Within a Hollow Heart

Chapter 170: Volume 2, Chapter 114: "Threads Unraveling"

The climb back out of the Guardian archive was slow and exhausting. The weight of the new knowledge sat heavy on Cole's shoulders, and though the wind had died down, the air felt thicker than before. The mountains loomed larger, as if the very land itself sensed the gravity of the situation.

Once they reached the surface, the sun was starting to dip toward the horizon, casting long shadows over the snow-covered ground. The air was still cold, but now it carried a sharper bite, a reminder of the void's ever-present influence. Cole glanced at the others, their faces set with determination, though the exhaustion from their ordeal was clear in their eyes.

"We can't stay here," Marcus said, his voice cutting through the silence. "We need to move before nightfall. The void is stronger in the dark, and we're too exposed here."

Selene nodded in agreement. "There's no telling how close the Severed might be. If they've been watching the archives, they might already know we've been here."

"Agreed," Elara said, though her voice was weary. She turned to look at Cole, her brow furrowed with concern. "We need to get to higher ground. The Severed will be tracking the void's influence, and if we can stay ahead of them, we'll have a chance to regroup and plan our next move."

Cole nodded, adjusting his pack and bracing himself for the next leg of their journey. The climb through the mountains had been grueling, but the thought of what lay ahead—the Severed manipulating the Veil, the fusion of the void and reality—kept him moving. There was no room for doubt, not anymore.

As they moved deeper into the mountains, the terrain grew more treacherous. The path narrowed, the jagged rocks coated in ice, making every step a challenge. But the further they climbed, the more the air seemed to change. The oppressive weight of the void began to lift slightly, and for a moment, Cole allowed himself to hope that they might be gaining ground.

"Look," Marcus said, stopping at a ridge and pointing down into the valley below.

Cole followed his gaze and saw it—a dark cloud hanging over the distant plains, swirling and twisting in the sky like a storm. But this wasn't a natural storm. It was the void, pressing against the Veil, pushing to break through.

"The Severed are making their move," Elara said quietly, her face pale as she watched the swirling darkness. "They're accelerating the unraveling. We don't have much time."

"How far away are they?" Selene asked, her hand instinctively resting on her sword.

"Too close," Marcus replied. "If they break through the Veil there, it won't just be another Knot unraveling. It'll be a full breach."

"We have to stop them," Cole said, his voice hardening. "We've seen what the void can do in small breaches. If they tear the Veil open like that, the void will spread faster than we can contain it."

Elara nodded, her gaze never leaving the distant storm. "There's a path through the mountains that will take us closer, but it's risky. The void's influence is strongest in that region, and the Severed will be ready for us."

"It doesn't matter," Marcus said, his voice resolute. "We go now, or there won't be anything left to save."

The group descended from the ridge, moving swiftly despite the rough terrain. The path wound through narrow canyons and over precarious cliffs, the wind howling around them as they pushed forward. The air grew colder as they neared the void's influence, and Cole could feel the pressure building at the edges of his mind, the familiar hum of the Veil growing more strained.

As they reached the mouth of a narrow canyon, Elara stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Wait."

The others froze, their senses on high alert as Elara knelt, her fingers brushing the ground. Cole watched as she closed her eyes, reaching out with her mind to the threads of the Veil.

"It's here," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "The Severed are close. They've been pulling at the Knot, weakening it."

Marcus's hand tightened on his sword, his eyes scanning the rocky walls around them. "How many?"

"I can't tell," Elara replied, her brow furrowed in concentration. "But they're not far. The Knot is still holding, but it won't last much longer."

Cole's pulse quickened as he stepped closer to Elara. "Can we stop them?"

Elara opened her eyes, her face grim. "We can try. But the Severed... they know what they're doing. This isn't just a random tear in the Veil. They've been working on this Knot for a long time. If we're going to stop them, we need to be fast and precise."

"Then let's not waste time," Marcus said, his voice low but firm. "We need to hit them before they can react."

They moved quickly, staying low as they followed Elara through the narrow canyon. The air grew heavier with each step, the hum of the Veil vibrating in the back of Cole's mind, the threads more strained than he had ever felt before. It was as though the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the moment when everything would come undone.

As they rounded a corner, the canyon opened into a wide clearing, and there, in the center of the open space, stood the Severed.

There were three of them, their forms cloaked in shadow, their hands raised toward the sky as they pulled at the threads of the Veil. The Knot, a shimmering sphere of energy, floated above them, its threads fraying and snapping as the Severed worked to tear it apart. The air around them crackled with energy, the void's influence swirling in dark tendrils that wrapped around the Knot like chains.

Cole's heart raced as he watched the scene unfold. The Severed were focused, their movements deliberate and controlled. This wasn't just a mindless attack on the Veil—this was a calculated, intentional act of destruction.

"We have to stop them," Selene whispered, her eyes narrowing as she drew her sword.

"Wait," Elara said, holding up a hand. "We need to be smart about this. If we rush in, they'll sense us. They're manipulating the Veil, and if they feel us coming, they'll finish the tear before we can stop them."

"Then what's the plan?" Marcus asked, his eyes locked on the Severed.

Elara's mind raced as she glanced at Cole. "We'll need to disrupt their connection to the Veil. If we can break their focus, we can stabilize the Knot long enough to stop the unraveling."

"How do we do that?" Cole asked, though part of him already knew the answer.

"You and I will weave the threads back together," Elara said, her voice steady but urgent. "Marcus, Selene, you'll keep the Severed off us. We need enough time to repair the Knot before the void breaks through."

Marcus nodded, his expression hardening. "We'll hold them off as long as we can."

Selene's grip tightened on her sword. "Let's move before they notice us."

The plan was simple, but the risk was enormous. If they failed, if the Severed managed to tear the Knot open completely, the void would flood the area, and they would have no way to stop it.

With a silent nod, they moved into position. Marcus and Selene flanked the Severed, their movements swift and precise, while Cole and Elara stayed back, preparing to weave the threads of the Veil.

As Marcus signaled, the attack began.

Selene was the first to strike, her blade flashing in the dim light as she engaged the nearest Severed. Marcus followed suit, charging toward the second figure with his sword raised high.

The Severed reacted instantly, their hands moving to counter the attacks, but the disruption was enough. The air around the Knot shifted, the dark tendrils of void energy loosening their grip.

"Now!" Elara shouted, her hands moving rapidly as she reached for the threads of the Veil.

Cole followed her lead, his mind connecting with the frayed strands of reality as he began to weave them back together. The pressure was immense, the threads slipping through his fingers like water, but he held on, pulling them tighter, reinforcing the Knot with every ounce of energy he had.

The Severed fought back, their voices rising in a chilling chant as they pulled at the void's power, but Marcus and Selene held them at bay, their swords clashing with the dark energy that surrounded the figures.

Cole's hands shook as he worked, the weight of the void pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. The Knot pulsed violently, but slowly, steadily, they were gaining ground.

"We're close," Elara whispered, her voice strained with effort. "Just a little more..."

The Severed let out a furious cry, and the air around them erupted with a burst of dark energy. Marcus and Selene were thrown back, their bodies hitting the ground hard.

But it was too late.

With a final surge of power, Cole and Elara wove the last threads of the Knot together, sealing the tear.

The void's presence receded, and the clearing fell silent.

For now, they had won.