Legacies : The First Witch’s Legacy

Chapter 20: The Gathering Storm

The journey back to the Salvatore School was marked by an unsettling calm. Adam walked ahead, his steps purposeful but heavy, the newly acquired Fourth Seal tucked safely in his coat. The weight of the Guardian's words lingered in his mind, a constant reminder that his battles were far from over.

Hope kept pace with him, her eyes darting between his tense shoulders and the fragments glowing faintly in his hand. The others followed in silence, their usual chatter muted by the enormity of what they had just faced.

As the group crossed the threshold of the school grounds, Alaric met them at the entrance, his expression a mixture of relief and concern.

"You got it?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Adam.

Adam simply nodded, pulling the glowing fragments from his coat and placing them on the table in the war room. The fragments shimmered, their energy resonating more strongly now that the Fourth Seal had joined them.

"This is only part of it," Adam said, his voice low. "There are six more."

Alaric frowned, leaning over the table. "Six? If this is what it takes to collect just one seal, what happens when you're closer to unlocking them all?"

Adam didn't answer. He turned away, staring out the window.

Later that night, Hope found Adam sitting on the edge of the training field, staring at the Fourth Seal in his palm. Its glow cast faint patterns across his face, highlighting the furrow in his brow.

"You're thinking about what the Guardian said," she guessed, sitting down beside him.

Adam didn't look at her. "It wasn't wrong. Every seal I unlock pushes me closer to something I can't control. I can feel it—pieces of myself that were buried are coming back, but they don't fit with who I am now."

Hope placed a hand on his arm. "You're still you, Adam. The seals don't define you—they're just tools. What you do with them, that's what matters."

He finally turned to look at her, his gaze softening. "You really believe that?"

"I do."

For a moment, the weight on Adam's shoulders seemed to lessen. But before either of them could say more, the ground beneath them trembled. A distant rumble echoed through the air, and they both shot to their feet.

In the war room, Alaric, Josie, Lizzie, and Kaleb were already gathered, their expressions grim.

"What's going on?" Adam asked as he and Hope burst in.

Josie pointed to a map on the table, where a glowing red mark pulsed near the edge of Mystic Falls. "There's been an energy surge near the old Lockwood ruins. It's strong—stronger than anything we've seen so far."

Lizzie huffed, crossing her arms. "Great. Just when we thought we'd earned a break."

Alaric looked at Adam. "This could be connected to the seals. If that energy surge is coming from another Guardian—"

"Then I need to face it," Adam interrupted.

Hope stepped forward. "Not alone. We're coming with you."

Adam hesitated, glancing at her and then at the others. He didn't want to put them in harm's way, but he also knew he couldn't do this without their help.

"Fine," he said at last. "But stick to the plan. Don't take unnecessary risks."

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Please, we've been doing this long enough to know the drill."

Kaleb smirked. "Speak for yourself, Lizzie. I live for unnecessary risks."

The group arrived at the ruins just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the crumbling stone structures. The air was thick with tension, and the energy radiating from the center of the ruins was palpable.

In the heart of the ruins stood another obelisk, smaller than the one they had encountered before but no less ominous. Its runes glowed a deep crimson, and the air around it shimmered with heat.

As they approached, the obelisk began to pulse, and a figure materialized before them. This Guardian was different—its form was humanoid, but its features were sharp and angular, its skin appearing to be made of molten rock. Its eyes burned like embers, and when it spoke, its voice was a low, rumbling growl.

"You seek the Fifth Seal," it said, stepping forward. "But you are not yet worthy to claim it."

Adam drew his blade, his expression hard. "Then I'll prove my worth."

The Guardian moved first, its molten form shifting as it launched a wave of fiery projectiles toward the group. Adam leaped forward, deflecting the attack with his blade, while Hope and Josie combined their magic to form a barrier.

Kaleb transformed, his vampiric strength allowing him to tackle the Guardian head-on, but its molten skin burned him, forcing him to retreat. Lizzie retaliated with a blast of magic, but the Guardian absorbed the energy, growing stronger.

"This thing's feeding off our attacks!" Lizzie shouted, frustration evident in her voice.

Adam gritted his teeth, dodging another strike. "Then we'll have to outlast it."

The battle raged on, each member of the group pushing themselves to their limits. Hope's magic flared brighter than ever, her determination driving her to keep fighting despite the odds. Adam fought with a precision and ferocity that left even the Guardian momentarily staggered.

But it wasn't enough. The Guardian's power seemed endless, its attacks growing more devastating with each passing moment.

Then, in a flash of inspiration, Josie called out. "The runes! They're fueling it!"

Adam turned his gaze to the obelisk, its glowing runes pulsating in time with the Guardian's movements. He nodded, signaling the others.

"Keep it distracted," he said, darting toward the obelisk.

Hope and the others redoubled their efforts, drawing the Guardian's attention away from Adam. As he reached the obelisk, he placed his hand on its surface, the Fourth Seal glowing brightly in response.

The runes resisted at first, but Adam channeled every ounce of his will into breaking their hold. The obelisk cracked, and with a final burst of energy, it shattered, sending a shockwave through the ruins.

The Guardian froze, its molten form solidifying before crumbling to ash. In its place, the Fifth Seal hovered, its light soft and golden.

Adam took it, the energy coursing through him as he added it to the fragments he already carried. But as the group regrouped, they couldn't ignore the tremor that ran through the ground beneath them.

"The seals are reacting again," Josie said, her voice tinged with worry.

Adam tightened his grip on the Fifth Seal, his expression unreadable. "This isn't over."