The Shattered Realms series

The Stormchaser glided through a narrow pass between floating isles, its engines humming softly as the group prepared for their next destination. The tension on the ship was palpable; the revelations in Atraxis weighed heavily on them all.

Kael sat near the railing, gripping the Godshard in his palm, its faint glow reflecting his turbulent thoughts. He replayed Erynn's warnings in his mind: Power without control will destroy you.

"Stop brooding," Lira said, sitting beside him with a flask in hand. "We've all got our demons, kid. Yours just happen to glow."

Kael managed a weak smile but didn't reply. Before the conversation could continue, Erynn's urgent shout from the helm broke through the calm.

"We've got company!"

From the clouds, an Imperial cruiser emerged, its massive hull adorned with the crest of the Empire. Smaller airships flanked it, and the glint of soldiers' armor was visible even from afar.

"How did they find us?" Kael asked, his heart pounding.

"They must have tracked us from Atraxis," Lira growled, standing and unsheathing her blades. "Get ready. This isn't going to be pretty."

Cannons on the Imperial ships fired, and the Stormchaser shook violently as Lira and Erynn scrambled to retaliate. Kael gripped the railing for balance, his mind racing.

"Kael, you need to help!" Erynn shouted.

"I don't know what to do!" he yelled back, the Godshard in his hand pulsing erratically.

"Then figure it out fast!" Lira snapped, leaping into action as a boarding party landed on the deck.

The battle was chaos. Imperial soldiers swarmed the Stormchaser, their armor gleaming in the harsh light of the cannons. Lira moved like a whirlwind, her blades flashing as she fought them off.

Kael stood frozen, clutching the shard as the noise and violence overwhelmed him. A soldier charged at him, sword raised, and Kael instinctively raised his hand. The Godshard flared, sending a wave of force that knocked the soldier back—and Kael to his knees.

"Focus, Kael!" Erynn yelled, using her staff to fend off another attacker.

Kael gritted his teeth and tried to center himself. He reached for the shard's power again, this time directing it toward a group of soldiers advancing on Lira. A burst of energy sent them flying, but Kael's vision blurred, and he collapsed.

Lira glanced back at him, her expression a mix of frustration and concern. "Stay with me, kid!"

Suddenly, a net fired from one of the Imperial ships ensnared Lira, dragging her toward the edge of the deck.

"Lira!" Kael shouted, scrambling to his feet.

She fought against the net, but it was reinforced with runes that glowed faintly, nullifying her strength. "Don't—stay back!" she yelled as soldiers hauled her aboard the Imperial cruiser.

Kael lunged forward, but Erynn grabbed his arm. "It's too late! We'll save her, but not if we get caught too."

"She's—she's gone!" Kael stammered, the Godshard in his hand blazing with uncontrolled energy.

"We'll get her back," Erynn said firmly, dragging him toward the helm. "But first, we survive this!"

The Stormchaser managed to escape the ambush, darting into a dense cluster of floating rocks where the larger Imperial cruiser couldn't follow. Kael slumped against the wall of the ship's cabin, his body trembling with exhaustion and guilt.

"This is my fault," he muttered.

"No," Erynn said, her voice softer now. "This is the Empire's doing. But if you want to help Lira, you need to learn how to control that power."

Kael looked at the shard in his hand, its glow dim now. He thought of Lira, her defiance even as she was taken.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he said, his voice steady. "We're getting her back."

Erynn nodded, a spark of hope in her eyes. "Good. Because this fight is far from over."