SWNOVELXO Chapter 22: Fragments of the Horizon
The storm over Blackthorn seemed to mirror the escalating chaos within its borders. The once-familiar cobblestone streets felt alien underfoot, the whispers of the Obelisk echoing in every corner of the village. Eleanor stood in the village square, her cloak billowing in the sharp wind. Around her, villagers murmured, their faces pale with fear as another soul succumbed to the madness of the Mark.
William, one of the first to be marked, had been found wandering the forest's edge, his eyes blackened and his voice a guttural chant of incomprehensible words. Now, he stood restrained by ropes, his once-kind face twisted into something unrecognizable. The marks on his skin pulsed faintly, emitting a sickly glow that made the villagers recoil.
Eleanor stepped forward, her gaze fixed on William. "Hold him steady," she ordered. Her voice was firm, but inside, a knot of dread tightened. The Mark was spreading faster than she had anticipated, and each new victim seemed to edge closer to something irreversible.
Lena stood nearby, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her hazel eyes darted between William and Eleanor, fear etched into every line of her face. "Are you sure this is the right way, Eleanor? What if it's already too late?"
Eleanor didn't answer immediately. Instead, she knelt before William, her gloved hand reaching out to touch the edge of one of the glowing symbols. The moment her fingers made contact, a jolt of energy coursed through her, and her vision blurred.
She was no longer in the square. Around her stretched an infinite expanse of shifting shadows and flickering lights. The Horizon Beyond. The name came unbidden, whispered by a voice she couldn't place. The Obelisk loomed in the distance, but it was different here—its surface alive with writhing tendrils of light and shadow. Around it stood figures cloaked in darkness, their forms indistinct but radiating power.
"The shards," a voice echoed, layered and resonant, "are fragments of the gate. Each one draws you closer to what lies beyond."
Eleanor tried to speak, but her voice failed her. The vision shifted violently, and she was thrown back into reality, gasping for breath. Lena was at her side instantly, her hands gripping Eleanor's shoulders.
"What did you see?" Lena demanded, her voice trembling.
Eleanor struggled to steady herself. "The Horizon Beyond. It's… it's connected to the shards and the Obelisk. They're not just remnants; they're pieces of something larger. Something trying to break through."
The villagers murmured uneasily, their fear palpable. Edgar, the village elder, stepped forward, his weathered face grave. "Lady Thorncroft," he began, "the old rituals speak of such things. The Five Gods warned us of the dangers that lurk beyond the veil."
Eleanor's attention snapped to Edgar. "The Five Gods?"
Edgar nodded. "They are the guardians of balance, each governing an aspect of our world. The stories say they fought against the forces beyond the veil long ago. Their power still lingers in the old ways, though many have forgotten."
Lena frowned. "If their power still exists, why haven't they intervened? Why let this happen to us?"
Edgar's gaze darkened. "Perhaps they can't. Or perhaps they won't."
Eleanor absorbed his words, her mind racing. The Five Gods—they were more than myths. If their power could be harnessed, it might offer a way to combat the growing threat of the Obelisk and the shards. But such power always came with a cost.
That evening, back at the Thorncroft estate, Eleanor pored over her mother's journal and the Codex Umbra. The references to the Five Gods were scattered and cryptic, but they hinted at rituals and relics tied to their domains. Lena sat nearby, silent but watchful, her worry for Eleanor growing with every passing moment.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," Lena said finally. "This… this obsession with the Obelisk, the shards… it's changing you."
Eleanor paused, her pen hovering over the journal. "If I don't push, Lena, who will? The villagers are looking to us. To me. If there's even a chance we can stop this, I have to take it."
"But at what cost?" Lena's voice cracked. "You're not the same, Eleanor. Every time you touch the shards or the Obelisk, you… you come back different. I'm afraid of losing you."
Eleanor turned to face her sister, her expression softening. "Lena, I…" She stopped, struggling to find the words. Finally, she reached out, taking Lena's hand in hers. "I'm still here. And I promise, I'll do everything I can to stay that way. But we can't ignore this. The stakes are too high."
Lena nodded reluctantly, though her unease remained. "Just… promise me you'll be careful."
The next morning, Eleanor and Lena ventured to the outskirts of Blackthorn, where Edgar had directed them to an ancient grove said to be a sacred site of the Five Gods. The grove was eerily quiet, the air heavy with an unnatural stillness. In its center stood a stone altar, weathered by time but etched with symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
Eleanor approached the altar cautiously, her eyes scanning the carvings. They depicted scenes of battle, of figures wielding divine power against shadowy, formless foes. At the altar's base lay a small shard, its surface pulsing faintly.
Lena's breath caught. "Another one."
Eleanor reached out, her hand hovering above the shard. The whispers returned, louder and more insistent, as if urging her to take it. She hesitated, glancing at Lena.
"We need to understand this," Eleanor said. "But I won't let it control me."
She grasped the shard, bracing herself for the surge of energy. This time, the vision was clearer. She saw the Five Gods standing together, their forms radiant and unyielding. They faced a swirling vortex of shadow, their combined power holding it at bay. But cracks began to form, and the vortex's tendrils reached through, spreading chaos and corruption.
When the vision faded, Eleanor found herself on her knees, the shard clutched tightly in her hand. Lena was beside her, her face pale with worry.
"What did you see?" Lena asked.
"The Five Gods," Eleanor whispered. "They're not just stories, Lena. They fought against the darkness, but they couldn't stop it completely. The Obelisk, the shards… they're remnants of that struggle. And now, it's starting again."
Lena helped her to her feet, her grip firm. "Then we'll fight too. Whatever it takes."
Eleanor nodded, determination hardening her features. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but she wouldn't face it alone. Together, they would uncover the truth and stand against the encroaching darkness—no matter the cost.