Chapter 31: The Ruined Totems
As the party pushed through the dense undergrowth, an uneasy silence settled over them. The usual sounds of the forest had long since faded, replaced by an oppressive quiet that made every snap of a twig underfoot echo unnaturally in their ears. Kael felt something stir within him—an instinct, or perhaps a pull. It wasn't the same as the void's whispers, but something older, deeper.
"We're close," he muttered, the sensation tugging him toward something just beyond the treeline. Aldric and the others followed without question, their weapons drawn and eyes scanning the darkened forest for any signs of danger.
When they stumbled into the clearing, the sight before them made them stop in their tracks. There, towering above them, was a relic from a forgotten age. The totem stood tall, its weathered stone surface once a testament to ancient druidic magic. But now, it was twisted and defiled. Dark veins of void energy snaked across it like parasites, coiling around the intricate runes that had been carved with care centuries ago. What had once been a beacon of life and protection now exuded decay.
"This… this was once a guardian of the grove," Nyxara murmured, stepping forward to get a closer look. Her storm-scorched eyes narrowed, tracing the defiled symbols. "The druids used these totems to protect sacred places, to keep the balance in check."
Kael approached cautiously, his hand outstretched as if drawn to the totem's faint energy. "It's still alive… barely," he whispered. The natural magic that had once thrummed within it was all but smothered, the runes dim, almost invisible beneath the void's corruption. He knelt beside the base, running his fingers over the vines that wrapped tightly around it, feeling the pulse of life trapped beneath the suffocating darkness.
Aldric tightened his grip on his sword, his face grim. "The void has infected everything here. Can it even be saved?"
Kael stood, his jaw clenched. "I think it can. If we purify this, it could turn the tide." His mind raced, recalling what he knew of runic restoration. These totems were designed to channel the heart of the land, and if he could reignite that connection, they might be able to drive back the corruption, at least in this part of the grove.
"We don't have a choice," Lireal said, her sharp gaze flicking between the totem and the surrounding woods. "This could give us the edge we need to push back the void."
Kael nodded, though he knew the task ahead would be perilous. The totem was a relic of immense power, and restoring it wouldn't be as simple as invoking a spell. He would need to draw on the grove's magic—something that had grown weaker with every step they had taken deeper into the forest.
"It's dangerous," Nyxara cautioned, her voice quiet but firm. "If you try to channel that much power while the void still has a grip on it... you could be overwhelmed."
"I know," Kael said, his eyes locking with hers. He understood the risk, but they couldn't afford hesitation. "But we need to do this. If we can restore it, we might have a chance to stop the corruption from spreading further."
Lireal set her bow, scanning the treeline. "We'll protect you while you work. But hurry—there's no telling what will come for us when you start."
Kael swallowed the knot of fear tightening in his chest and moved closer to the totem, letting his fingers hover over the faintly glowing runes. He could feel the ancient magic beneath the void's corruption, faint but still fighting to hold on. This was a battle of wills, and he had to tip the balance. He had to draw the life energy trapped inside, reawaken it, and purify what the void had defiled.
The weight of the task settled over him, but in the midst of that, a strange sense of hope blossomed. The totem, this ancient relic, had stood as a guardian of the grove once—and it could again. They weren't just stumbling through the dark anymore. They had a way to fight back.
"Kael?" Lireal's voice was soft but laced with concern. She stood just behind him, her bow at the ready, scanning the treeline for any sign of movement. Aldric was beside her, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, ready for a fight. Nyxara, too, was alert, her storm magic humming faintly in the air.
"I have to purify it," Kael said, more to himself than the others. "But... this won't be easy."
Aldric stepped forward, his voice steady. "We'll protect you. Whatever comes, we'll handle it. You just focus on that totem."
Kael nodded, but deep down, he wasn't sure if he could handle it. The void had already tried to seep into his mind once before, whispering promises of power. What if this time, he couldn't resist?
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, reaching out to the grove. The connection was faint, weaker than before, but it was still there. Beneath the corruption, he could feel the heartbeat of the land, slow and steady, like a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened.
He approached the totem cautiously, placing his hand just above the surface without touching it. The runes etched into the stone flickered faintly, as if responding to his presence. He could almost hear them, old and forgotten words of power that had once kept this grove safe. Kael focused on those runes, trying to remember what he had learned from the ancient texts—insights into the power of nature, how life itself could be woven into symbols and magic.
His fingers traced the air just above the runes, whispering the words of the old language under his breath. As he did, the grove's energy stirred, a soft pulse in the earth beneath his feet. He had to channel that energy, draw it into the totem, and force the void out. But the moment he began, the void pushed back.
A sharp pain shot through his skull, and the whispers grew louder, clawing at the edges of his mind.
Why resist? The voice was cold, serpentine. We could give you more. Power beyond what this grove offers. You could control the corruption, bend it to your will...
Kael winced, his vision blurring as the void pressed against him. His connection to the grove wavered, and for a moment, the ground beneath him seemed to sway.
He couldn't let the void in. Not again.
Focusing on the runes, Kael began to speak the words of power more clearly, drawing from the teachings of the druids. The ancient symbols were more than just inscriptions—they were conduits, designed to channel the pure energy of the land. He had to infuse them with that energy, let the heart of the grove flow through him.
He drew on the grove's pulse, feeling the energy rise through the earth and into his body. It was faint at first, but the more he focused, the stronger it became. His hands trembled as the magic built up, flowing through his veins like liquid sunlight. The void fought back, the tendrils of corruption lashing out, trying to coil around him, trying to drag him under.
But Kael wasn't alone in this fight. He wasn't just a conduit for the grove's energy—he could direct it. The runes were his guide, ancient symbols that told him where to push, where to channel the magic. He concentrated on them, willing the energy to flow into the totem. Slowly, the blackened veins began to recede, the corruption peeling away like dead skin.
The void's whispers grew frantic, trying to twist his thoughts. You are weak! You need us! The grove cannot save you!
Kael clenched his teeth, refusing to listen. He focused on the runes, the ancient druidic teachings flashing in his mind. There were other forces at play—symbols of balance and rebirth. His mind drifted to the teachings of rune stones, how they represented the cycles of life and death, decay and regrowth. He spoke the words aloud, channeling the deeper truth of nature's resilience.
The totem shuddered beneath his hands as the void's grip weakened. And then, like the first breath after a long dive, life surged through the stone. Vines began to crawl up the sides of the totem, twisting around the once-blackened stone, sprouting leaves as they grew. The stone itself began to change, its hard surface softening, shifting until it was no longer cold rock, but warm wood, as if the totem had been reborn.
Kael gasped as the transformation took hold, the pulse of the grove filling him with warmth. The whispers of the void faded, retreating like a dying wind. The runes on the totem glowed softly now, their symbols whole once more, the magic of the grove restored.
Behind him, Kael heard the sound of steel clashing, the crackle of magic, and the twang of Lireal's bowstring. The others were fighting off the corrupted creatures that had appeared the moment the void's grip on the totem weakened.
"I've almost got it!" Kael shouted, forcing the last of the void from the totem. The final tendrils of darkness slithered away, disappearing into the earth as the totem fully transformed into wood, its surface now alive with vines and leaves.
Aldric's sword flashed as he cut down another twisted creature, his face grim but determined. "We're holding them off, but hurry!"
Kael took a deep breath, his body shaking from the effort. The grove's energy was still with him, but he could feel the toll it was taking. He staggered back from the totem, watching as the vines fully enveloped it, the light of the runes now shining brightly beneath the leaves.
It was done. One totem purified.
But there were more.
Kael turned to face the others, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his breathing. "We need to move quickly," he said, his voice hoarse. "The other totems are still corrupted. If we don't purify them, the void will keep spreading."
Nyxara wiped sweat from her brow, lightning still crackling at her fingertips. "Then let's not waste any time."
Kael nodded, though his body ached from the strain of channeling the grove's energy. He cast a final glance at the totem, where the vines had thickened and transformed, vibrant green tendrils weaving up its surface. A warmth emanated from the totem, filling the air and pushing back against the encroaching void, driving the shadows away.
As he focused on the runes, a magnificent bear head began to materialize at the top of the totem, its features becoming more defined with each pulse of life. The carving exuded strength and wisdom, its eyes glowing with an ancient light.
Locking eyes with the majestic figure, Kael felt a surge of power wash over him, a deep connection with the totem. In that moment, his party felt it too—a radiant blessing flowing through them, renewing their strength and filling them with a fortified resolve. The oppressive weight of the void lifted, if only for a moment, as they stood together, united by the restored magic of the grove.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Blurryphase
Blurryphase Thanks guys for hanging in there. Writer's block is a thing and i'm still getting used to this whole writing thing! Let me know what you guys think of the new chapters and the direction the story is going!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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