Veil of crimson shadows

The wind howled through the cliffs, carrying with it the salty tang of the sea and the distant crash of waves. Darkness had settled over Ravenmoor, and the Vault of Aegis loomed like a sentinel against the night, its massive gates illuminated by torches. Caleb and Theo crouched in the shadows, their breaths visible in the cold air.

"We've got about a dozen guards at the main gate," Theo whispered, peering around the edge of a boulder. "That's not counting whoever's inside."

Caleb nodded, his eyes scanning the area. "Then we'll stick to the plan. Cause a distraction, slip through during the chaos, and head for the inner sanctum."

Theo gave him a skeptical look. "And if the plan falls apart?"

"It won't," Caleb said, though he wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Theo or himself.

Theo sighed, adjusting the straps of his satchel. "All right. Let's get this over with."

The plan was simple enough: use Theo's makeshift explosives to draw the guards away from the gate, then slip inside before reinforcements arrived. It wasn't elegant, but it was the best they could manage with the resources at hand.

As Theo set the charges along a nearby outcropping of rock, Caleb kept watch. The mask was tucked safely in his bag, but he could feel its presence like a second heartbeat, steady and insistent. It whispered to him, faint and seductive.

Use me, Caleb. End this quickly.

He shook his head, forcing the voice aside. He couldn't risk losing control not here, not now.

"All set," Theo whispered, retreating to their hiding spot. He held up a small detonator, his finger hovering over the button. "You ready?"

Caleb nodded. "Do it."

Theo pressed the button, and a deafening explosion ripped through the night. Flames erupted from the outcropping, sending debris raining down and illuminating the cliffs in a fiery glow. The guards shouted in alarm, scrambling to investigate the source of the blast.

"Now!" Caleb hissed, and they darted from their hiding spot.

They moved quickly, sticking to the shadows as they approached the gates. The distraction had worked the guards had abandoned their posts to deal with the explosion. Caleb and Theo slipped through the heavy doors, the interior of the Vault swallowing them in darkness.

Inside, the Vault was a labyrinth of stone corridors and towering arches, lit only by the occasional torch. The air was heavy with the scent of old parchment and incense, and their footsteps echoed unnervingly in the silence.

Theo glanced around, his hand on his knife. "This place gives me the creeps."

Caleb didn't respond. His focus was on the task ahead. According to Vane, the Veil stone Shard was kept in the inner sanctum—a chamber at the heart of the Vault, guarded by the most devout members of the Aegis Order.

As they navigated the twisting hallways, the whispers returned, louder this time. Caleb clutched the Heart of Ember, its warmth grounding him, but the mask's voice was insistent.

You'll never succeed without me, Caleb. They will kill you the moment they see you.

He gritted his teeth, trying to block it out. The last thing he needed was the mask's influence clouding his judgment.

"Hey," Theo whispered, breaking him out of his thoughts. "We've got company."

Ahead, the corridor opened into a wide chamber. A group of Aegis Order knights stood in a circle, their silver armor gleaming in the torchlight. At the center of the room was a pedestal, and atop it rested the Veil stone Shard a jagged crystal that shimmered with an otherworldly light.

"We need to distract them," Caleb murmured, his mind racing.

"Again?" Theo muttered. "I'm running out of tricks here."

Before they could act, one of the knights turned, their gaze sweeping across the chamber. Caleb froze as their eyes landed on him.

"Intruders!" the knight bellowed, drawing their sword.

"Plan's out the window!" Theo shouted, pulling his knife.

The knights surged forward, their movements precise and disciplined. Caleb grabbed the mask from his bag, hesitating for only a moment before pressing it to his face.

The transformation was immediate. Darkness surged through him, filling him with a raw, chaotic power. His vision sharpened, and the world slowed. The knights' movements became sluggish, their attacks predictable.

With a wave of his hand, Caleb unleashed a torrent of shadow, knocking the knights back. They recovered quickly, regrouping to press the attack, but Caleb was faster. He moved like a wraith, striking with tendrils of darkness that seemed to obey his every thought.

"Caleb!" Theo shouted. "The Shard grab it!"

Caleb's gaze snapped to the pedestal. The Veil stone Shard pulsed with energy, its light clashing with the mask's darkness. He lunged for it, his hand closing around the crystal. The moment he touched it, a searing pain shot through his body, and the mask screamed in his mind.

No! You cannot take it!

The knights faltered, their movements stuttering as the Shard's light grew brighter. Caleb pulled the mask from his face, the pain subsiding as he staggered back. The knights hesitated, as if unsure whether to continue their attack.

Theo grabbed Caleb's arm. "We've got what we came for. Let's go!"

They bolted from the chamber, the Shard's light illuminating their path. Behind them, the knights shouted in pursuit, their heavy footsteps echoing through the corridors.

By the time they reached the cliffs, the sun was beginning to rise, casting the sea in hues of orange and gold. Caleb and Theo collapsed onto the grass, their breaths ragged.

Theo held up the Veil stone Shard, its light dimming in the daylight. "One down, one to go," he said, his voice weary.

Caleb nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of unease. The mask had resisted the Shard, its voice more aggressive than ever. And in the depths of the Vault, he had felt somethingsomething ancient and angry, watching him.

The mask wasn't just a relic. It was alive, and it was fighting him every step of the way.

And Caleb wasn't sure how much longer he could resist.