A Shattered Star

By the time they reached Khandar's ruins, dawn was breaking. The city was a skeleton of its former self, its crumbling walls half-buried in sand. The central plaza was marked by an ancient obelisk, its surface covered in worn symbols.

"This is it," Liora said, studying the obelisk. She ran her fingers over the carvings, deciphering the ancient language.

"It's a riddle," she murmured. "To enter, the path must be lit by the sun's first kiss."

"What does that mean?" Elias asked.

"It means we're waiting for sunrise," Darian said.

As the first rays of sunlight struck the obelisk, the ground rumbled. A section of the plaza shifted, revealing a hidden staircase descending into darkness.

"Let's go," Liora said, leading the way.

The air grew colder as they descended. The walls of the tunnel were covered in murals depicting the creation of the shards. At the bottom, they entered a vast chamber filled with intricate mechanisms and traps.

"This isn't just a vault," Elias said in awe. "It's a test."

Liora examined the mechanisms. "We have to align the symbols to unlock the shard's pedestal."

As she worked, the chamber began to shake. Darian and Elias fought off mechanical constructs that emerged from hidden panels in the walls.

"Anytime now, Liora!" Elias shouted, dodging a strike.

"Almost there!" she replied, her fingers flying over the symbols.

With a final click, the mechanisms stopped, and the pedestal rose from the floor, holding the second shard.

Liora grabbed it, but the chamber began to collapse.

"Run!" Darian yelled.

They sprinted up the stairs as the ruins crumbled around them, barely making it out before the entrance sealed shut.

• Get access to advanced chapter only on my Patreon.

patreon(.)com/Bersertales