Abyssborn

ent o

Seraphina's lungs. She cradled her son close, he

merely defe

mmanded t

the now-empty space where the wraiths had been.

o move," h

ed against the child's bla

lipped. "But we don't hav

hs were gone, but the presence of the Abyss had t

d to le

ghter around her child

forward, leaving behind the plac

ers Beyon

yond the limits of human unde

not flow and reality twisted in

been sl

fti

in the en

it heard

een touched by something new. S

chi

pled through th

n the Abyss. But now, this presence this tiny, insigni

rned its atte

ugh the shadows, echoing

... and

byss

e in eons, it gazed u

isition'

nst the polished metal of his armor. His fingers drummed against th

he likely escape routes. Soon, there would be

omething

ion trickled

this f

ence of

entrance of the tent, where on

por

on uneasy. "My lord... there was a

yes narrowe

.. something. Shadows moved of their own accord. The

le

ightened around the

o

had aw

o his feet. The candlelight fl

commanded. "We rid

bowed and h

till for a moment,

had hunted many

th

no ordina

was a

, the world itself co

t allow tha

e placed a silver pen

unes glowe

ild mus

loser to

the time Seraphina and Ravian

n towering rock formations

h the narrow pathways. Unlike the villages of men, this place did not glo

ones," Rav

's stomac

ut long ago, they had been marked b

uld they see the child as

nce we go down there, th

htened her gr

never any t

rd, they descended

saken S

nt into

he thick mist that clung to the air. The hidden settlement below was unlike anything Se

s marked by symbols that glowed faintly in the dark. The very

rther, figures emerg

robes that had long since lost their color. These were the Exiled O

y were

still, his small body nestled against her chest, but

he hilt of his dagger. He did not dra

stepped

lack, his face was concealed beneath a hood. But

d not have

eful

ine, forcing the fear from he

tuary?" His gaze flickered toward the

ew louder. Their voices carried

the Abyss,"

doom us all," a

t pounding. "Please... my son is no

nt for a long moment. Then

ow

unwrapped part of the clot

ight touched him

shadows

ndrils shifting at the edge of reality. The Exiled One

still, but Seraphina cou

should not be,

Then help me. If you fear him,

oked at her, and in that moment, she cou

control the

settlement, motioni

... you can

y Crusa

ns, Malagar stood befo

im in silent obedience. Their armor gleamed under the moonlight, thei

raised h

ins." His voice rang clear, unwavering. "We will c

heir swords against

n eyes burned w

nt had

e with

lit chamber, cradling her s

" he explained. "It demands. It feeds.

ed. "Then tell me what I

silent for a

y, he remov

ened veins, his eyes holding t

e a choice,"

ice grew cold. "Or let him be

a's hear

hoi

decide the fa