Collide: The Memory of Stars

Third Person's POV

The research facility had become their second home, its candlelit chambers filled with the rustling of parchment and the murmurs of scholars pouring over texts long thought lost.

The weight of history bore down on them, a silent reminder of the knowledge that had slipped through time's fingers.

Selene sat at a worn wooden table, eyes scanning over an ancient manuscript. The text, faded but still legible, spoke of a fortress swallowed by the sea—a place once revered for its arcane secrets and strategic power.

The Sunken Bastion.

"It wasn't always beneath the waves," Lira explained, leaning over a different tome.

"Originally, it stood on the western cliffs of Eldoria. It was a citadel, a stronghold against invading forces. But when the war reached its peak, something happened. Something unnatural."

Axel frowned, crossing his arms. "Magic was involved."

Lira nodded. "Most sources say the Bastion was one of the last defenses during the fall of Eldoria. When Dark Matter overtook the lands, the Bastion was consumed—whether by the sea or by a desperate act of magic, no one knows for sure. There are theories that it still holds traces of power."

Tyra scoffed, arms folded. "Sounds like a death trap."

"But a necessary one," Khael chimed in, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "If there's any chance that its magic remains, we have to investigate. It could be the key to restoring at least a portion of Eldoria."

Selene's fingers tightened around the edges of the manuscript. The idea of diving into a lost fortress, one that had vanished beneath the ocean's grasp, felt surreal. Yet, if it meant reclaiming what had been stolen from their world, they had no choice.

Days passed as they prepared. The survivors in the sanctuary were not merely bystanders—many of them had once been warriors, scholars, and artisans.

Under Axel's guidance, those who could wield a weapon trained to defend themselves.

Selene spent the time honing the fragments of power within her, under Khael's watchful eye. He may have been in the form of a child, but his wisdom ran deep.

"You're holding back," he told her one morning as they trained in a clearing outside the sanctuary.

"I don't have full control," Selene admitted, frustration evident in her voice. "It's different now. I can feel the power, but it's… restrained."

"That restraint could save you—or kill you. You have to learn when to let go."

She exhaled, centering herself, focusing on the raw energy beneath her skin. She could feel it, pulsing like a heartbeat, waiting for her command.

Meanwhile, Axel and Tyra worked with the villagers, ensuring they would have some means of defense should anything go wrong.

"We can't afford to leave them vulnerable," Axel said, watching as a group of men and women practiced formations under Tyra's guidance.

"The world is still dangerous."

By the end of the week, they had gathered enough information to plan their journey. The old maps suggested that the ruins of the Sunken Bastion might not be entirely submerged—if they were lucky, parts of it still remained above the waters, hidden within the crumbling cliffs of the western coast.

The morning of their departure arrived faster than expected. The air was thick with anticipation, but the people of the sanctuary did not hold back their well-wishes.

A small crowd had gathered near the village's outskirts, their faces a mixture of hope and worry. Many had been refugees, survivors of the catastrophe that had befallen Eldoria, and now, they watched as the ones who had given them a sliver of hope prepared to leave.

An elderly woman grasped Selene's hands, her fingers trembling. "You have already done more for us than we could have ever asked. Please, return safely."

Selene offered a reassuring smile. "We will."

Axel clasped hands with a few of the younger fighters they had trained over the past few days.

"Remember your drills. If anything happens, you know what to do."

"You better come back in one piece, Axel," one of them replied, forcing a grin despite the tension in the air.

Tyra punched one of the older men on the shoulder playfully. "Don't slack off just because we're not around. If I come back and find you all out of shape, I'll personally make you regret it."

Even Khael, despite his aloof demeanor, allowed a few children to hug him goodbye before brushing them off with a grumble.

Elira stood a little apart from the rest, her gaze fixed on Selene. When the others had stepped away, she approached, her hands clasped tightly.

"Selene… I worry for you."

Selene's expression softened. "I'll be fine, Elira."

Elira shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "You've come far, but I feel… something is waiting for you out there. Be careful. And please, come back."

Selene reached out, squeezing Elira's hand gently. "I promise."

Elira hesitated before whispering, "And… if you can, please don't forget the Forgotten Ones. If there's a way to help them—"

"I won't," Selene interrupted firmly. "I will find a way. Whether it's a cure or a way to let them rest, I won't abandon them."

Elira's eyes glistened, but she nodded, stepping back.

As the last words were exchanged, the group turned to leave, their footsteps steady as they moved toward the forest's edge.

The sanctuary behind them grew smaller with each step, yet their mission ahead loomed larger than ever.

Then, just as they passed into the tree line, the air shifted.

Selene felt it first—an unnatural stillness, as if the very wind held its breath. Axel's grip tightened around his weapon, his gaze scanning the trees.

"They were waiting for us," he muttered, eyes narrowing.

A guttural growl echoed through the woods, and then the shadows twisted. From the darkness, figures emerged—slithering, writhing, their forms shifting between solid and ethereal. Dark Matter.

"They're learning," Khael said darkly, stepping forward. "They know our movements."

The first creature lunged.

Selene reacted instantly, drawing upon her power. Though it had stabilized since its last outburst, she still struggled to control its full extent.

Shadows burst around her as she wove through the attack, her blade meeting the enemy in a clash of silver and black. The impact sent a ripple through the darkness, forcing the creature back.

Axel was already in motion beside her, his sword flashing as he cut through one of the monstrosities. His movements were precise—each slash dispersing the enemy before they could reform.

"Stay close to each other!" he barked.

Tyra met an oncoming beast head-on, her broadsword cleaving through its shifting mass.

"They never learn, do they?" she grunted, twisting her blade and ripping through the creature's form before it dissipated into nothingness.

Khael raised a hand, flames flickering at his fingertips before igniting into a blazing inferno. He hurled the fire forward, the blast searing through a cluster of Dark Matter, their shrieks filling the air as they burned away.

"They're trying to slow us down," tyra observed, pulling a dagger from her belt and slashing at one of the creatures.

"We need to end this fast."

Selene gritted her teeth, focusing her energy. She had been training to control it, but now was the moment to truly wield it.

Closing her eyes for a breath, she let the power flow. When she opened them, a wave of raw energy erupted from her, sending the surrounding Dark Matter scattering like dust in the wind.

The battlefield fell silent.

The remaining creatures hesitated, their forms wavering, as if they could sense the change.

Then, as swiftly as they had come, they slithered back into the shadows, retreating into the depths of the forest.

Axel exhaled, lowering his weapon. "They'll be back."

Selene steadied herself, still feeling the remnants of energy pulsing through her veins. She glanced at the path ahead and whispered, "Let them come."

To be continued.