Into the Vault
Guided by ancient maps and the Beacon's resonance, the team ventured to the Vault of Whispers, a forgotten cavern beneath ruins swallowed by Rift corruption. Inside, bioluminescent moss-lit murals showed First Wave warriors using the Eidolon Shard to seal breaches long ago.
At the vault's heart lay an altar carved with crystalline veins. Nested above it, the Shard pulsed with soft lilac light—alive, patient, and powerful.
Artemis approached, breath quickening.
"Elara… do you feel that energy?"
Elara nodded, eyes shining. "Ancient. Yet… reassuring."
Nova's voice came quietly from the back. "It called to me."
The Shard Speaks
Elara extended her gauntlet to touch the crystal. The moment skin met stone, a wave of warmth—and memories—flooded the cavern.
—FLASHBACK RECORDER:
Visions swept through Artemis's and Elara's minds. They saw ancient ceremonies: First Wave bonded channeling Rift energy through the Shard to heal lands and fortify sanctuaries. Faces of long-gone allies flaring with light… sacrifices made to protect reality itself.
From the memory, a woman knelt before the Shard, her form merging with its energy—offering herself to seal a devastating breach.
The vision dissolved. Artemis staggered, heart pounding.
"It… it shows us what was and what can be again."
Bonded by the Shard
Holding the Shard between them, Artemis and Elara both felt a surge. A soft pulse of energy raced through their hands, syncing with the Beacon's glow.
A quiet voice—neither male nor female, ancient and wise—echoed in their minds:
"The bond of three must bind the shattered… to heal the worlds."
Nova stepped forward. "Three?" She touched the Shard. The crystal lit. Their joint pulse stabilized it.
A new resonance hummed—Beacon + Shard—enough to temporarily cleanse a small Rift vein buried deeper in the cavern. The corrupted ground brightened as shimmering white light pushed back the taint.
Lyra exclaimed, "We can do this—restore the land, one breach at a time."
Chapter Summary
The Eidolon Shard reveals the First Wave's sacred purpose: healing rifts, not just fighting them.
It's powerful—but requires a group bond (likely three) to unlock its true potential.
The trio's unity (Artemis, Elara, Nova) forms a new healing sigil capable of reversing Rift corruption.