The morning sun barely pierced the heavy clouds, casting a muted light over the city as Cael returned to his quarters. The weight of the oracle's words pressed against his mind like a stone sinking into dark waters. Every step felt heavier, burdened by the secrets he now carried — the breach, his father's fate, and the fragile hope pinned to ancient sigils.
His room was sparse, shadows pooling in the corners as if reluctant to release their grip. Cael sat by the window, tracing the jagged skyline, where twisted spires clawed at the dull sky. The city felt different now — more fragile, a delicate thread straining against unseen forces.
A sudden knock startled him. Selene entered, her eyes glinting with urgency. "There's something you need to see."
She handed him a parchment, its edges singed, symbols scrawled hastily in ink that seemed to shimmer unnaturally. "This was found near the breach — a warning, or perhaps a plea. The shadows aren't just creeping; they're organizing."
Cael's gaze darkened. The breach was no longer a passive wound but a spreading corruption, intelligent and relentless.
"We don't have much time," Selene continued. "If we wait, it will consume more than just the city. It will devour everything."
The choice before Cael sharpened — confront the unknown with fragile allies and ancient magic, or watch as the world he knew unravelled piece by piece.
He clenched his fists, resolve hardening like forged steel. The past's echoes had led him here. Now, his path forward was clear — no matter the cost.