The Varaksha’s Curse

The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and burning incense as Lyssara moved through the corridors of Duskholde Keep. The weight of Malrik's command pressed against her mind—guide Kiran into the darkness, let him learn only what we allow.

It was a delicate game. One misstep, and he would slip beyond their reach.

She descended the spiral staircase leading to the lower chambers, where the warlocks were preparing the next phase of their plan. The scent of charred herbs and melted wax filled the air as she entered the ritual chamber.

A circle of hooded figures stood around a massive stone basin, its surface rippling with liquid shadow. The Mirror of Azhuran—an artifact that allowed glimpses into the paths of fate.

Vharen, the eldest of the circle, turned as she entered. "The Shadowbound have already been sent," he murmured. "They will reach Kiran soon."

Lyssara approached the basin, peering into its depths. The black liquid swirled, forming fleeting images—Kiran, standing in the ruins of Velithra, his face tense with resolve. The Varaksha lurked beside him, its silver eyes glowing in the darkness.

He was searching.

Seeking answers Malrik did not want him to have.

Lyssara exhaled softly. "We cannot stop his journey."

Vharen's brow furrowed. "Then why delay?"

She looked up, her gaze sharp. "Because we don't need to stop him. We need to shape what he finds."

Her fingers trailed over the stone rim of the basin. The Void had already touched Kiran—deeply enough that he would question everything.

Now, all she had to do was place the right voices in his path.

She turned to the gathered warlocks. "Summon the Echoes."

Vharen hesitated. Even among the Ashen Circle, the Echoes were dangerous—remnants of lost souls, trapped between the Void and the waking world. Whisperers of half-truths and deception.

"Are you certain?" he asked.

Lyssara's lips curled into a faint smile. "We will not force him into darkness, Vharen." She turned back to the basin, watching as the vision of Kiran flickered. "We will let him walk there himself."

A Voice in the Dark

Hours later, deep within the ruins of Velithra, the Echoes came.

Kiran sat near a crumbling archway, his breath steady, his mind focused. The ruins were speaking to him, their energies shifting, revealing fragments of long-buried power.

Then, the whispers began.

Soft at first. Barely audible.

"The path is broken…"

Kiran's eyes snapped open. The Varaksha let out a low growl beside him, ears flattening.

A shadow curled at the edges of his vision—not a form, not a figure, but a presence.

"You seek the truth, but truth is illusion."

Kiran stood, his heart pounding. "Who are you?"

No answer.

Only shifting shadows.

The Echoes did not speak in full truths, nor in lies. They existed only to guide—but toward what end, no one ever truly knew.

"He lied to you, Kiran."

Kiran stiffened. "Who?"

The shadows twisted, their voices overlapping in a chorus of murmurs.

"The one who bound you. The one who calls himself your ally."

His fists clenched. "You mean the Varaksha?"

A whisper like laughter rippled through the air.

"No, Kiran. The one who left you with only half an answer. The one who fears what you might become."

His stomach tightened. Elder Khyros.

Could they be right? Had Khyros known more about his connection to the Void than he had told him?

Kiran wanted to dismiss the thought—but something inside him hesitated.

"You will never be free unless you claim your destiny. The truth waits beyond the seal. Do you have the strength to take it?"

The shadows coiled, fading back into the ruins.

Kiran stood frozen, doubt creeping into his mind.

Beside him, the Varaksha rumbled low in its throat, watching him carefully.

Kiran took a slow breath.

He would find the truth himself.

No matter where it led.

From the Shadows

Lyssara stood at the edge of the Mirror's basin, watching Kiran's hesitation through the rippling void.

A satisfied smile played on her lips.

It had begun.

She turned away, vanishing into the darkness.

The next steps of Malrik's plan were already in motion.

To Be Continued…