Ren studied him closely. "You still have not answered who you are."
The man regarded him for a moment, then inclined his head slightly. "I am Kaelen Varis, guardian of Veron's outer gate. It is my task to watch those who seek entry, to judge whether they leave this place alive or die among its teeth. You have done enough for today. The land has tested you. The real trial will come soon, and you must step into it with more than raw endurance."
The glow of molten rivers falling behind them. The air grew cooler, the oppressive hum of the land less suffocating with each step, yet the weight of the basin's shadow followed Ren like a second presence.
At the edge of the cliffs, where the stone opened into a path that wound back toward distant plains, Kaelen paused. He rested his hand lightly on the rock and looked out at the horizon.
"When it wakes, nothing on this continent will remain untouched."
The wind shifted. The path forward darkened. Ren's steps faltered for the first time.
