SWNOVELXO Chapter 17: chapter 16
Chapter 17: The First Shard
The corridor narrowed into a vast, echoing chamber as our party advanced deeper into the labyrinth. Every step seemed to reverberate in the ancient stone, a constant reminder that we were trespassing in a realm where time itself had been forgotten. The oppressive silence of the maze gave way to a soft, otherworldly hum—a sound that resonated with the hidden magic of this place. My heart pounded as I led the way, my senses honed from the recent battles and the near-death encounter with the basalt golem. In the back of my mind, my internal system interface pulsed quietly with data, a reassuring counterpoint to the labyrinth's unpredictable nature.
I paused at an intersection where the corridor split into several indistinguishable paths. Shadows danced along the walls, lit by stray beams of pale, filtered light from cracks above. I activated Perception Shift once again, letting my vision overlay the environment with a lattice of digital markers—runes, energy fluctuations, and subtle hints of concealed dangers. The interface, always my silent partner, displayed a new alert:
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[SYSTEM ALERT: PATHWAY EVALUATION]
Route A: High mana fluctuations detected; potential elemental hazards.
Route B: Moderate resistance; signs of previous traversals.
Route C: Low ambient magic; possible resting zone.
---
I scanned the markers, trying to decipher which route might lead us closer to our objective. My instincts told me that Route B, with its moderate resistance and signs of previous passage, was most likely to be frequented by those who sought the labyrinth's hidden relics. I shared a brief nod with Kaelar, who was always keenly aware of subtle cues. "Let's take Route B," I whispered, and the team adjusted silently to follow my lead.
The corridor sloped downward gradually, and soon we found ourselves in a vast, domed chamber where the air was thick with latent magic. At its center, upon a pedestal of ancient, weathered stone, lay an object that pulsed with an inner light—a shard, radiant and otherworldly, suspended in a gentle dance of light and shadow. My breath caught. The Celestial Shard! I remembered the legends whispered in hushed tones among the S-Class: that these shards held fragments of a forgotten power, a key to the mysterious Eclipse Pact that had haunted my thoughts ever since I first encountered the term.
My internal system interface blinked with a new notification:
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[SYSTEM UPDATE: Celestial Shard Detected]
Shard Status: Unsecured
Location: Central Pedestal
Proximity: 5 meters
Eclipse Pact Progress: 0/7 → Pending acquisition
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I stepped forward cautiously. The chamber's silence was broken only by the soft hum emanating from the shard. Its light was mesmerizing—a blend of golden luminescence and deep, shifting violet, reminiscent of both dawn and twilight in the same fleeting moment. As I approached, I could sense a subtle vibration in the air, as if the shard was calling out to me, urging me to claim it.
I reached out a trembling hand and let my fingers brush against its cool surface. The moment contact was made, a surge of energy exploded through me. My vision blurred, and then, as if pulled through a veil of time, I was engulfed in a vivid, haunting vision.
I found myself standing in a darkened hall, the atmosphere thick with sorrow and regret. There, before my eyes, played the final moments of a man I'd never met but whose spirit I felt strangely connected to—a predecessor whose name was whispered among the old family records of the Veylan lineage. I watched, transfixed, as this man fought desperately against unseen foes in a battle that seemed both brutal and inevitable. His eyes, filled with determination and anguish, met mine for an instant as he fell, his life force draining away like water from a cracked urn. The scene was over as quickly as it had come, leaving me trembling and filled with a profound sadness I couldn't fully explain.
A sudden, sharp message from my internal system snapped me back to the present:
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[SYSTEM MESSAGE: Eclipse Pact Progress Updated]
New Progress: 1/7 Shards Collected
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I staggered slightly, still reeling from the intensity of the vision. The shard's glow pulsed in time with my racing heartbeat, as if acknowledging the price that had been paid in lives long past. My mind churned with questions: Who was that man? What role had he played in the dark history of the Veylan legacy? And what did his demise have to do with the Eclipse Pact—a pact that now seemed inexorably linked to my own destiny?
I held the shard gently in my hand, careful not to let its energy overwhelm me. The cold metal of my temporary alliance bracelet—shared with Rhea, Kaelar, and Lirael—vibrated softly with a new data stream, confirming our shared progress. I glanced at my teammates, who were watching me with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Rhea was the first to speak, her voice a quiet murmur that broke the silence. "I sensed a surge—like a memory from the past. That shard, it holds more than power. It carries a history, a burden."
Kaelar's face, usually impassive in battle, was lined with concern. "This isn't just another relic," he said, his tone heavy. "It's a key. But to what door, I can't yet say."
Lirael, ever the quiet observer, added softly, "We need to understand its significance. There's more to this Eclipse Pact than we've been led to believe."
I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over me. "I don't have all the answers," I admitted. "But I know this shard is a piece of something larger—a promise, a curse, maybe even a path to something greater. I saw a vision, a man… I think his death was part of a sacrifice. It's like the shard is a memorial to that sacrifice, and it might be the first step toward fulfilling or breaking that pact."
My internal system updated once more, its digital voice muted yet insistent:
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[SYSTEM UPDATE: Celestial Shard Acquired]
Shard Value: High (Vital for Eclipse Pact progression)
Eclipse Pact Progress: Now 1/7
Recommended Action: Secure shard; initiate further research on predecessor's history.
---
I took a deep breath, feeling both burdened and emboldened by this revelation. The shard pulsed steadily in my hand, its glow casting dancing shadows on the stone floor of the chamber. I could almost sense the heartbeat of the labyrinth itself, as though the very walls were alive with secrets and memories of those who had passed through before.
I carefully placed the shard into a small, enchanted pouch that I always carried—a receptacle designed to contain volatile magical energies. With the shard secured, I felt a slight easing in the pressure that had built up inside me. The vision faded, leaving behind a lingering sadness and a fierce determination to uncover the truths that lay hidden in the labyrinth's depths.
Before I could gather my thoughts further, the ambient hum in the chamber changed. The walls, once silent, began to shift imperceptibly. Faint symbols glowed along the edges of the stone, and the temperature dropped, sending a chill down my spine. I sensed that the labyrinth was reacting—not just to our presence, but to the addition of the shard in our possession. The ancient structure was alive with intent, its corridors and chambers stirring with the energy of ages past.
My internal system offered a brief status update:
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[SYSTEM UPDATE: Environmental Response Detected]
Labyrinth Reaction: Increased ambient magic; potential trigger for hidden mechanisms.
Recommended Action: Proceed with heightened caution.
---
I exchanged a look with my teammates. In the silent communication that had grown between us over our previous trials, we understood that this was a turning point. The acquisition of the first shard had not only advanced our Eclipse Pact progress—it had also altered the labyrinth's dynamics. Every step from here on out would be fraught with increased danger, and the walls themselves might test our resolve.
I felt the weight of history in that moment. The vision of the fallen predecessor had left me with more questions than answers. Who was he? What sacrifice had he made, and why was his memory bound to this shard? And how would uncovering his story affect the path I was now forced to walk? The answers, I knew, were hidden deep within the labyrinth's ancient archives—perhaps in the forgotten lore inscribed on its walls or in the whispered legends of those who had traversed its corridors before us.
For now, though, my focus had to remain on survival and progression. With the Celestial Shard secured, I led my team away from the pedestal. Every step we took echoed with a newfound urgency. Our temporary alliance, forged in the fires of combat and sealed by necessity, now carried the weight of destiny. We moved in a tight formation, each of us silently vigilant, ready to react at a moment's notice. I could sense Kaelar's steady determination, Rhea's calculating mind, and Lirael's ever-alert eyes as we navigated the shifting passageways.
In the deep silence of the labyrinth, I found a quiet resolve. The shard was not just an object—it was a symbol of sacrifice, of promises made long ago, and of the potential to change the future. As I walked, I replayed the vision over and over in my mind—the desperate eyes of the fallen predecessor, the sense of finality in his defeat, and the quiet, sorrowful acceptance that seemed to emanate from him. I wondered if his fate was a warning to me, a lesson in the costs of power and the burdens of destiny.
My internal system continued to update steadily as we advanced, logging environmental data, monitoring our health, and even providing occasional tactical recommendations. But amidst the clinical precision of those messages, I felt an undeniable pull—a whisper from the past, urging me to delve deeper into the labyrinth's secrets.
"Keep your eyes open," I murmured to my teammates as we reached a junction lined with ancient murals. The paintings depicted scenes of epic battles, mythical sacrifices, and celestial events that seemed to mirror our own journey. I paused in front of one mural in particular—a scene of a warrior kneeling before a glowing, radiant shard. In that image, the warrior's eyes were filled with a quiet sorrow, as if he bore the weight of his sacrifice with grim acceptance. My heart ached at the parallel, and for a long moment, I lost myself in the silent narrative of that ancient artwork.
Rhea, noticing my distant gaze, placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "It speaks to you, doesn't it?" she whispered. I nodded slowly, unable to tear my eyes away from the haunting scene. "It reminds me that every shard, every sacrifice, is a step toward our destiny. I must learn from those who came before," I replied, my voice steady but laced with an inner melancholy.
The corridors ahead beckoned, dark and winding, promising both peril and revelation. With the first Celestial Shard secured and our Eclipse Pact progress now marked as 1/7, I felt that our journey had irrevocably changed. The labyrinth was no longer merely a trial of survival—it was a crucible in which our pasts, present, and future would collide. Every hidden mechanism, every sudden shift in the stone walls, seemed designed to test not only our physical prowess but the very core of our souls.
I resolved then that I would uncover the secrets of my predecessor's sacrifice. I would piece together the fragments of his story and, in doing so, forge a path forward that honored his memory while freeing me from the oppressive burden of destiny. The shard's quiet glow in my pouch was a constant reminder of the stakes we faced—a token of both power and sacrifice that could tip the balance of fate in ways we had yet to imagine.
As we pressed on, the labyrinth's ambient magic grew more intense. The stone corridors pulsed with energy, and faint, ghostly voices seemed to echo in the darkness. My internal system registered a spike in ambient mana levels, warning of potential traps or hidden mechanisms activated by our progress. I signaled to my team to remain alert, each of us instinctively tensing in anticipation of the unknown.
Our footsteps became measured and silent as we navigated a narrow passage lined with crystalline formations that refracted the scant light into spectral hues. I could almost feel the collective heartbeat of the labyrinth—a slow, rhythmic pulse that resonated with the ancient magic of the place. In that moment, I knew that every step, every decision, was part of a larger tapestry woven by fate and sacrifice.
The weight of the first shard, both physical and symbolic, pressed against my side as I led my team onward. I felt its energy mingle with my own, a quiet thrum that reminded me of the vision that had shaken me to my core. The memory of that fallen warrior was a beacon in the darkness—a silent testament to the cost of power and the fragility of hope. And now, with that shard in my possession, I carried not only a piece of lost power but also a responsibility to honor his sacrifice and to unravel the mysteries of the Eclipse Pact.
In the depths of the labyrinth, as the corridor finally opened into a cavernous hall filled with the soft echo of dripping water and the distant rumble of unseen mechanisms, I paused to gather my thoughts. My internal system quietly updated one final message before we advanced further:
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[SYSTEM UPDATE: Eclipse Pact Progress – 1/7 Shards Secured]
Recommendation: Initiate research on predecessor's legacy; proceed with caution.
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I exhaled, my resolve steeling with every heartbeat. With the first Celestial Shard now a part of our journey, I vowed to unlock its secrets—no matter the cost. The labyrinth beckoned us further into its depths, and I, Aidan Morvell, would follow its dark, winding path with the weight of history on my shoulders and the quiet hope of forging a better destiny.
Steeling myself against the cold uncertainty of the future, I joined my teammates as we ventured onward—each step a promise to uncover the hidden truths, each breath a defiant stand against the fate written in the shadows of the past. And in that determined silence, the first shard's light burned steadily, a beacon in the darkness, guiding us toward the next chapter of our arduous, mysterious journey.