The air was still. Down below, the others rested, spread out across the basin room floor on pack rolls. Sleep had eluded Kar, so he’d swapped places with Aldwin to keep watch. He was surrounded by columns now. Beyond them lay the darkness and shadows of the grand chamber they’d fought in earlier. Compared to his new arm, those shadows seemed luminous.

  Kar felt so lost. Confused. He’d been trying to make sense of everything that had happened. Aldwin returning, giving them those Shards. Natalie’s recovery. Kar’s own. Their journey here. Being attacked and abducted, taken by the Fierdi. Learning about all these abilities, about Energia. That fever dream of being lost in the tunnel, then finding that cavern and Old Set—Kar shuddered at the memory. The ship, with Ember inside. It was strange but Kar realized he thought of the Prism as his friend. And now… all this.

  Kar stared at his dark arm; turning it over slowly. The way the light disappeared into it rather than reflecting was decidedly unnatural. As if it were being consumed by a void.

  “It is wrong.” Erio said at his back. Kar hadn’t heard the Cryst approach. He turned to look at him. Tharn wasn’t with him, evidently left down below with the others.

  “What is this?” Kar asked softly, “What’s happening to me?”

  Erio was still for a time, then approached and settled down on the ground next to Kar, “You seem to know very little, for one of the Marked.”

  “Were you Marked too?” Kar asked.

  “I was,” Erio answered, “and I failed. Sometimes… I regret it all.” The Cryst bowed its head, “I miss my family.”

  Kar nodded solemnly. Erio was someone like him, or had been. Only now, what was he? Kar reached his good arm over and patted Erio on the back. His armor was smooth and cool to the touch.

  “We are of the Valorcryst now, Tharn and I.” Erio said. “I do not know exactly what has gone wrong with you, but the Source has placed its trust in you. Its hopes.”

  The Cryst looked over at Kar. This close, Kar could see through Erio’s face guard. For the first time he noticed the faceted eyes there, staring back at him.

  “I will help you, Kar. You did not choose this for yourself. You were chosen. I know how that feels.”

  Tears welled up in Kar’s eyes, unbidden. He blinked them away and sniffed, not sure what to say.

  “These Trials are meant to transform you. To turn you into something like me, only greater.”

  Kar didn’t like the sound of that. “But why?”

  “So that you may be strong enough to fight against and defeat the Void and its Shadowcryst. Have you not seen them?”

  Kar only shook his head. Erio nodded in understanding and turned away, “Then you have been fortunate. You will encounter them soon. Perhaps then, you will understand. For now, just know this, what the Source has built—what it has done—is necessary.”

  Kar furrowed his eyebrows, then ran his fingers across his scalp, “Can you at least explain what happened to my arm?”

  Erio shifted, as if he were uncomfortable to be reminded of that, “You used a power called Absorption. Only the Shadowcryst possess it. They are drawn to and consume all states of Energia. They Absorb it into themselves. Then they convert it into something they can feed on, use it to become stronger. To grow, to multiply,” Erio turned back toward Kar and glanced at his new arm, “to repair themselves.”

  Kar swallowed, looking back down at his arm. That was an apt description of what he had done to the Scorpio, Absorbing all its Energia.

  Erio continued, “That black crystal your arm is made of, we call that Voidcryst. Shadowcryst are the name we give the creatures and monsters made of it. I’ve seen Shadowcryst replace parts of themselves as you did, but I’ve never known a creature or person of flesh to do so. The way it’s integrated into your body is… unsettling.”

  Kar felt unsettled himself, “So what makes these Shadowcryst so dangerous?” He asked.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  Erio laughed bitterly, “They are insatiable, a symptom of a larger disease. The Will they serve seeks to corrupt, to consume. And as I told you, the Shadowcryst seek out any type of Energia, including that bound to all living things. If left unchecked they will spread across a world, killing and absorbing all traces of life. Who knows how many worlds they’ve destroyed? How many lives have been lost throughout the Greater Realm?”

  Kar’s eyes widened and he leaned back, looking toward the ceiling, “Other worlds…”

  “You don’t know much, do you?” Erio said, chuckling.

  “Cut me some slack,” Kar said, shoving the Cryst playfully with his forearm, “I’d never left my village until two months ago. Never even heard of Energia before that.”

  “Not that you remember at least.” Erio said dryly.

  “Apparently.” Kar answered, feeling troubled at the reminder. The Voice; which must belong to the Source—Kar now realized—said it had chosen him as a child. When had there been the opportunity for it to do so? And why couldn’t Kar remember? Nat had told him and Isa about the life they’d had before leaving and going to Riftwater. But all of that was a blank spot in his memory. Before arriving at the lake all those years ago, there was nothing.

  “If we survive the next two Trials there will be time for you to learn what you do not know.” Erio told him.

  “Two more? Is that all that’s left?”

  “In this Vault.” Erio answered, “There are many more beyond this one.”

  Kar was grateful then for the Cryst’s help. He wished he could have known Erio as he must have been, when he was still human.

  “How many Vaults did you clear?”

  “Almost all of them…” Erio whispered, “I died on the last.”

  When Kar woke, he tried desperately to remember what he had dreamt. All he recalled were flashes of Erio, as a man—wielding that Lance of his—fighting against a colossal foe of Shadow and darkness.

  He dispelled that to focus on Aldwin and the others. They had packed up much of their things, but Morrow had set up a small fire and was cooking over it. Kar’s stomach rumbled as he went to join them. He hadn’t realized how chilled he was until he stood next to the flames. Kiya sat next to Morrow, looking bored, her hand extended as she provided a low constant Focusing to fuel his fire. Upon sitting—and to his alarm—Kar’s arm pulsed hungrily along with his stomach. The fire flickered, and Kiya frowned.

  “Good morning, or evening, or afternoon.” Morrow said with a wane smile, filling and passing Kar a small bowl. Kar took it gratefully and tore in, thankful to taste something warm.

  Just then Lore settled down next to him, “This thing is wicked.” she said, grabbing and lifting his shadow arm. Kar tried to flinch away but she held him firm, pulling his hand onto her lap. She looked him in the eye and grinned, then added, more gently, “relax. I’ve seen worse.”

  Kar shifted uncomfortably, not sure what to make of that. He was thankful she didn’t treat him differently though, didn’t see him as some monster or freak now. He was finding it hard not to think of himself that way.

  “So what’s the plan?” Cyse asked. It was the first time Kar had heard the third Hunter speak; his voice nasally and pitched. After his injuries the day before the man looked half-cryst himself now, crystal lines and slashes across his body creating a strange patchwork of scars.

  Kiya grunted, then looked at Kar, “We follow boy wonder here into the Hells below. Hopefully nobody dies, or needs to be healed. I’d rather not be all crystal by the time we get out of here—no offense—” she said with a smirk towards Tharn, whose torso lay propped against the wall next to her, “but I guess beggars can’t be choosers, am I right?”

  Erio came down the stairs, “It might be best if some of you stayed behind for the next Trial. Kar is unlikely to survive if there are—distractions.” Kar was almost certain the Valorcryst had been looking at Lore for that last part.

  Kiya stood, her shoulders tense. She was glaring at Erio, not bothering to hide her animosity. That’s right—Kar remembered—he’d skewered her with one of his spears the day before.

  “Yeah? And what happens if he gets himself killed? The doors just gonna open up and let us out?”

  “They will not,” Tharn said gruffly, “not until Kar clears the last Trial.”

  “That’s what I thought.” Kiya said, “Better if we all pitch in to make sure he does.”

  Kar looked at each member of the party, they all seemed determined enough, other than Morrow, he looked like he would be perfectly content to stay right where he was.

  “How much further do we have to go?” Aldwin asked.

  Erio nodded to Kar, who cleared his throat and said, “There are two more trials left.”

  Derek stood then and stretched. He’d been quiet so far, “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I say, let’s race through this thing and get out of here.”

  Jon led a hearty cheer that the other Hunters and Lore joined in on. Erio simply bowed his head slightly and said, “As you wish.”

  A short while later they all stood before the next door, gear and packs ready. They’d gathered as many shards as they could all carry from the crystbugs up above. There’d been no sign or sound of those Scorpios or anything else. Derek had found Kar’s ring; still attached to his severed arm. Kar now wore it on his left middle finger. Hopefully he could hang on to it this time around.

  “Everyone sure?” Kar asked one last time. They all nodded, even Tharn—he was strapped to Erio’s back. From what Kar had overheard him telling Morrow, given enough time the Valorcryst’s missing body parts would reform on their own. Fascinating.

  “Let’s do this then.” Kar said, activating the impression on the circular frame. The door rolled aside, revealing a bright, expansive sky filled with clouds. Kar leaned out over the threshold. There was no floor on the other side, just open air and a long drop to distant ground below.

  Patreon. I have advanced chapters there and am working hard to bulk up how many are available.