Within a Hollow Heart

Chapter 68: Volume 2, Chapter 12: "Into the Citadel"

The journey to the Citadel of Ash was grueling. The further they traveled, the more the land seemed to reflect the void's influence. The air grew colder, and the landscape became more desolate. The trees, once thick and green, thinned until they were nothing but skeletal husks, their twisted branches reaching up toward the sky like the hands of the dead. The ground beneath their feet was hard and cracked, as if the earth itself had been scorched by some ancient fire.

Cole could feel the weight of the void pressing down on them with each step, the oppressive darkness growing thicker the closer they came to their destination. The Citadel of Ash loomed on the horizon, its dark spires barely visible through the haze that hung over the mountains. It was a place of legend, a ruin that had been abandoned for centuries, but even from a distance, Cole could feel its presence—like a wound in the fabric of reality.

"We're getting close," Marcus said, his voice low as he led the group up the narrow mountain path. His eyes were constantly scanning the terrain, ever vigilant for any sign of danger.

Selene, walking just behind him, was equally alert. Her hand never strayed far from the hilt of her blade, her sharp eyes tracking every shadow that moved in the distance.

Elara walked beside Cole, her face pale but determined. The strain of the journey, combined with the void's increasing pressure, was taking its toll on all of them, but she held her head high. Her connection to the Veil was strong, but Cole could sense the fatigue in her movements.

"We need to be careful when we reach the Citadel," Elara warned, her voice quiet but firm. "The Veil is thinner there than anywhere else. The void will be stronger, and the Severed will be ready for us."

Cole nodded, his mind racing with possibilities. The Severed had been one step ahead of them this entire time, and if they were using the Citadel as their base, it meant they were planning something far bigger than just unraveling the Knots. The thought of what they might find inside sent a shiver down his spine.

The path grew steeper as they ascended the final stretch of the mountain. The wind howled around them, biting at their skin with icy fingers. The landscape had shifted entirely now—gone were the trees and grass, replaced by jagged rocks and barren earth. The Citadel of Ash stood before them, a monolithic structure carved into the mountainside. Its walls were dark, weathered by time and the elements, but it still held an ominous power. The air around it seemed to ripple with the presence of the void.

"This is it," Marcus said, his voice tense as he stopped at the edge of the path. "The Citadel of Ash."

Cole stared up at the massive structure, his heart pounding in his chest. The stories he had heard about the Citadel—about the ancient Guardians who had fallen to the void, about the darkness that still lingered within—felt all too real now. There was an aura of malevolence that clung to the place, as if it had been waiting for them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

"We need to be quick," Elara said, her eyes scanning the entrance to the Citadel. "We find whatever the Severed are using to manipulate the Veil and destroy it."

Selene nodded, her expression hard. "If the Severed are inside, they won't go down without a fight."

Marcus drew his sword, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Let's make sure we're ready for them."

They approached the entrance cautiously, every step measured and deliberate. The massive stone doors of the Citadel were cracked and crumbling, but they still stood, blocking the way inside. Dark runes were etched into the surface of the doors, pulsing faintly with void energy.

Elara stepped forward, her hands glowing as she examined the runes. "These runes are a seal. The Guardians used them to keep the void contained, but it's been weakened. The Severed have been tampering with it."

"Can you break it?" Cole asked, his voice tight with tension.

Elara nodded, though her expression was grim. "I can, but it's dangerous. The void will try to push through as soon as the seal is broken. We need to be ready to move fast."

"Do it," Marcus said, his voice firm. "We'll handle whatever comes next."

Elara took a deep breath, her fingers tracing the runes as she began to unravel the seal. The air around them grew thick with energy, the void pressing against the barrier with increasing force. Cole could feel it—a cold, suffocating presence, like a storm waiting to break.

Suddenly, the runes flared with a brilliant light, and the stone doors groaned as they slowly began to open. A gust of cold air rushed out from the Citadel, carrying with it the unmistakable scent of decay. The void's presence was stronger now, almost palpable.

"Stay close," Elara warned as the group moved inside, their weapons at the ready.

The interior of the Citadel was vast, the walls lined with crumbling stone and ancient symbols that glowed faintly in the darkness. The air was heavy with the void's influence, the shadows deeper and more oppressive than they should have been. It was as if the very structure of the Citadel had been corrupted by the void, twisted into something unnatural.

"We need to find the central chamber," Elara said, her voice echoing through the empty halls. "That's where the Severed will be. Whatever they're using to manipulate the Veil will be there."

The group moved deeper into the Citadel, their footsteps echoing ominously in the stillness. Cole couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that the void itself was aware of their presence. The shadows seemed to move and shift with a life of their own, and every so often, he thought he saw flickers of movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Be on guard," Marcus muttered, his eyes scanning the darkness. "The Severed won't let us get far without a fight."

As if on cue, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, growing louder with each passing second. From the shadows emerged a group of Severed, their eyes glowing with the void's light, their weapons drawn.

"They're here," Selene said, her voice low as she unsheathed her blade.

The Severed moved quickly, their faces twisted with malevolent intent as they closed in on the group. There was no hesitation, no pause—the battle began in an instant.

Cole's blade met the first Severed with a clash of steel, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through his arm. The Severed were fast, their movements fueled by the void's power, but Cole fought with the determination of someone who had faced the void before. He wasn't afraid of them—not anymore.

"Don't let them separate us!" Marcus shouted as he engaged another Severed, his sword cutting through the air with brutal precision.

Selene danced between two attackers, her blade flashing as she parried their strikes with ease. Her movements were graceful, fluid, but there was a fierceness in her eyes that made it clear she wasn't playing games. Every strike was calculated, every movement deliberate.

Elara stayed back, her hands glowing as she prepared to use her magic if necessary. She was their lifeline, the one who could stabilize the Veil if the Severed tried to tear it apart. But the strain was already showing on her face—the void was stronger here, and it was taking everything she had to keep it at bay.

As Cole fought, his mind raced. This wasn't just another battle. The Severed were here for a reason, and whatever they were protecting, it had to be in the central chamber. If they could get there—if they could destroy whatever was fueling the void's influence—they might have a chance to stop this madness once and for all.

With a final, powerful strike, Cole knocked his opponent to the ground, the Severed's weapon clattering from their grasp. He didn't waste a second—he turned and moved toward the others, his eyes locked on the path ahead.

"Keep pushing!" he shouted, his voice filled with determination. "We have to reach the chamber!"

The group fought their way through the Severed, their movements coordinated and precise. Marcus led the charge, his sword cutting down any who stood in their way, while Selene and Cole flanked him, keeping the attackers at bay. Elara stayed close behind, her focus split between the battle and the fragile state of the Veil.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the central chamber.

The room was vast, its walls lined with ancient symbols that pulsed with a sickly light. In the center of the room stood a large, dark structure—an altar, covered in the same runes that had sealed the Citadel's entrance. The air around it crackled with void energy, and Cole could feel the power emanating from it like a dark pulse.

"That's it," Elara whispered, her eyes wide with realization. "That's what they're using to unravel the Knots."

But before they could move, a figure stepped out from the shadows, their form cloaked in darkness.

"You've come far," the figure said, their voice cold and filled with malice. "But this is where it ends."

It was another Weaver of the Void.