Voidborne:The Soul sea chronicles

The night was cold, and the camp behind them was a blur of flickering torches and faint shouts. Eliot and Harlen moved quickly, adrenaline from their fight with Alric still rushing through them. Their breaths were heavy, every step a painful reminder of the struggle. Blood mixed with sweat and dirt on their faces and arms, but they didn't stop.

At the edge of a dense forest, they finally paused, the towering trees offering a brief hiding spot. Harlen slumped against a tree, his hands shaking as he tried to catch his breath. Eliot crouched nearby, scanning the shadows for any sign of pursuit.

"Do you think they'll come after us?" Harlen asked, his voice rough.

"They will," Eliot said grimly. "But not right away. Alric's death will throw them into chaos. We have a small window."

Harlen cursed under his breath, leaning back against the tree. "I still can't believe you killed him. One strike, and he was just… gone."

Eliot didn't respond at first. His fists clenched as the moment replayed in his mind. The energy that had surged out of him wasn't something he had planned or controlled. It had been raw, instinctive and terrifying.

"I didn't mean to," he finally said, his voice low. "It just happened."

Harlen studied him, suspicion flickering in his tired eyes. "That wasn't normal, Eliot. I've never seen or heard anything like that,not even from the awakened."

Eliot met his gaze but stayed silent. How could he explain what even he didn't understand? The void energy inside him was both a blessing and a curse, something that didn't belong in this world.

"We can't stay here," Eliot said, deflecting. "It's not safe."

Harlen sighed and forced himself to stand, his movements stiff and slow. Together, they pushed deeper into the forest, the shadows swallowing them.

Chaos gripped the camp. Soldiers ran in every direction, fear and confusion plain on their faces. The news of Captain Alric's death had spread fast, sparking rumors of betrayal and rebellion.

Lady Corvella stood in the command tent, arms crossed, listening to frantic reports. Captain Ren paced beside her, his face tense.

"They killed Alric," Ren said, his voice heavy. "Two men,a barely awakened soldier and a mortal."

Corvella's lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Perhaps Alric wasn't as strong as he thought."

Ren glared at her. "This isn't funny, Corvella. If they could take him down, what's stopping them from going after the rest of us?"

Corvella waved a dismissive hand. "Don't be dramatic. Alric underestimated them, and he paid for it. That's all."

Ren said nothing, but unease flickered in his eyes. Something about this didn't sit right with him.

"What are your orders?" a messenger asked.

"Find them," Corvella said coldly. "Spread out, but don't attack unless necessary. I want them alive."

"And if they resist?" the messenger asked hesitantly.

Her smile turned sharp. "Then we make an example of them."

Eliot and Harlen moved carefully through the forest, the camp's distant noise fading into silence. Exhaustion finally overtook Harlen, and he stumbled. Eliot caught him and eased him onto a mossy rock.

"We can't keep this up," Harlen muttered. "I don't know how much longer I can go."

Eliot glanced around. The forest was vast, its shadows deep, offering some protection. But they needed a plan. Running without direction wouldn't save them.

"We'll rest here," Eliot decided.

Harlen didn't argue. He leaned back and closed his eyes, too tired to protest. But Eliot couldn't relax. The weight of what had happened bore down on him. For the first time, he fully grasped the dangers of this world. They were fugitives now, with no allies and no plan.

Eliot clenched his fists as a faint hum of void energy stirred within him. He needed to understand it, to control it,because without it, they were doomed.

While Harlen slept, Eliot moved a short distance away. In a small clearing under the pale moonlight, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, trying to center himself.

The void responded immediately, wrapping around him like a cold embrace. In this silent darkness, everything else faded away. He focused on the void energy, trying to grasp it. It was elusive, like smoke slipping through his fingers.

Gradually, he felt its steady pulse. It wasn't like the energy Harlen had described,it was something else, something alien. As Eliot delved deeper, he felt a shift within him. The void energy wasn't just a power; it was changing him,his blood, his bones, his very being.

A flicker of light pulled him from his thoughts. Harlen was awake, his face pale and worried.

"They're coming," Harlen said urgently.

They didn't get far before the sound of pursuit reached them. The clatter of armor and the glow of torches told them the soldiers were close.

Eliot's mind raced. They couldn't fight yet.

"Split up," Eliot said. "We'll meet back at the clearing."

Harlen hesitated but obeyed, veering left while Eliot continued straight. The voices and footsteps grew louder, closing in.

Eliot hid behind a thick tree, his breath shallow, the void energy humming in his veins. He couldn't risk revealing himself.

A soldier passed nearby, his torch lighting the area. Then another figure emerged,one Eliot recognizedimmediately.

Corvella.

Her sharp features glowed in the torchlight, her eyes scanning the forest like a predator hunting its prey.

"Come out, Eliot," she called, her voice calm but threatening. "Hiding is pointless."

Eliot stayed still, his mind racing. The void energygrew louder, almost insistent. Corvella stepped closer, her tone shifting.

"You killed Alric. Impressive. But the Empire doesn't forgive."

Eliot gripped the broken weapon in his hand. He couldn't run forever. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out from behind the tree, meeting her gaze with steady resolve.

"Let's finish this," he said.

Corvella's smile widened, cruel and eager. "As you wish."

Eliot stood still, his broken sword held tightly in his hand. Across from him, Corvella studied him with sharp, predatory eyes. The forest around them was silent, as if the world itself was holding its breath. The faint glow of torches in the distance cast long shadows across her face, making her look even more menacing.

"You've got nerve, I'll give you that," Corvella said, her voice calm but cold. "A mortal, standing against me. You must think you're special."

Eliot didn't reply. His grip on the broken sword tightened. He could feel the void energy humming within him, quiet but ready. He wasn't sure how far he could push it, but he knew he had to try it was the only chance he had against her.

Corvella took a slow step forward, her sword gleaming faintly in the moonlight. "You killed Alric. Impressive, but foolish. Did you think the Empire would just let you walk away?"

Eliot's jaw tightened, but he stayed silent. He wasn't here to trade words.

Corvella's smile faded. "Fine. Let's see how long you can last."

She moved suddenly, her speed startling. One moment she was standing still, the next she was upon him. Her sword slashed through the air, aiming for his side. Eliot barely had time to react, raising his broken blade to block. The impact jarred his arm, sending a sharp pain through his shoulder.

"Slow," Corvella said, her voice dripping with contempt. She pressed forward, her strikes quick and relentless. Eliot struggled to keep up, each swing of her blade testing his defenses. The sound of metal clashing against metal echoed through the forest.

Eliot gritted his teeth, focusing on staying alive. Corvella was faster, stronger, and more skilled. Every step he took felt like a desperate scramble to avoid her blade.

As she attacked, Corvella's mind raced. How is he keeping up? she wondered. He's not awakened, yet he's blocking my strikes. No ordinary mortal could do this.

She frowned, her frustration growing. She had expected this to be over quickly, a simple lesson for anyone foolish enough to challenge her. But Eliot wasn't crumbling under her attacks. He was holding on, barely, but still standing.

There's something strange about him, she thought. But what?

Eliot's arms burned, his movements slowing under the relentless assault. He could feel the void energy inside him, restless and eager to break free. It was like a storm trapped within him, waiting for his command.

He closed his eyes for a split second, focusing inward. The void answered immediately, wrapping around him like a cold embrace. He could feel it spreading, reshaping him, strengthening his body.

When he opened his eyes, the world felt different. His breathing steadied, and the pain in his arms faded. The void energy pulsed within him, strong and steady.

Corvella hesitated, sensing the change. The air around Eliot felt heavier, colder, as if something unseen was pressing down on her.

"What… is this?" she asked, her voice quiet but tense.

Eliot didn't answer. He stepped forward, his movements faster, more precise. Corvella raised her sword to block, but as it entered the space around him, something strange happened. The edge of her blade began to dissolve, tiny fragments of metal breaking apart and vanishing into nothing.

Her eyes widened. "What are you?"

Eliot swung his broken blade, and for the first time, Corvella was forced to retreat. She stepped back quickly, her movements cautious. Her sword, once pristine, now had a jagged edge where it had entered Eliot's void domain.

"You think this changes anything?" she snapped, though her voice wavered. "You're still just a mortal."

Eliot didn't respond. His focus was on the void energy, channeling it carefully. He could feel his body changing, his skin tougher, his muscles stronger. The void body was awakening, and with it came a newfound confidence.

Corvella attacked again, but this time Eliot met her strike head-on. Her blade stopped just short of his body, dissolving in the space around him. She jumped back, her breathing uneven.

"This… this isn't possible," she muttered. "You're not awakened. You shouldn't be able to "

Eliot cut her off, raising his hand. Void energy surged forward, forming a beam that shot straight toward her. Corvella dodged, the beam slicing through the tree behind her. The tree didn't fall it simplyvanished, leaving behind only empty space.

Corvella stared at the spot where the tree had been, her hands trembling. "You… you what was that?"she had never seen a power like that, what she expected was the tree to break into pieces not just vanish.

The situation took unexpected turn,just imaginingthat beam like attack hitting her dreaded her.

Eliot stepped forward, his voice steady. "Leave."

Corvella hesitated, her pride warring with her fear. She clenched her fists, but the memory of the beam lingered in her mind. She knew she couldn't win.

"You'll regret this," she spat, retreating into theshadows.