heavy stone in his chest. It didn’t make sense—none of it did. He wasn’t special. He wasn’t chosen. He was just a boy who had found a cursed artifact.
Finn’s voice cut through the tension. “So what do we do? How do we seal him away?”
The old man reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, silver dagger engraved with runes. “You must take this dagger and travel to the **Sanctuary of Shadows**, deep within the mountains. There, you will perform the ritual to bind the Demon King’s soul back into eternal darkness. But know this—once you begin, there is no turning back. The Demon King will fight to stay free.”
Caden swallowed hard, his gaze locked on the dagger. “And if I fail?”
The old man’s expression darkened. “If you fail, the Demon King will be reborn in full, and the world will fall into chaos.”
A heavy silence fell over the group. The weight of the task ahead loomed over them, suffocating in its enormity.
Lira stepped closer to Caden, placing a hand on his arm. “You won’t fail, Caden. We’re with you. We’ll see this through together.”
Finn nodded, though the fear in his eyes was clear. “Yeah. We’ve come this far. No way we’re turning back now.”
Caden looked at his friends, feeling a surge of warmth despite the fear gnawing at him. They had always been there for him, through every trial. And now, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, they were still by his side.
He took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. “Alright. We’ll go to the Sanctuary. We’ll stop the Demon King.”
The old man nodded, handing Caden the dagger. “Good. Time is of the essence. The longer you wait, the stronger he becomes.”
As the old man turned to leave, Caden called out to him. “Wait—what’s your name?”
The old man paused, glancing back with a small, knowing smile. “My name… is Alaric. I’ll be watching over you, Caden. May the gods be with you.”
With that, Alaric disappeared into the shadows, leaving Caden, Lira, and Finn alone by the fire.
The journey ahead was daunting, but as Caden gripped the silver dagger, he felt a spark of hope ignite within him. This was the end of one chapter, but the beginning of another.
Whatever came next, they would face it together.
### End of Season 1.