The night was quiet, too quiet. Rhea lay beneath a thin blanket of starlit sky, staring up at the heavens. The moon hung low, casting an ethereal glow over the land, its light barely breaking through the thick canopy of the forest. She could hear the distant sound of a river flowing, the rustle of wind through the trees, but no other sound—no creatures calling, no footsteps in the underbrush.
It was as though the world was holding its breath.
Kael was asleep beside her, his form curled into a tight ball, ever vigilant even in rest. Orin, as usual, was farther away, sitting in a meditative posture near the fire. Their eyes were closed, but Rhea knew they were listening to everything, feeling everything, their senses more acute than any ordinary person's.
Rhea turned her attention inward, feeling the steady pulse of the Heart beneath her skin. The connection to it was stronger now, ever since their encounter with Elara. It felt as though it was waking up—like the Heart was stretching its wings after a long slumber, yearning for something. But what? And why her? What had she done to deserve this call?
A rustle broke her thoughts, a sound far too close. Rhea tensed, her hand instinctively moving to her sword. Her heart beat faster, but she knew it wasn't fear—it was something else. Anticipation. The same feeling that had come over her when she first felt the Heart's call.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Tall, with long, dark hair and a cloak of deep green, blending seamlessly with the night. It was Orin, who had risen from their meditative stance. Their expression was unreadable, but there was a sense of urgency in their movements.
"We must prepare," Orin said, their voice low but firm. "The path ahead will not be as quiet."
Rhea nodded, sitting up. "What do you mean?"
"The closer we get to the Northern Wastes, the more dangerous it will become," Orin replied, their eyes scanning the surrounding darkness. "There are forces at work that even I do not fully understand. The Wastes are not just barren land—they are a reflection of something deeper. A place where the light is broken."
Rhea stood, adjusting her cloak as she drew her sword. "Are we ready?"
Orin's gaze softened for a moment, their usually stern face betraying a flicker of something—perhaps doubt, perhaps something else—but it was gone before Rhea could be sure. "We will be."
Kael stirred at their words, sitting up with a grunt, his eyes sharp. "The Wastes are a dead place, aren't they? Filled with creatures from the dark? Things that were never meant to be?"
Orin nodded. "Yes. The Wastes are not just a physical place—they are a reflection of the imbalance within the realms themselves. Creatures born from the rift between light and dark, fractured beings who lost their purpose. Some are remnants of the Heart's first guardians, corrupted by the very power they once swore to protect."
Rhea's heart clenched at the thought. Corrupted guardians. It was almost too much to fathom. But she couldn't let fear paralyze her. Not now. Not when the fate of the realms was in her hands.
"We leave at dawn," Orin continued, their voice carrying a weight that stilled the air around them. "We must move swiftly, but cautiously. The Wastes will not wait."
The first light of dawn broke through the trees, casting long shadows as Rhea, Kael, and Orin began their journey north. The landscape around them gradually shifted from the dense forest to rolling hills and barren plains. The further they traveled, the more the land seemed to wither, as if drained of life. The sky, once a deep blue, was now a pale, sickly gray, and the winds grew colder.
Rhea felt the weight of the Heart in her chest, pulsing in rhythm with her own heartbeat. She knew they were getting closer.
As they walked, the silence between them deepened, the only sound being their footsteps crunching on the dry earth beneath them. Rhea felt an unspoken tension in the air, a heavy, oppressive silence that made her feel as if they were walking into the jaws of something waiting to devour them.
Hours passed, and the landscape became more desolate, the once green grass now a dull brown. The trees they passed were twisted, their bark cracked and lifeless. There were no birds, no animals—only the wind, whispering secrets Rhea couldn't hear.
By midday, the air had become colder, the chill biting at Rhea's skin, seeping through her cloak. She glanced at Orin, whose pace had not faltered despite the harsh conditions. Kael walked beside her, his hand on his sword, eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of danger.
"The Wastes are strange," Rhea remarked quietly, her breath visible in the air. "It feels like the land itself is sick."
Orin's voice was low but thoughtful. "The Wastes reflect the rift in the Heart. Where the Heart was once whole, now there is only a shattered echo. A piece of it lies within the Wastes—hidden deep beneath the earth, guarded by whatever remains of those who were lost."
"What happens to those who are lost?" Kael asked, his voice filled with both curiosity and caution.
"They become like the creatures that roam here," Orin answered, their voice grim. "Corrupted, twisted by the imbalance. Some are still aware of what they once were, others… are not."
Rhea shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her. The thought of the creatures—former guardians, perhaps, now twisted into something unrecognizable—chilled her more than the cold wind ever could. She could feel the weight of their mission pressing on her, and the fear of the unknown was beginning to take root.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the distance. It was a sound that didn't belong—dark and guttural, filled with an ancient hunger. Rhea's heart leapt into her throat as she instinctively reached for her sword. Kael tensed, his hand on the hilt of his weapon, his eyes scanning the horizon.
Then they saw it—moving through the thick fog that had begun to roll in from the east. A massive figure, tall and hunched, with long claws that scraped against the dry earth as it moved. Its eyes glowed with a feral red light, and its form seemed to shift with each step, as though it was a creature caught between worlds.
A corrupted guardian.
Orin raised a hand, and the air around them seemed to shift, the wind howling louder as if in warning. "Stay close," Orin commanded. "We cannot afford to let it get the upper hand."
The creature let out a terrifying screech, and in an instant, it charged, its massive form moving with frightening speed despite its hulking size. Its claws slashed through the air, and Rhea barely had time to react as it lunged at her, a blur of darkness and rage.
Kael was faster. With a swift movement, he drew his sword and met the creature's claws with a clash of steel. Sparks flew as the blade slid against the creature's hardened hide, but it wasn't enough to stop it.
"Watch out!" Kael yelled.
Orin moved with speed that seemed almost unnatural, their body blurring as they shifted between positions, their hand raised in a fluid motion. A pulse of energy shot out from their fingers, hitting the creature square in the chest. The creature reeled back, a deafening screech escaping its mouth as it staggered.
But it wasn't defeated.
"We need to finish this quickly!" Orin shouted, stepping back and summoning more energy, their hands crackling with light.
Rhea's heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't stand back any longer. She surged forward, her sword raised, channeling the pulse of the Heart within her. Her blade glowed with an ethereal light, the very energy of the Heart coursing through her veins.
With a swift, powerful strike, Rhea plunged her sword into the creature's chest, where its heart should have been. The creature let out one final, guttural roar before disintegrating into shadows, its body evaporating into the air like smoke.
Rhea stood there, breathless, as the fog began to lift, revealing the devastation of the battle. She wiped the sweat from her brow, her heart still racing. They had survived, but the Wastes were only just beginning to show their true dangers.
Orin nodded in approval, though their face remained serious. "It's only a taste of what lies ahead. Stay sharp."
As the trio continued their journey through the Northern Wastes, Rhea couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows were watching, waiting. The Heart was calling to her, but what lay ahead would test everything she had.