The Varaksha’s Curse

A chilling wind swept through the dense forest of the Eastern Highlands, rustling the treetops with an unsettling hum. Kiran stood at the edge of a secluded clearing, his body tensed, his senses heightened. Something was wrong.

The bond he shared with the Varaksha had always been a powerful force—an ancient connection of instinct and energy. But tonight, something twisted in his soul, a deep pulse of unease vibrating through his core. It was not his fear. It was not the beast's.

It was something else.

The Varaksha crouched beside him, its massive form hidden in the shadows of the trees. Its silver eyes flickered with an intensity Kiran had never seen before.

"You feel it too," Kiran whispered, his voice barely audible against the rustling leaves.

The beast did not respond in words, but its growl rumbled through the clearing, a low vibration that sent a shiver down Kiran's spine.

He closed his eyes, steadying his breath, reaching deeper into their bond. A sensation filled his mind—cold, vast, endless. The Void.

Then, in a sudden wave, it hit him.

A vision.

Darkness stretched before him, an abyss so deep it swallowed all light. A towering figure stood at its heart, its form shifting like liquid shadow. And beyond it, something moved. Something ancient. Something immense.

Kiran gasped, stumbling back as the vision snapped away. He braced himself against a tree, his heart pounding.

"What was that?"

The Varaksha let out a guttural snarl, its ears flattening. Danger. Imminent. The warning was clear.

Kiran wiped the sweat from his forehead, his thoughts racing. This was no ordinary disturbance. The Void was stirring. And something had escaped.

The Gathering Storm

Kiran wasted no time. If the Void had truly been disturbed, then they needed answers—and fast. He turned to the beast, his resolve hardening.

"We need to find Elder Khyros."

The Varaksha nodded, muscles tensing as it leapt forward, its massive frame vanishing into the forest. Kiran followed, his body moving on instinct as he weaved through the thick underbrush.

Elder Khyros, the last surviving guardian of the Old Ways, lived in seclusion atop the Ravenspire Cliffs, a place where the energies of the world converged. If anyone understood the disturbance in the Void, it was him.

The journey was treacherous, but Kiran and the beast moved as one, their bond guiding them through the narrow mountain passes. Hours passed in silence, the only sound their steady breath and the distant cry of ravens overhead.

Finally, as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, they reached the summit.

Elder Khyros stood at the edge of the cliff, his long cloak billowing in the cold wind. His face, etched with time and wisdom, was grim.

"You felt it," he said without turning.

Kiran exhaled sharply. "What was it?"

The old man remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking.

"The Void has been breached. And the Sealed One is stirring."

Kiran stiffened. The Sealed One. A name whispered in forgotten legends, spoken only in fear.

"I saw something," Kiran admitted. "A creature… a Voidborn. It spoke of something being awakened."

Khyros finally turned, his piercing gaze locking onto Kiran. "Then the Ashen Circle has doomed us all."

Kiran clenched his fists. Malrik. This was his doing. Whatever dark ritual they had performed, it had consequences far beyond what they understood.

"The balance of power has shifted," Khyros continued. "The Void does not simply release what is sealed. It demands an exchange. Something—or someone—will be taken in return."

Kiran's chest tightened. The stakes were far greater than he had imagined.

"What can we do?"

Khyros studied him for a moment before speaking.

"You must go to the Ruins of Velithra. There, the Watchers of old sealed the beast away. The answers you seek lie within its depths. But beware—if the seal is breaking, you may not be the only one drawn to its power."

Kiran nodded. He had no choice. If he was to stop Malrik and the Ashen Circle, he needed to understand the Void's power—and how to stop it.

The Descent into Velithra

The Ruins of Velithra were ancient, hidden deep beneath the Valley of Ash. Few had ever ventured into its depths and returned.

Kiran and the Varaksha moved swiftly, their path lit only by the pale glow of the moon. The ruins loomed ahead, massive stone pillars rising like skeletal fingers from the earth. Carvings of forgotten gods and lost warriors lined the walls, their faces worn by time.

The entrance was sealed by an ancient glyph, its surface flickering with a dim blue light. Kiran hesitated, then placed his hand against the stone.

A surge of energy pulsed through him, and the seal cracked.

With a low rumble, the doors of Velithra groaned open, revealing a dark staircase descending into the abyss.

The Varaksha let out a low growl, its body tense. Something waits below.

Kiran exhaled. "We keep moving."

They descended into the darkness, the air growing colder with each step. The walls pulsed faintly, ancient runes flickering as if responding to their presence.

Then, from the depths, came a sound.

A whisper. A growl. A voice not spoken, but felt.

"You are too late."

Kiran's heart pounded. He turned, his hand instinctively reaching for his blade—

And then the shadows came alive.

Darkness erupted from the depths, tendrils of pure Void energy surging toward him. Kiran barely had time to react before the Varaksha lunged, its claws slashing through the tendrils, scattering the energy like ink in water.

But the attack did not stop.

From the darkness, a figure emerged—a monstrous being of shifting blackness, its form barely solid. It had no face, only a hollow void where its features should have been. And in its chest, embedded deep within its shifting flesh, glowed a single rune.

The Mark of the Sealed One.

Kiran barely had time to react before the creature struck.

A wave of raw energy exploded outward, sending him crashing into the stone wall. Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to stand.

The Varaksha leapt at the beast, its fangs sinking into the creature's shoulder. For a moment, the two forces struggled—beast against Void. But the creature did not falter. It let out an unnatural screech, and a pulse of darkness sent the Varaksha flying.

Kiran's blood boiled. He would not let this thing win.

He reached deep inside himself, calling forth the energy that had been growing within him since the day he bonded with the beast.

A pulse of silver fire erupted around him, light clashing against darkness.

The creature recoiled, hissing in pain. For the first time, it feared him.

Kiran took a step forward, his entire body burning with raw power.

"This ends now," he growled.

He raised his hand, and the runes on the walls blazed to life. The ancient glyphs of Velithra responded to his command, their power surging toward him.

With a final cry, Kiran unleashed the energy—

A blinding flash of silver light filled the ruins, consuming the creature in its brilliance.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Then the shadows faded, and the creature was gone.

Kiran staggered, breathing heavily. He turned to the Varaksha, who slowly rose, shaking off the remnants of the battle.

They had won—this time.

But as Kiran looked at the glowing runes, he knew the battle was far from over. The seal was breaking. The Void was stirring. And something far worse than the Ashen Circle was coming.

He clenched his fists.

He had to be ready.

To be continued…