Page 32 of Beyond the Treaty

I stepped forward, my blade drawn. “Then we shall handle whatever is guarding this place. We cannot turn back now.”

The three of us moved cautiously towards the entrance to the nexus, the weight of the forest pressing in around us. The air was thick with magic, its energy crackling faintly against my skin. Every shadow felt alive, and every sound was amplified in the stillness.

We arrived at the heart of the nexus, a circular courtyard encircled by towering stone pillars. At its centre stood a pedestal, akin to the one at the trading post but considerably more elaborate. Runes spiralled up its surface, glowing faintly in the dim light.

“This is it,” Darius said, his voice soft. “The nexus.”

“What does it do?” Elara inquired, her eyes wide as she observed the intricate carvings.

Darius stepped closer, his brow furrowing as he examined the runes. “It’s a conduit. The old order used these to channel and store immense amounts of magical energy. If the Council hasn’t dismantled it, it could still be operational.”

“Which means it’s either a weapon or a beacon,” I remarked, my grip tightening on my blade.

Darius nodded. “Both.”

Before we could advance any closer, a sound pierced the silence, a low, guttural growl that sent a chill down my spine. From the shadows of the pillars, shapes began to materialise. They were humanoid, yet distorted and wrong, their bodies marred by jagged scars and their eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

“Sentinels,” Darius hissed, his blade glinting as he assumed adefensive stance. “Constructs bound to protect the nexus. We’ve activated their wards.”

Elara’s hand shot out, verdant mist pooling in her palm. “What shall we do?”

“We fight,” I stated, advancing as the first sentinel charged towards us. “And we survive.”

A battle erupted in a blur of steel and magic. The sentinels moved with an inhuman speed, their claws slicing through the air as they attacked. Darius’ blade danced in a deadly arc, cutting down the first two with practised precision. Elara unleashed a rambling mass of vines, her magic crushing through the constructs’ defences.

I stood my ground, my blade clashing against the unnatural strength of the sentinels. Each strike reverberated through my arms; the force of their attacks was unlike anything I had encountered before. Yet, we held our own, fighting with the desperation of those who had no other choice.

As the last sentinel fell, its body crumbling to ash, the courtyard fell silent once more. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my arms ached from the effort, yet we were alive.

Darius approached the pedestal, his expression serious. “We don’t have long. Whatever power remains in the nexus, we must seize it before the Council discovers we’re here.”

Elara joined him, her hands still faintly glowing with residual magic. “Let’s make it count.”

I lingered, my eyes sweeping the shadows for any indication of movement. The area was silent now, yet the sense of unease persisted. This was merely the beginning.

We were no longer fighting merely for survival. We were fighting for the land.

The stakes have never been higher.

CHAPTER 20

The pedestal hummed softly as Darius approached, the runes along its surface glowing brighter with each step he took. Elara stood just behind him, her eyes wide with awe and caution as she traced the intricate carvings with her gaze. I kept my distance, my blade still drawn, scanning the shadows for any further threats.

Darius rested a hand on the pedestal, his fingers grazing the runes. A spark of light burst forth from the stone, and the whole structure began to illuminate, throbbing with an ancient energy that sent a shiver through the air.

“It’s still active,” Darius said, his voice scarcely more than a whisper. “The energy here, it’s untarnished. The Council didn’t strip this place as I feared they might.”

“What does it mean?” Elara inquired, stepping closer.

Darius glanced at her, his expression serious. “It signifies that the nexus still harbours the memories and power of the old order. Should we manage to access it, we could uncover more than mere evidence of the Council’s deception. We might discover the key to entirely breaking their hold.”

Elara’s eyes sparkled with determination. “So, how do we gain access to it?”

Darius’ brow knitted in concentration as he studied the runes. “The nexus was designed to respond to those attuned to its magic, leaders and mages of the old order. If we had one of their sigils, we could activate it completely. But without that...” His voice trailed off, and his gaze shifted to Elara.

“You’re attuned,” he said. “You are the queen of Lunairis. Perhaps that connection is sufficient.”

Elara hesitated, “Do you want me to give it a try?”

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