Chapter 16 The Ritual's Promise

The walls of the hidden chamber were suffused with an eerie glow, the faintest blue light flickering across the room as if the shadows themselves were alive, watching, waiting. Lila could feel the artifact pulsing in her hands, its energy thrumming with an intensity that made her skin tingle, its pull stronger than ever. Every step she took toward the center of the room only intensified the sensation, the weight of her destiny settling on her shoulders like a boulder that couldn't be moved. Kai stood beside her, his expression a mixture of resolve and dread. He wasn't sure what they were about to uncover, but he knew it was dangerous. He could feel the weight of the room pressing against them, the air thick with anticipation. They were in the heart of the facility now—the final stretch of their long and treacherous journey. And what they discovered here would change everything.