The forest gave way to open plains by midday, stretching wide beneath a pale sky. A lonely wind whipped at their cloaks, carrying with it the faint scent of burnt wood.
Jace squinted into the distance, spotting dark shapes against the horizon. "Smoke. Something's burning."
Kieran quickened his pace, Rag trotting ahead, nose to the ground. As they crested a hill, the source became clear—a small village, half in ruins, smoldering remnants of huts dotting the landscape.
Mira's face fell. "We're too late."
They hurried down the slope, weapons drawn, but found only silence. Bodies lay scattered, marked with deep gashes and scorched by unnatural fire. Bram knelt beside one of the fallen, murmuring a prayer.
Rolan examined a scorched symbol on a broken cart. "Same energy signature as before—corruption mixed with elemental force."
Kieran gritted his teeth. "They're moving faster than we are."
Jace glanced around, axe resting on his shoulder. "Any survivors?"
A soft whimper caught their attention. Mira hurried toward the sound, finding a young girl crouched behind a stone well, her eyes wide with fear.
"Hey," Mira whispered gently, kneeling down. "It's okay. We're here to help."
The girl hesitated before pointing toward the far end of the village. "They... they took the others. Headed north. Men in dark robes."
Kieran exchanged a glance with Bram. "Cultists. They're gathering people now."
Rolan frowned. "Likely for another ritual. If they're increasing their numbers, they must be preparing something large-scale."
Jace looked at the girl. "Any soldiers around? Anyone who fought back?"
She shook her head. "They came at night. No one was ready."
Mira put a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. "We'll make sure they don't hurt anyone else. Stay here and wait for the next caravan—they'll take you somewhere safe."
With a reluctant nod, the girl stayed behind as the group moved north, following the trail of trampled grass and disturbed earth. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows as they pressed on.
After an hour, Rolan held up a hand, signaling for quiet. They crouched behind a rocky outcrop, peering over to see a group of cultists marching villagers toward a makeshift camp. At the center was a stone obelisk covered in fresh markings, pulsing with dark light.
Bram muttered a curse. "They're preparing another conduit. If they complete it, the corruption will spread across the plains."
Kieran assessed the situation. "We can't afford a direct assault. Rolan, think you can sabotage that obelisk while we create a distraction?"
Rolan gave a crooked grin. "Piece of cake."
Jace cracked his knuckles. "I'll draw their attention. Make it loud."
Kieran nodded. "Mira, support Jace with barriers. Bram, keep them from summoning reinforcements. Let's move."
As they sprang into action, Jace let out a war cry, charging the nearest cultist and sending him sprawling. Mira conjured a barrier that deflected a bolt of dark magic, while Bram sent tendrils of light into the ground, cutting off the cultists' energy flow.
Rolan slipped through the chaos, reaching the obelisk and pulling out his alchemical tools. Muttering under his breath, he began etching counter-runes, sweat beading on his forehead.
A cult leader, taller and more adorned than the others, raised his staff, conjuring a swirling vortex of black fire. Kieran intercepted, his blade clashing against the staff, sparks flying as dark and light energy collided.
"Your resistance is futile," the leader sneered. "The corruption will consume this land."
"Not today," Kieran shot back, forcing the staff downward and delivering a swift kick to the cultist's ribs.
Rolan finished the final rune, and the obelisk's glow faded before shattering with a thunderous crack. The cult leader faltered, and Bram seized the moment, unleashing a burst of holy light that engulfed him, leaving nothing but ash.
With the obelisk destroyed, the remaining cultists scattered, and the villagers slowly emerged from hiding. Kieran sheathed his blade, offering them reassuring words.
Mira sighed, wiping sweat from her brow. "One less conduit, but how many more are there?"
Bram looked grim. "We'll keep stopping them, one by one, until we find the root."
Kieran gave a nod, determination hardening his gaze. "Whatever it takes."