The night fell silent over the camp, the fire flickering low in the clearing. Aether sat still, staring into the flames, his mind swirling with Riven's words. The Phantom Blade, the power to seal his Essence, and the Hollow City—none of it made sense. He could still feel the cold spot on his shoulder where Riven's cursed blade had grazed him. The burning reminder that someone from his past life had returned… with a vengeance.
"Riven…" Aether whispered under his breath, as if saying the name would bring him back from the shadows. But there was nothing. Only the crackling of the fire and the distant sound of the wind through the trees.
Selene broke the silence. "What's the Hollow City?" she asked, her voice quiet but laced with curiosity.
Aether looked up, meeting her gaze. "It's a place… from the past. A city that was lost long ago. It's where the first battle for the Eyes happened. Where everything began to fall apart. No one remembers it now, not even the gods. But Riven does." His voice lowered. "And I do too."
"You're not the only one with a past, Aether." Selene's voice was soft, almost a whisper, but there was something beneath it—a challenge, a subtle question.
He didn't respond immediately, his thoughts swirling like the smoke rising from the fire. He wanted to say something, to explain it all, but the weight of it all was too much. And there was something about Selene that made him hesitate. Something about the way she looked at him. It made him wonder if she knew more than she was letting on.
Lena cleared her throat, drawing everyone's attention. "We should move out at dawn. We can't stay here much longer. Not with Riven watching us."
"Agreed," Aether said, standing up. His muscles ached, still sore from the encounter with Riven. But there was no time to rest. The Hollow City wasn't going to wait for them. He had to find it before anyone else did. Before Riven made his next move.
As the fire dimmed to embers, the group packed up their things and prepared for the journey. The path ahead was unknown, but the way forward was the only option.
---
The next morning – The Descent into Darkness
The landscape changed as they traveled east. The trees thinned, and the air grew colder. It wasn't just the weather—it was the feeling of something ancient pressing against them, something that didn't belong in this world. The Hollow City, according to Aether's memories, was hidden beneath the earth, buried deep where no one could find it.
"This is it," Aether said as they arrived at a large cliffside. The ground here was cracked and uneven, the air heavy with an oppressive silence.
Lena looked at the map, then at the sheer drop below them. "There's no way down from here. How do we get inside?"
Aether's eyes scanned the area. He stepped forward, placing his hand on the rock face. There was no sign of a door, no obvious entrance. But he knew it was here. Somewhere, hidden beneath the earth, was the city that had shaped his past—and his future.
Aether closed his eyes, focusing on the faint pulse of Essence that still lingered in the air. He reached out, connecting with it, feeling the ancient magic that protected the city. It was weak, but it was still there.
"Move back," he ordered.
Selene and Lena hesitated but stepped back as Aether extended his hand, focusing his Aura into a single point. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the energy surged from him. The air grew dense with power, and slowly, the rock face began to shift.
A massive stone slab rose from the earth, revealing a dark passage leading into the depths of the mountain.
"This is it," Aether muttered, his voice filled with both determination and caution. "The Hollow City. And it's not a place for the living."
They descended into the darkness, the path narrowing as they moved deeper into the earth. The air grew thick, the walls slick with moisture. Every step echoed in the silence, every breath a reminder of how deep they had gone.
Lena took a step forward, eyes scanning the walls. "What happened here?" she asked, her voice echoing in the stillness. "It feels like a tomb."
"It is," Aether replied grimly. "This was the place where the final battle between the gods and those who defied them took place. The gods won, and they erased it from history. But some of us... we remember."
Selene looked at him, her expression unreadable. "And what will you do when you find what's left of it? The Eyes, the Herald—what happens then?"
Aether turned to face her. "I don't know. I'm not here for the Eyes anymore. I'm here for the truth. The whole truth."
The deeper they went, the darker it became. The walls narrowed, and the air grew colder. It was as if the very earth was closing in on them.
Suddenly, they heard something. A soft scratching sound. The unmistakable sound of something moving in the dark.
Aether's hand went to his blade, but he held still, listening. The scratching grew louder, and then, a low growl echoed through the passage.
Lena drew her sword, eyes narrowing. "We're not alone."
From the shadows, a figure emerged. Tall, gaunt, with hollow eyes and skin that seemed to shimmer like glass. It moved with unnatural grace, its hands outstretched toward them.
"The Forgotten." Aether whispered, recognizing the ancient beings that had once served as the city's guardians. They had been twisted by time, their purpose lost to the ages.
The creature lunged, but Aether was faster. He drew his blade, slashing through the air. The Forgotten reeled back, hissing in pain, but it wasn't enough. More of them emerged from the shadows, their hollow eyes fixed on the intruders.
"We need to move—now!" Aether shouted.
The group fought back, cutting down the twisted creatures one by one. But for every one they struck down, another appeared. The deeper they went, the more they seemed to multiply.
Lena's sword cut through the darkness, but she was starting to slow. "There are too many of them!"
"We don't have a choice!" Aether said, his voice sharp. "Keep moving!"
They pushed forward, fighting through the swarm of Forgotten. The air was thick with the stench of decay, the walls slick with the remnants of battles long past.
Finally, they reached a large chamber. At the center was a massive stone altar, surrounded by strange symbols carved into the floor. The Forgotten stopped at the edges of the chamber, their hollow eyes fixed on the altar.
Aether stepped forward, his breath heavy. This was it—the heart of the Hollow City. The place where everything had begun.
He approached the altar, and the ground beneath him trembled. The symbols glowed faintly, pulsing with ancient power.
"Do you feel that?" Selene asked, her voice tense.
Aether nodded. "The Eye… it's here."
And as if on cue, the altar shifted, revealing a small, glowing orb resting on the stone.
The Eye.
Aether reached out to touch it, but before his fingers could make contact, a voice echoed through the chamber.
"You've come."
It wasn't a whisper. It wasn't a shout. It was as if the voice had come from everywhere—inside his head, in the walls, in the very air they breathed.
Aether's heart skipped a beat.
Riven had been right. The Herald was waking. And this time, there was no stopping it.