The Shadow Knight
The first moment of contact with the Soulstone, when reality had collapsed into a singular point of absolute darkness.
When it finished, Vaurien cradled the now-glowing sphere with reverent care. "Exquisite. The purity of purpose, the willingness to sacrifice everything for power—it's beautiful in its terrible simplicity."
"The information," Kaelen reminded him.
"Yes, of course. Business before pleasure." The chronicler moved to a specific shelf, fingers dancing across spine after spine before selecting a slim volume bound in what might have been dragon hide. "The Soulstone. Also called the Heart of Shadows, the Null Phoenix, or in certain dead languages, 'That Which Devours Light.'"