Ashborne: The Warden's Curse

The door groaned open, its heavy stone grinding against the ground with a sound that reverberated through the ruin. A cold wind rushed out from the darkness beyond, carrying with it whispers that seemed to crawl beneath Elric's skin.

He hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The carvings on the door had felt eerily familiar, their swirling patterns echoing the movement of his shadow. Now, as he stepped forward, he could feel the Abyss itself holding its breath, watching.

The room beyond was vast, its edges swallowed by darkness. The air was colder here, sharper, and the faint glow of his shadow barely illuminated the space. Massive pillars reached up into the void above, their surfaces etched with the same swirling symbols.

At the center of the room stood a towering figure.

Elric froze, his breath catching.

The figure was humanoid, but only in the loosest sense. Its body was composed of obsidian-like armor, its surface jagged and gleaming with an inner, faint blue light. Its head was featureless, a smooth, curved surface that gave no hint of eyes or mouth, yet Elric could feel its gaze piercing through him.

It held a massive halberd, the weapon's blade crackling with energy. As the door sealed shut behind Elric with a deafening boom, the figure stirred.

"You have been summoned," the voice boomed, deep and resonant, filling the chamber. It wasn't a whisper like before—it was a command, ancient and absolute.

Elric swallowed hard, his grip tightening on his blade. "Who are you?" he demanded, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.

"I am Sarath, Warden of the First Gate," the figure replied, taking a step forward. The ground seemed to tremble beneath its weight. "You have crossed the threshold of the Abyss, Boundling. Now you must prove your worth—or be consumed."

Elric's shadow twisted and writhed at the Warden's words, reacting to the power that radiated from the figure.

"What kind of trial?" Elric asked, though he already knew the answer.

Sarath raised its halberd, the blade crackling with energy. "Survival."

---

The Warden moved faster than Elric could have anticipated. One moment it was standing still, and the next it was upon him, the halberd slicing through the air with terrifying speed.

Elric barely dodged, the weapon's edge grazing his shoulder and sending a jolt of energy through his body. He stumbled back, his instincts screaming at him to run, but there was nowhere to go.

The Warden struck again, its movements precise and unrelenting. Elric ducked and rolled, his blade flashing out in a desperate attempt to strike back. His sword connected with Sarath's armor, but the blow barely left a scratch.

"You are weak," the Warden intoned, its voice cold and detached. "The Abyss does not tolerate weakness."

Elric gritted his teeth, frustration and fear boiling inside him. He couldn't fight this thing head-on. It was stronger, faster, and utterly unyielding.

His shadow pulsed, and he felt the now-familiar cold energy surge within him. The tendrils lashed out, coiling toward the Warden like living snakes. Sarath paused, its head tilting slightly as the shadows wrapped around its legs.

"Interesting," the Warden murmured.

Elric didn't waste the opportunity. He lunged, aiming for the gaps in Sarath's armor. His blade found its mark, sinking into the Warden's side. For a moment, he thought he'd won.

Then Sarath laughed.

The sound was deep and resonant, like the tolling of a great bell.

"You are foolish if you believe brute force will save you," Sarath said. With a single sweep of its halberd, it shattered the shadow tendrils and sent Elric flying across the chamber. He hit the ground hard, his vision swimming.

"Power alone is not enough," the Warden continued, its voice echoing. "The Abyss demands more."

Elric pushed himself up, his body screaming in protest. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his chest felt like it had been crushed. But he wasn't done. He couldn't be.

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the shadows. They responded immediately, coiling around him protectively. He could feel their hunger, their desire to consume.

"If you want to survive," the voice whispered in his mind, "you must embrace what you are."

Elric hesitated. The power was tempting, but every time he used it, he felt himself slipping further away from who he was. But what choice did he have?

"Fine," he muttered, his voice low. "Let's see what you can really do."

The shadows surged outward, darker and more alive than ever. They wrapped around his arms, forming jagged, blackened claws that pulsed with energy. His vision sharpened, and he felt a clarity unlike anything he'd known.

Sarath tilted its head. "Good," it said, its tone approving. "Now show me your resolve."

---

The battle shifted.

Elric moved faster, his strikes more precise. The shadows enhanced his every movement, their tendrils lashing out in perfect synchronization with his attacks. Sarath matched him blow for blow, but there was no longer the sense of hopelessness that had weighed Elric down before.

He dodged a sweep of the halberd and closed the distance, his claws raking against the Warden's armor. This time, the strike left deep gouges, and Sarath staggered.

"You are learning," the Warden said, its tone almost… proud.

Elric didn't respond. He pressed the attack, the shadows growing wilder and more frenzied with each passing moment. But as he fought, he felt something gnawing at the edges of his mind—a cold, insidious presence that whispered promises of power.

"More. Take more."

The temptation was overwhelming, but Elric pushed it aside. He couldn't lose himself. Not yet.

With a final, desperate strike, he plunged his claws into the Warden's chest. The shadows surged, ripping through Sarath's armor and shattering the glowing core within.

The Warden let out a deep, echoing cry as its body dissolved into mist.

---

Elric collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. The room was silent once more, the only sound his ragged breathing.

In the center of the chamber, a shard of glowing blue light hovered where Sarath had fallen. Elric stared at it, knowing what it was.

A Void Echo.

He reached out, his fingers trembling, and the shard dissolved into his skin. The cold rush of power coursed through him again, and with it came a whisper.

"You are one step closer to the truth, Boundling. But the Abyss is far from done with you."

Elric stood, his shadow coiling around him like a cloak. He didn't know what lay ahead, but one thing was clear: he couldn't turn back now.

End of Chapter 4