The shard hummed in Aeron's palm, warm against his skin, its light vibrating like the heart of the Rift itself. His fingers caressed its surface, and with each beat, an overwhelming rush of power flowed through him. It was seductive, almost paralyzing, and yet deep in his stomach, a queasy feeling gripped him.
The Keeper's silver eyes, unblinking and depthless, regarded him steadily. "Once you have taken the shard, the Rift will be healed. But keep in mind, Riftbearer, this power is not a gift—it is a curse. You will be tied to the Rift for all eternity. And the Rift is not just a source of power—it is a force, a living thing with its own will. It will forge your destiny, but it will also try to devour you.
Aeron could feel a shiver run through his chest. Doomed to forever. The gravity of the words was oppressive in the air. The decision was now more than a struggle for the world's fate. It was a personal price he had to pay. And yet, the draw of the Rift, the hope of mending the world, was so compelling.
His heart pounded as his mind reeled—recollections of the kingdom he had lost, the friends who had perished in battle, the family he had not been able to defend. Was this the end of his tale? Or was it merely the beginning of something much more sinister than he could possibly understand?
Kaela's voice cut through his reverie, gentle but with a deep sense of resolve. "Aeron, whatever you decide, I'm here. We're in this together."
Her words were a lifeline, but the reality of the situation writhed in his gut. Could he truly carry the weight of the Rift? Could he leave behind the world he had known to become something else? To be tied to the Rift forever?
The Keeper's tone was soft, but unyielding.
"Don't make this choice lightly, Riftbearer. After the shard is in your hand, you will not be able to turn back to what you were. You will alter, and the world will change along with you.
Aeron's eyes shifted to Kaela, her face a cross of hope and fear, then to the shard. Its radiance had increased, on the verge of blindness, pushing him forward, demanding him to make the leap, to take his fate. Yet the burden of the Rift's promise restrained him.
Could he lose himself? Could he tolerate the knowledge that his humanity would slip away from him, piece by piece, devoured by the power he was soon to seize?
In that instant, Aeron realized the real cost of the Rift. It wasn't merely the loss of his past or his identity—it was the very loss of his soul.
"I don't know if I can do this," he muttered to himself, the words weighted with doubt.
The Keeper's eyes softened, but there was no sympathy in them.
"The decision was never about knowledge, Riftbearer. It was about embracing the unknown. The future is never guaranteed, but whatever you do now will determine it. You will never be the same, yet that doesn't mean that you have to lose yourself completely. Only the fear of change can keep you back."
Aeron curled his fists, his thoughts in turmoil. Fear of change. That was the real test. The Rift required him to relinquish all he had ever known—his past, his shortcomings, even himself. And in return, it would grant him the ability to mend a shattered world. The cost, however, was his humanness.
The agony of his losses rose up again—the sadness of a lost kingdom, the anger of betrayal, and the shame of having survived. He had been deserted for so many years, but now, with Kaela by his side, he wasn't. He wasn't certain if that made this choice easier or not.
But there was one thing he knew for certain. He had gone too far to turn around. He had battled through the Trial of Fire, confronted the shadows within the Rift itself, and now, at the edge of the unknown, he could not let fear keep him back. The world was counting on this decision. If he did not succeed, all that he had battled for would be lost.
Aeron raised the shard higher, sensing the rush of its power course through his veins. His chest constricted, his mind teetering on the brink of doubt. He sensed the burden of his past, his hopes, and his fears bearing down upon him.
"I… I choose to heal," he stated, his voice more resolute than he felt.
Taking a last, solid breath, he pressed the shard to his chest. The instant his skin touched the crystal, the world around him burst with light. The core of the Rift throbbed, flooding the chamber with waves of power, and for an instant, Aeron thought his very existence was being sundered, sent flying among the stars.
Time crawled.
His body seared with cold fire, as if each cell in his body was being rewritten. The world around him distorted and contorted, becoming something strange and alien. In that moment of pain, Aeron knew the price was being paid.
Kaela reached out, shaking as she attempted to touch him, but an impenetrable barrier of blinding energy had sprung up between them and she could not reach him. Her cry was a muffled echo, torn with anguish and bewilderment. "Aeron…"
He was unable to reply. The power of the shard and the Rift flooded through him, and his sense of self began to dissolve. His memories, his emotions, all that he had been, began to fall apart. The light was too intense, the hurt too overwhelming, until he feared he would shatter.
And then, just as suddenly as it had started, it was finished.
Aeron fell to his knees, breathing hard. Everything around him stood still, was too quiet, and he knew there was something new inside of him—a wretched, otherworldly strength flowing through him. The air was charged now, like there was electricity in it, and the Rift throbbed below his skin. He could feel it now—the presence, the heartbeat, surging in sync with his own.
The Keeper stood in front of him, her face impassive.
"You have made your decision, Riftbearer. The world is in your keeping."
Aeron gazed up, his breath catching, his mind spinning. Had he actually done it? Had he taken the correct course?
Kaela was kneeling next to him, her face white, her eyes open in worry. She took his hand, and this time, the block was broken. She placed her fingers on his skin, her hands shaking. "Aeron… are you okay?"
For a long moment, he couldn't answer. His body felt both heavy and light at the same time. He could feel the Rift deep within him, its power entwined with his soul. He was different now. Something had shifted.
"I'm… I'm not sure," he whispered, his voice distant. "But I've done it. I've chosen the Rift."
And in that moment, he realized that nothing would ever be the same again.