Night settled along the base of the Shattered Range, turning the pine forest into a maze of shadows. A cold mist crept between the trees like pale fingers brushing against the trunks. Eldric and the team set camp far from the main road to avoid being tracked. The rescued scholars rested near the fire, shivering more from fear than from cold.

Torren adjusted the protective boundary sigils around their shelter. These should hold through the night If any hunters pass by we will know it before they come close

Garron poked the fire with a stick. If they come close ill make sure they regret it

Lyra sat perched on a rock overlooking the dark trail. Her sharp eyes scanned every flicker of movement. Eldric noticed she had barely blinked.

She whispered. Three groups passed near our trail but none entered the forest Likely patrols or scouts from the syndicate And one group wore noble cloaks

Eldric exhaled slowly. The factions are moving faster than we guessed Word of the northern disturbance must have spread into every palace and council hall

The eldest scholar approached the fire holding a small sealed scroll tube. Master Vanton you deserve an explanation for why the Council came north

Eldric nodded. Speak

The scholar sat down heavily. Several weeks ago our divination scholars noticed fluctuations in arcane threads lines of magic that run under the continent We dismissed it as seasonal shifts until the anomalies grew too coordinated We found ancient symbols forming in the flow patterns symbols similar to those in relic archives

Torren frowned. You mean the spells themselves changed

Yes The threads were rearranging as if responding to something We traced the patterns and discovered a link between the shifts and four major ancient ruin sites including Kareth Hollow and Frostbound Spire

Lyra muttered. Four sites Meaning four seals

Eldric recognized the implication at once. Then the ancient barrier is wider than we thought It spans the entire Dominion

The scholar leaned closer to Eldric. But the fluctuations stopped briefly two nights ago Then surged again with more force What happened that night

Eldric hesitated but answered honestly. The Silver Tablet awakened in the auction hall

The scholar inhaled sharply. That explains it Something in the ancient network recognized the awakening

Torren grimaced. And then we opened the beacon chamber Here The second activation

Lyra crossed her arms. Which means every faction is now decoding these signals with whatever scraps of knowledge they can gather

Garron scowled. And running toward danger without knowing what waits

The scholar lowered his voice. The Council believes the ancient empire did not fall naturally We found fragments suggesting an external force a devouring presence that fed on mana and memory A thing the ancients called the Nithrael

Torren shivered. The sentinel said the same Something is waking under the north Something hungry

Lyra looked toward Eldric. And the relics chose you to stop it

Eldric stared into the fire the flames reflecting off the containment cloth around the relic. He felt the faint pulse matching his own heartbeat.

He finally spoke. The relics do not choose out of faith They choose out of necessity If the barrier fails the Nithrael breaks free And everything falls with it

The forest wind shifted.

A deep echo rolled across the mountains like a distant growl muffled by stone.

Garron rose instantly shield in hand. That was not thunder

Torren’s sigils shimmered. Something powerful just moved across the arcane flow Something massive

Lyra’s eyes narrowed. Eldric The mountain is awake

Eldric felt it too
a tug through his chest
like the relic whispering urgently.

He stood and lifted the wrapped disc. The pulse grew faster.

He whispered. The third seal is near and it is already under attack

Lyra tightened her cloak. Then we move before the mountain swallows us whole

They packed their camp in minutes. The scholars prepared to follow but Eldric shook his head.

You return south The academy needs this knowledge Protect it and warn the council to avoid the mountains

The eldest scholar bowed. Then may the ancients guide you Master Vanton

Eldric’s team stepped into the forest shadows heading toward the rising peaks.

Above them
the mountains groaned again
as if something buried within
shifted in its sleep.