FRACTURED EXPEDITION | CHAPTER 03

a short story by Danny van Eck

“This is… stunning.”

Alex smiled, watching her take in the view. Without a word, he set down his pack and began unpacking their supplies, preparing to set up the tent.

Shauni gathered rocks, carefully arranging them in a circle before stacking dry branches inside. As she struck a flame to the leaves, the fire crackled to life, casting a warm, flickering glow around her.

She glanced over her shoulder at Alex, who was busy unpacking supplies for their tent. He caught her gaze and smiled—but then, his expression shifted. His eyes widened as they flicked upward.

“Shauni.” His voice was barely a whisper.

Confused, she turned slowly, following his gaze toward the sky.

A brilliant light filled the heavens, cascading in waves of green, red, and purple, moving across the planet like a massive shockwave. It swept toward them, an ethereal tide rolling through the atmosphere.

The moment the wave touched them, blinding light consumed their vision. A strange, cold warmth prickled their skin, sending a shiver through their bodies.

Their eyes adjusted—slowly, cautiously—as the world around them responded to the phenomenon.

The crystals scattered across the landscape began to glow, pulsing with newfound energy. The flora around them shimmered, unveiling an unexpected bioluminescence, as if the very forest had awakened.

Then came the cries. The creatures of the Silent Vale howled, chirped, and roared in an orchestra of reactions—some fearful, some awestruck, all unmistakably changed by whatever had just occurred.

Alex and Shauni turned to each other, shock written across their faces.

Shauni was the first to reach for her Throne, fingers moving with haste—only to find the device unresponsive. She tried again, swiping, tapping. Nothing.

Alex pulled his own out from his jacket, but the result was the same.

“Nothing.” His voice was tight with unease as he exhaled, his gaze lifting toward the sky.

It was breathtaking, like something torn from the old Auralis storybooks, a celestial display of light and cosmic beauty. And yet, his body remained tense, the weight of anticipation pressing against his chest.

Shauni’s voice was barely a whisper. “Alex… is this because of the Ardent? Did they… actually do it?”

She turned to him, hope flickering behind her eyes. He met her gaze, reached for her hand, and squeezed gently.

“I hope so.”

Shauni exhaled and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.

She watched the awakened Vale, now bathed in the shimmering glows of Elysian Crystals. The unease lingered, but for a moment, she allowed herself to believe—maybe there was nothing to fear.

___

Twenty minutes later, the first fragments of what remained of Cyril’s Comet would strike their camp.