Kael and Saerin stood before the robed figure, whose presence seemed to both command and mourn the fractured world around them. The mist curled in unnatural patterns, revealing glimpses of broken memories and lost histories.
The figure's voice was steady but carried a weight of centuries. "This realm was once whole, a nexus where all realities converged. But a great calamity shattered it — a tear in the fabric of existence. Now, fragments drift aimlessly, and the souls trapped here suffer without rest."
Saerin's eyes searched the shadows. "How can we mend it? What do you need from us?"
"The threads of this realm have weakened," the figure explained. "To repair them, you must gather the lost shards of the Pattern — fragments of pure essence scattered across the realm. Each shard holds the memory of a world, a fragment of truth."
Kael's hand instinctively reached for the pendant at his neck, the core of his power. "Where do we start?"
The figure gestured toward a distant horizon where jagged ruins pierced the gray sky. "The first shard lies within the Ruins of Eldros — a place where time loops endlessly, trapping those who enter in a never-ending cycle."
A chill ran down Saerin's spine. "Time loops? How do we break free once inside?"
"By confronting your own past," the figure said. "Only by facing your fears and regrets can you move forward."
Kael exchanged a glance with Saerin. Their journey was about to become even more personal — a test not just of skill, but of their very souls.
As they prepared to step into the unknown, the realm itself seemed to pulse with expectation. Somewhere in the shadows, something ancient stirred — watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.