Chapter 13: Fractured Paths
The breach pulsed with unstable magic, a living wound tearing open the very fabric of the Netherveil. Noah stood at its edge, the First Shard glowing faintly in his pack, its power humming in sync with the Veil Coin.
Lyra knelt beside him, her hands tracing ancient runes carved into the shattered earth. "This place… it's alive with chaos. We have to be precise."
Riven's eyes scanned the swirling darkness spilling from the rift. "One wrong move, and the breach will consume more than just this clearing."
Noah swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down. "So how do we start?"
Lyra's voice was steady. "We anchor the shard at the breach's heart, then channel our energy through it to seal the fracture."
Riven scoffed lightly. "Sounds simple when you say it like that."
Noah laughed nervously. "Simple is rarely the case."
They approached the breach, the air thick with crackling energy. Noah's hands shook as he pulled the First Shard from his pack. Its jagged surface reflected fragments of the cracked sky, shimmering with power that was both beautiful and terrifying.
The moment the shard touched the ground, a shockwave rippled through the clearing. Shadows recoiled, whispering threats, their voices echoing inside Noah's mind.
He clenched his teeth, focusing on the coin in his hand. Silver light flowed from it, weaving into the shard like threads stitching torn fabric. The ground beneath trembled.
Lyra began chanting in a low, melodic tone, her words ancient and resonant. The runes on her blade glowed brighter, feeding energy into the ritual.
Riven stood guard, eyes sharp, watching the edges of the breach for any sign of attack.
The breach flickered violently—then surged.
Noah's vision blurred as a shadowy figure stepped through the fracture—a twisted, dark mirror of Lyra, her eyes burning with malevolence.
"Your weakness will be your downfall," the shadow hissed, voice dripping venom.
Lyra's blade snapped to the shadow's throat. "You're nothing but a fragment. You won't win."
The shadow laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the Netherveil. "We shall see."