The Legend of Elaris
In the heart of Ren's war room, a forgotten legend resurfaced.
Elaris—the City of the Defiant. A civilization that had once stood against the gods and vanished from history.
According to old texts, they had wielded forbidden magic, crafting weapons capable of slaying even divine beings. The gods had erased them for their defiance, leaving only whispers behind.
Now, Ren needed their knowledge.
Their city was still out there, beyond the Veil of Storms, a boundary of unnatural tempests that had swallowed entire fleets.
No one who entered had ever returned.
But Ren wasn't just anyone.
The Journey into the Storm
Ren, Mira, Kaelen, and an elite force of 100 warriors set sail from the Kingdom of Shadows. Their ship, the Black Tide, was enchanted to resist the storm's fury, but even then, the Veil was relentless.
Lightning split the skies, and waves taller than towers crashed down upon them. The air itself twisted reality, whispering forgotten voices.
The crew fought to keep the ship steady as the storm grew worse the deeper they went.
Then, suddenly—silence.
The storm vanished, as if they had passed through a doorway.
And before them, stretching across a vast valley of silver sands, was Elaris.
A City Frozen in Time
The city stood untouched by time. Towering spires of golden stone, streets paved in glowing silver, and waterways filled with crystal-clear blue energy.
But something was wrong.
No voices. No life.
Only whispers on the wind.
The air thrummed with power, and the walls of the buildings pulsed as if they were breathing.
Mira knelt, running her hand along the pavement. "This place is alive. The magic here—it's different."
Kaelen gripped his sword, scanning the empty streets. "Then where is everyone?"
A gust of wind swept through the city. The whispers grew louder.
Ren turned his gaze to the massive temple in the city's center.
"We'll find out soon enough."
The Guardians Awaken
As they ventured deeper, statues lined the streets—tall, armored warriors with empty eyes.
Ren stepped forward, feeling a strange pull in his chest. His shadow magic reacted to the city.
Then, one of the statues moved.
A grinding sound echoed as its head turned toward him.
Then another.
And another.
One by one, the Guardians of Elaris awakened.
Their stone mouths opened, speaking in a chorus of voices—not words, but emotions.
Pain. Sorrow. Betrayal.
The largest guardian stepped forward, its voice finally forming words.
"You do not belong here."
Then they attacked.
The Battle for Elaris
The Guardians moved like spirits, their stone bodies bending in ways they shouldn't. Blades of glowing light emerged from their hands, cutting through the air like lightning.
Ren's warriors fought back, but ordinary steel shattered against the Guardians' magic.
Mira dodged a strike, her daggers glowing as she infused them with fire magic. She cut into a Guardian's chest—but it reformed instantly.
Kaelen swung his greatsword, forcing one back. "They're not normal constructs! They're—"
"They're memories." Ren realized. "They're not just stone. They're echoes of the fallen."
As if responding to his words, the Guardians hesitated—just for a moment.
Ren took the chance. His shadows surged, latching onto one of them. He pulled.
For a brief moment, his mind was flooded with visions.
A city in flames. People screaming. A golden figure descending from the sky.
The last thing he saw was a woman in a crown, her face filled with defiance as she raised a blade toward the heavens.
Then everything snapped back to the present.
Ren gasped.
The Guardian he had grabbed shattered into dust.
The others stopped moving.
A final whisper filled the air.
"You… are not them."
Then, just like that, the Guardians faded away.
The Truth of Elaris
Silence returned to the city.
Ren stood there, heart still racing.
Mira looked at him. "What did you see?"
Ren exhaled. "The fall of Elaris. The gods… they didn't just destroy this place. They erased it from existence."**
Kaelen frowned. "Then why is it still here?"
Ren turned to the temple. "Because something still remains."
The real secret of Elaris was waiting inside.
And whatever it was—it had been waiting for him.