Inside Arkon's small study house, ancient books were scattered across the table.
Glowing runes floated in the air.
Elder Arkon looked more serious than Arian had ever seen him before.
"You felt it too, didn't you?" Arkon asked.
Arian nodded.
"Yes. The same kind of energy we felt near the Abyss Gate."
Lyra placed an old book on the table.
"I found something in the archives of Lunareth."
The book opened by itself.
Ancient symbols glowed across the pages.
Arkon spoke slowly.
"When the Heart of Abyss lost its power, we believed its magic disappeared forever."
He paused.
"But that was a mistake."
Arian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lyra pointed to a drawing inside the book.
The drawing showed a crystal breaking into several smaller fragments.
"These are called Abyss Shards," she explained.
"When the Heart of Abyss collapsed, its power scattered across Eldoria."
Arkon finished the thought.
"And if someone gathers those shards…"
"They could recreate the power of the Heart of Abyss."
Silence filled the room.
Draven finally spoke.
"So someone is searching for the shards."
Lyra nodded.
"That signal in the sky was not natural."
"It was magical."
Arian felt a familiar sense of responsibility.
"Then we have to find the shards before anyone else does."
Arkon looked at him carefully.
"This path will be even more dangerous than the last."
Arian smiled slightly.
"Good."
"Because we already survived the impossible once."
But none of them noticed the shadow standing outside the window.
A cloaked figure silently listened to their conversation.
Then disappeared into the darkness.