Cosmic Lord: The Error Awakens
Chapter 137: Vara’s Shadow

Chapter 137: Vara’s Shadow

The flickering light of a dying torch cast jagged shadows across a narrow stone corridor, its walls etched with runes older than memory. Kael El, younger, unscarred, crouched in a forgotten Nexus outpost, his breath shallow, eyes wide with defiance. Vara knelt beside him, her silver hair glinting, her blade steady, her voice a fierce whisper. "Stay sharp, Kael—Nexus hunters are close. You’re not just blood, you’re fire. Don’t let ’em break you." Her hand gripped his, her trust a lifeline in the dark. The Nexus loomed then, its pulse a suffocating weight, the Error’s shadow whispering through their veins. Kael’s heart raced—Vara, I won’t fail you. A hunter’s boot echoed closer, and Vara’s grin flashed, fierce and sure. "We’re free, Kael—fight for it." The memory blurred, torchlight fading, her hand slipping away.

Day 129, dusk. The ruin breathes—my blood trembles. Kael snapped awake, his back against a cold crystal pillar in the southern ruin’s antechamber, the valley a world away. Stormforged Blade rested across his knees, shard-pommel humming faintly, like a cry caught in stone. EX: Dragonflame Reaver lay sheathed at his hip, Stormhide Armor scratched by the ruin’s jagged floors, Lyra’s bold spirit and Rhea’s gentle love anchoring his heart. His flirty smirk was gone, replaced by a haunted gaze, masking a raw fear—Vren’s runes, the ruin’s whispers, and Vara’s memory clawing at his soul. He brushed EX: Gold Dominion, golden veins threading weakly through the crystal, molten but unsteady, echoing the shard’s troubled pulse.

Kael’s team—Lyra, Veyna, Vren, and the Kin scouts Lir, Teth, and Yna—stood in the antechamber, a vast dome of stone and crystal, its ceiling lost in shadow. Vren’s runes had guided them through the storm, silencing the ruin’s psychic echoes, but the air was heavy, thick with something alive yet not. No lords or raiders hunted them; the challenge was the ruin itself—a relic they’d found, a crystal orb etched with runes, pulsing faintly, stirring visions Kael couldn’t shake. Blood trembles. His blood stirred, heavy with a new truth: Devourer, you are the truth’s bearer. The shard pulsed—vision: the ruin, crystal flaring, a shadow speaking, voices whispering: Devourer, your blood sees us. His blood churned, the chamber steady—sees? Lyra paced nearby, violet spark flickering, her grin absent, eyes darting to the orb Vren held. "Lover, that thing’s alive—creeping me out. Vren, what’s it saying?" Her voice was sharp, her usual tease gone—fear flickered.

Kael’s gaze softened, voice low. "Saying? It’s whispering, Lyra—but we’ll hear it." But Vara’s memory burned—why now? Veyna leaned against a pillar, bow strung, wolves pacing, their growls low. "Wolves hate this—orb’s not right, Kael. Vren’s runes worked, but this feels worse. Ask him what he knows." Her hunter’s edge was taut, eyes on Vren—doubt lingered.

Vren stood by the orb, his hands trembling, runes glowing faintly around it. "It’s the ruin’s heart—or close. The First Code’s near, but this... it holds the Error’s birth. Touch it, Kael, and you’ll see." His voice was raw, eyes haunted—he’s seen it. The scouts huddled close, Lir’s spear shaking, Teth’s eyes wide, Yna’s hand steady but tense.

Kael’s jaw tightened, shard humming—vision: the orb, flaring, a shadow forming, Vara’s face fading. He stood, voice rough. "See? Last time I saw, Vara died. Vren, what’s the cost?" His blood stirred, EX: Gold Dominion flaring—golden veins pulsed through the crystal, the orb glowing brighter, Vren flinching.

Vren’s eyes met his, voice low. "Cost? Truth. I touched it once—saw the Error’s makers, their pride, their fall. It broke my crew, left me alone. You’re stronger, Kael—your blood’s different." The scouts gasped, Lir stepping back. Kael’s blood roared—different?

Lyra’s spark flared, voice sharp. "Stronger? Vren, you’re gambling with him! That orb’s trouble—I feel it." Her hand gripped her dagger, eyes on Kael—trust wavered.

Veyna’s wolves snarled, her voice firm. "Trouble? Wolves smell death—old, not ours. Kael, you’re the storm—decide, but don’t touch blind." Her eyes locked on the orb—caution burned.

Kael’s frown deepened, shard humming—vision: the ruin, shadows circling, the orb pulsing, Vara’s voice: Fight for it. He stepped closer, voice steady. "Lyra, Veyna—guard the scouts. Vren, stand back. I’ll see this truth." His blood roared, EX: Devourer Blood flaring—gold veins threaded the orb, its runes flaring, the chamber humming.

Lyra grabbed his arm, voice low. "Kael, don’t—you’re enough without this. I... I’m scared, alright? Not of ghosts, of losing you." Her spark dimmed, eyes raw—Lyra, scared? Kael’s heart clenched, hand covering hers. "Lose me? I’m the blade, Lyra—but I’m yours. Stay close." Her nod was faint, trust fragile but holding.

He touched the orb, its surface cold, runes burning under his fingers. The chamber vanished—vision: a vast city of crystal and steel, skies alive with lights, voices chanting equations. Figures in robes, their eyes glowing, wove code into the air, birthing a pulse—the Error, a spark of ambition gone wrong. It grew, consuming, whispering: We are forever. A figure turned—Vara, younger, her eyes sad. "Kael, don’t let it win." The vision shattered, the orb dimming, Kael staggering, breath ragged.

Lyra caught him, spark flaring, voice urgent. "Kael, you’re back—talk to me!" Her hands gripped his face, fear fading—love burned.

Veyna’s wolves calmed, her voice low. "Back? Wolves felt it—something old, angry. What’d you see, Kael?" Her bow eased, eyes on him—trust steadied.

Vren knelt by the orb, voice soft. "The Error’s birth—makers too proud, code too wild. The vault’s deeper, Kael—the First Code’s there. You saw her, didn’t you?" His eyes searched Kael’s—he knows.

Kael’s voice was hoarse, shard humming—vision: the vault, sealed, shadows quiet, Vara’s grin fading. "Vara... she warned me. The Error’s not gone—it’s waiting." His blood steadied, EX: Vitality Reaper flaring—energy flowed, the scouts’ fear easing, Lyra’s grip tightening.

Lir whispered, voice trembling. "Waiting? Lord, my kin—what’s it mean?" Teth nodded, but Yna spoke, voice firm. "Means we keep going—truth’s worth it. Lead us, lord." Her spear tapped the ground—hope burned.

Kael nodded, voice rough. "We go deeper—vault’s close. Vren, your runes ready?" Vren nodded, carving another, hands steadier. Kael turned to Lyra, voice low. "You’re scared—I am too. The Error’s bigger than me, Lyra. What if I’m not enough?" His eyes dropped—Vara, I failed you.

Lyra’s spark flared, voice fierce. "Not enough? Kael, you’re the prize—Error or not, you’re mine. We face it together, lover, or I’m dragging you back to Rhea." Her grin returned, faint but real—love held.

Veyna’s laugh was soft, wolves nuzzling her. "Together? Wolves like that—your fear’s honest, Kael. Lead on, we’re gold." Her edge softened—trust glowed.

Kael’s grin was faint, standing, Lyra’s hand in his—cost unpaid. He faced the team, voice a rough drawl. "Vault’s waiting—Error’s shadow too. We move, runes first. Thoughts?"

Vren’s voice was steady. "Runes’ll hold—vault’s truth is yours, Kael. Don’t falter." His knife paused—trust fragile.

Yna spoke, eyes bright. "Lord, my kin trust you—Error’s nothing to us. We’re yours." Her hope burned—trust held.

Lyra’s spark danced, voice warm. "Nothing? It’s big, but you’re bigger, lover. Let’s carve this truth." Her tease burned—love held.

The chamber dimmed, the team gathering gear, Vren’s runes glowing, the orb silent. Kael led them deeper, the corridor narrowing, crystal walls pulsing faintly. Lyra stayed close, her spark steady, whispering a quip about "ghostly dates." Veyna’s wolves scouted ahead, her voice mapping turns. The scouts followed, spears ready, their fear gone. Vren trailed, runes in hand, his eyes distant but sure. Kael’s heart was heavy—Vara’s warning, the Error’s shadow—but Lyra’s warmth heavier.

Kael gripped the shard, its song faint, pulse warm—whispering: Blood sees... A memory stirred—Vara’s grin, fierce in the dark. He stopped, Lyra pausing beside him, her eyes soft. "Lyra, if I fall—if the Error takes me—promise you’ll lead them. Rhea, the valley... they need you." His voice cracked—I’m not enough.

Lyra’s spark flared, hand on his cheek. "Fall? You’re Kael El, lover—Error’s got nothing on you. But I promise—valley’s ours, always." Her kiss was brief, fierce—trust burned.

The corridor glowed, golden veins faint, the team steady—Kael’s empire far but alive, its heart kindled by a truth half-seen.