The Shattered Veil began to dissolve around them. With Velistra now awakened and tethered to Steven's presence, the realm no longer resisted them. She raised her hand, weaving a tear in space—a corridor made of shifting constellations and whispering stars.
> "We move to the next," she said, eyes still scanning the fading horizon. "But it won't be like before."
Steven brushed the dust off his cloak. "Who's next?"
> "A man called Maeron Valcairn. Keeper of Shadows. The only one of us who turned his back on light… willingly."
Cal'dor narrowed his eyes. "He fell into darkness long ago. His essence is corrupted by the Abyss Between Realms."
> "And you want me to convince him to join us?" Steven muttered.
Velistra shook her head slowly.
> "No. You'll have to fight him. And win."
---
Elsewhere…
Realm of the Abyss Between Realms.
A black palace floated on rivers of molten shadow. Screams echoed from its walls, the sounds of regret, broken time, and madness. Inside, a man sat upon a throne made of black glass—his face hidden beneath a mask of bone and ink.
Maeron Valcairn stirred.
> "The stars move," he whispered, voice like silk against a dagger. "Velistra walks again."
He looked up.
> "And the Starcaster approaches."
He rose. Shadows followed.
---
Back with Steven…
The corridor ripped open again, pulling them into the coldest darkness Steven had ever felt. No sound. No heartbeat. No breath. Just endless cold. Endless eyes.
> "This place…" Steven muttered, teeth clenching. "Feels like death is watching."
> "Because it is," Velistra replied grimly. "Welcome to the Abyss."
They walked across a bridge of bones, leading to the floating palace. The shadows whispered lies in their ears—Steven heard his own voice screaming, crying out, begging for help.
He ignored it.
> "He'll sense us soon," Velistra said. "He doesn't sleep. Not anymore."
> "Good," Steven muttered. "I've got questions for him."
---
They reached the gate.
It opened by itself.
Inside, the throne room was massive—walls dripping with magic, bleeding darkness. And at the center…
Maeron sat, unmoving.
He slowly stood.
> "Velistra," he said, removing his mask. His face was pale, scarred, but regal. "Still dancing between light and illusion."
> "Maeron," she replied. "Still married to your grief."
Then his eyes turned to Steven.
> "And you… are the flame that thinks it can defy the void."
Steven stepped forward. "I'm the Starcaster. And I'm here to bring you back."
Maeron laughed.
> "Back? Back to what? A war already lost? A Codex already doomed?"
> "It's not doomed," Steven said. "Not yet. But I need you."
> "Then take me."
In a blink, Maeron vanished.
Then reappeared behind Steven—blade of shadow arcing toward his throat.
Steven ducked, spun, fired a burst of blue fire.
> Boom!
The floor cracked. Maeron stood unscathed.
> "Good reflexes," Maeron whispered. "But I am not Pain. I am what you will become… if you fail."
Velistra stepped back.
> "This is your fight now, Steven."
---
Steven's POV:
He's fast. Too fast.
I barely blocked the next strike. The shadows were alive—grabbing, pulling, slashing. I summoned starfire around my fists, pushed my mana beyond its limit.
> "I didn't come here to die," I shouted, blasting him with a nova pulse.
He disappeared again. Behind me. Above me. Below.
Then—
A blade sank into my shoulder.
I dropped to one knee, blood trailing down my arm. But I didn't stop.
> "If you're trying to break me," I growled, rising again, "you'll have to dig deeper."
Maeron froze.
> "That… is familiar."
He pulled the blade out slowly.
> "You… remind me of her."
> "Who?"
Maeron looked away.
> "My daughter. She fought like you."
Silence followed.
> "She was consumed by this place," he continued. "I stayed… hoping I'd forget."
> "Then help me fix what went wrong," Steven said, voice low but firm. "Join us. Not for the past. For what comes next."
Maeron stared long.
Then dropped the blade.
> "If you lie to me… I will gut the stars from your sky."
Steven nodded. "Fair enough."
---
Outside the Abyss...
Velistra smiled faintly. "Two down."
Cal'dor crossed his arms. "Five more to go."
Steven exhaled, already feeling the next storm brewing.
---
Far beyond the stars…
Pain knelt before a black mirror, watching them.
> "The boy gathers ghosts," he whispered.
From behind him, a new figure emerged—cloaked in flame and time.
> "Shall I move?" the figure asked.
Pain's eyes burned.
> "Yes. Let the next one greet him."
> "The Warden of Endless Storms."
---
(To be continued)