THE BOND OF THE FRAGMENTS
The camp was silent, illuminated only by the faint moonlight filtering through the treetops. The wind whispered among the leaves, and the embers of the dying fire crackled occasionally, but the atmosphere remained tense. Zyrion stayed away from the others, sitting at the edge of the clearing, the white mask clinging to his face like a sentence. His breathing was uneven, his body trembled slightly, and every now and then his hands twitched, as if he were struggling against something inside him.
Caelithra, who normally kept a cautious distance from Zyrion, decided to approach him, driven by a mixture of concern and curiosity. As she drew closer, she noticed how the mask reflected the moonlight, giving him a ghostly appearance.
"Zyrion," she said softly, stopping a few steps away. "How do you feel?"
Zyrion didn't answer immediately. His head tilted slightly to one side, and when he finally spoke, his voice sounded distant, as if coming from far away. "I don't know… There is something… inside me. Something I can't control."
Caelithra frowned. "What do you mean? Is the mask affecting you somehow?"
"It's more than that," Zyrion replied, clenching his fists. "I feel… a darkness growing. Like I'm losing control of my own body."
Caelithra took a step closer, trying to find his eyes through the mask's narrow openings. "Zyrion, you're not alone in this. We're here to help you, but you need to tell us what you're feeling. You can't keep everything inside."
Suddenly, Zyrion stood up with a sharp movement, so abrupt that Caelithra instinctively stepped back. "Don't come closer!" His voice was a growl, charged with fear and warning. "I don't know how much longer I can hold this…"
Caelithra raised her hands calmly, though her eyes shone with worry and determination. "Zyrion, look at me. Whatever's happening, it's not you. You have to resist."
Zyrion stepped back, his movements erratic and uncoordinated. His breathing grew heavier, and a dark aura began to emanate from his body. "Caelithra… I can't… I can't stop it…"
Before she could react, Zyrion lunged toward her—an instinctive strike, filled with a force he had never shown before. Caelithra barely managed to dodge, and even then the air pressure alone pushed her back, sending her crashing onto the ground.
"Zyrion!" Caelithra shouted, struggling to get up. "Stop! You don't know what you're doing!"
But Zyrion's eyes, visible through the mask's openings, were white as snow—empty, devoid of any trace of his true self. He stepped toward her, raising a hand wrapped in dark energy that twisted like living serpents.
Before he could strike again, a flash of light crossed the clearing, and a figure appeared between them, stepping in front of Caelithra. It was Velkran, the Bearer of the Fragment of Speed.
"Back off!" Velkran roared, assuming a defensive stance. His armor gleamed under the moonlight, and his gaze remained fixed on Zyrion. "I don't know who you are, but I won't let you hurt anyone else."
"Velkran, wait," Caelithra said from the ground, her voice trembling but firm. "You don't understand what's happening…"
"It doesn't matter what's happening," Velkran interrupted, without taking his eyes off Zyrion. "I'm not standing by while someone threatens my allies."
Zyrion let out a low growl, his body trembling as if fighting an invisible force. "I… don't want… to hurt anyone…"
Velkran frowned, analyzing him. "Who are you? Why are you wearing that mask? Are you one of the Zykrath Nolthem?"
Zyrion didn't answer. His hands shook as he tried to suppress the dark power surrounding him. To Velkran, his silence was confirmation. Without waiting any longer, he activated his fragment, moving at blinding speed toward Zyrion, attempting to restrain him.
The impact was brutal. Velkran struck Zyrion's side, but Zyrion reacted instinctively, blocking the attack with a movement that was unexpectedly fast and precise. Their energies clashed, creating a shockwave that shook the clearing.
"Stop, Velkran!" Caelithra cried. "You don't know who he is!"
"He's a threat, Caelithra!" Velkran countered, dodging another strike. "I can't take the risk!"
Meanwhile, Zyrion struggled to remain conscious. Each strike, each movement, drained him further, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't control himself.
At last, during a moment of vulnerability, Velkran managed to bring Zyrion to the ground, pinning him down. The white mask glowed faintly as Velkran raised a fist charged with energy, preparing to deliver the final blow.
"Velkran, don't!" Caelithra screamed, sprinting toward them. "It's Zyrion! It's him!"
Velkran froze, his fist suspended mid-air. His eyes widened with disbelief as he stared at the masked figure. "What… what are you saying?"
"It's him," Caelithra repeated, kneeling beside Zyrion. "That mask… it's part of a curse. It's trying to control him, but he's still in there."
Velkran stepped back, shock and regret mixing on his face. "Zyrion? But… how is that possible? What did they do to him?"
Zyrion lifted his head slightly, his voice barely a whisper. "Velkran… I'm sorry… I can't…"
Before he could finish, his body collapsed completely, exhaustion overpowering him. The mask remained attached to his face, but the dark energy around him had faded—at least for now.
Velkran stood slowly, looking down at Zyrion with remorse. "I didn't know. If I had known…"
"It doesn't matter," Caelithra said firmly. "What matters now is helping him. We can't let this consume him."
Velkran nodded, determination filling his voice. "Then you won't face this alone. I'll stay with you until we find a solution. It's the least I can do."
Kyrahna, who had been watching from afar, finally approached. "This only confirms what we already suspected. Zyrion is in danger, and we can't waste any more time. If we're going to save him, we have to act now."
The group nodded silently, gathering around Zyrion as the night enveloped them again. Though the physical and emotional wounds were deep, giving up wasn't an option. Their leader, their friend, needed them more than ever. And they were willing to face any enemy—even the Void itself—to bring him back.
The night moved slowly, relentlessly. Zyrion remained unconscious at the center of the camp, wrapped in a blanket, his white mask glowing faintly under the moonlight. Occasionally, a shiver ran through his body, as if the curse refused to let him rest even in unconsciousness.
Velkran and Quindarion sat near the fire, watching the others. Caelithra and Kyrahna whispered as they planned the next steps. Tension clung to the air, but both bearers knew it was time for them to take charge.
"This isn't looking good," Velkran said, breaking the silence. "I don't know how much longer Zyrion can withstand that curse."
Quindarion rubbed his temples. "I know. It scares me more than I want to admit. But we can't act recklessly. We need a plan—one that helps him and keeps everyone safe."
Velkran raised a brow. "You? The teleportation master, talking about acting calmly? I thought you were the kind of guy who always improvised."
Quindarion allowed a small smile. "There's a time to improvise, and a time to stop and think. This is the second one. Taking care of a group like this isn't something to take lightly."
Velkran exhaled, looking at Zyrion. "Never thought we'd end up here, the two of us. Bearers working together to protect a group of travelers and a cursed friend. Life has a strange sense of humor."
Quindarion tilted his head, amused. "Are you saying you never saw me as someone worthy of being your ally?"
"That's not it," Velkran said, crossing his arms. "It's just that our abilities couldn't be more different. You're the strategist, appearing and disappearing whenever you want. I'm… direct. Speed and force, all I need."
"And yet, here we are," Quindarion replied with intention. "Because despite our differences, our goal is the same: to protect them. All of them—even Zyrion."
Velkran nodded slowly. "You're right. If we want this group to survive, we'll have to work together. Even if we don't always agree."
"That includes protecting each other," Quindarion added. "We're not only their shields, Velkran. We're their hope. If we fall, they fall with us."
Velkran stared at him before extending a hand. "Alright. United until the end, then."
Quindarion shook his hand firmly. "United until the end."
Their conversation was interrupted when Caelithra approached with a stern expression. "We need to talk about our next steps," she said, sitting beside them. "We can't stay here much longer. Remaining in one place makes us an easy target."
"We know," Quindarion replied. "But moving Zyrion right now is risky. We need at least one more day for him to recover."
"And if he doesn't recover?" Velkran asked bluntly. "What if the curse consumes him before we find a solution?"
Caelithra's jaw tightened. "I won't let that happen. Zyrion is our leader. If anyone can overcome this, it's him."
Velkran exchanged glances with Quindarion, then nodded. "Alright. Then we need a plan. I'll patrol the surroundings and make sure no enemies are near. Quindarion can use his teleportation to gather supplies or scout escape routes."
"That works," Quindarion agreed. "But we also need to keep the group calm. Fear can break morale quickly. Kyrahna is doing her best, but she'll need support."
"I'll handle that," Caelithra said with resolve. "I'll talk to them. I'll remind them that we're still together in this, no matter what."
While Velkran left to patrol and Quindarion vanished in a flash of light to find supplies, Caelithra approached Kyrahna, who was sitting with the rest of the group, trying to keep spirits up.
"Kyrahna," Caelithra said, sitting beside her. "How is everyone?"
"Worried, as expected," Kyrahna answered. "They don't understand what's happening to Zyrion, and some fear he won't be the same when he wakes."
Caelithra pressed her lips together. "He will. He has to. Zyrion is stronger than any of us imagine."
"I know," Kyrahna said softly, her voice filled with conviction. "But they need to be reminded of that too. We can't let fear take over."
The two shared a look of understanding before standing up and walking toward the group. With steady and reassuring words, they encouraged them, reminding them why they followed Zyrion and why they needed to trust that they would overcome this together.
Hours later, Velkran returned, his expression tense. "Everything's clear for now. But we shouldn't lower our guard. Something tells me this is just the beginning."
Quindarion appeared shortly after with a small sack of supplies. "Got some food and water. Not much, but enough for now."
The group gathered once more around the fire, exchanging tired but determined looks. Despite their differences, a silent understanding bound them together: they were united, and they wouldn't abandon each other.
Velkran and Quindarion shared a brief look before nodding in unison. As bearers, it was their duty to protect the group—and most importantly, Zyrion. Silently, they both vowed not to fail.
As the night wrapped them in its dark mantle, a new day approached, carrying even greater challenges.But for now, they were ready to face them—together.
TO BE CONTINUED…