Chapter 8 The First Confrontation

Lila's breath echoed in her ears as she stepped into the chamber, her eyes locking onto the altar at the far end. The dim light flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls, and she felt an overwhelming sense of dread as if the very air around her had been soaked in years of a dark history. The hum in the room vibrated through her bones, setting her teeth on edge. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself, but it was impossible. The ritual wasn't just some abstract concept now—it was real, and she was at the center of it. The leader was standing at the altar, his back to them, his hands resting on the stone surface as if he were waiting for something. The artifact lay on the altar, dark and ominous, the symbols carved into its surface pulsing faintly with an unnatural glow. It was the heart of the ritual, and it was clear that the leader intended to use it to complete whatever twisted plan he had in mind.