Page 34 of Beyond the Treaty
Elara turned to me, her eyes aflame with determination. “Are you ready?”
I nodded, grasping my sword. “Always.”
Together, we descended into the chamber, the air becoming heavier with each step. Whatever lay ahead would alter the course of our struggle and our lives forever.
The chamber beneath the pedestal was chillier than the courtyard above, the air damp and infused with the aroma of stone and age. A faint glow illuminated the narrow staircase as we descended, casting long, flickering shadows upon the walls. The further we went, the more the hum of the nexus vibrated in the air, resonating in my chest like a second heartbeat.
When we reached the bottom, the corridor opened into a circular chamber. The chamber’s walls were adorned with the same runes as the pedestal above, though these glowed faintly, their light pulsating in a slow, steady rhythm. At the centre of the room stood a dais, and atop it rested an artifact unlike anything I had ever seen.
The fragment.
It hovered in the air, a shard of pure, crystalline energy. Light fractured and refracted through it, casting intricate patterns on the walls. The artifact seemed alive, pulsing in time with the runes, and its presence filled the room with a palpable sense of power. Yet, there was something darker beneath its brilliance, a weight, a warning. Elara steps forward, her gaze fixed on the fragment. “This is it,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe. “This is what she meant.”
Darius places a hand on her shoulder, preventing her from moving closer. “Wait,” he said, his voice low. “If it demands something from its wielder, we need to be certain. What exactly are you willing to offer?”
Elara turned to him, her jaw set. “Whatever it takes. You heard her, this is the only way.” I stepped forward, positioning myself between them and the dais. “We can’t rush into this. The nexus warned us for a reason. If this thing takes a part of you, we need to understand what that entails.”
Darius nods, his expression serious. “The old order wasn’t renowned for restraint. If this artifact was concealed, it’s because even they dreaded its cost.”
Elara glanced between us, her frustration evident. “And if we don’t take it? What then? Do we return to battling the Council with nothing but scraps of knowledge and half-formed plans? This could be the advantage we need.”
“Or it could ruin you,” I said, my voice now softer. “We need you, I need you, Elara, not merely your power, but you. If this thing demands more than you can give...”
She held my gaze, her expression softening. “I understand the risks, Azrael. But this fight isn’t solely about me. It’s about everyone the Council has harmed; everyone they’ve taken from. If I can bear this burden, then I shall.”
Darius lets out a deep sigh, his hand falling away from her shoulder. “If you’re certain, we’ll stand by you. But we’ll face this together. No one carries thisalone.”
Elara nodded, her determination apparent. She steps towards the dais, the light from the fragment casting a halo around her as she neared. The hum in the room grew louder, vibrating through the air as if the artefact itself acknowledged her presence. She hesitated, her hand hovering just above the fragment. “What happens now?” she murmured, more to herself than to us. The fragment pulsed, its light intensifying, and a voice, not the spectral woman’s but something older and colder, filled the chamber.
“Claiming me entails sacrifice. What will you provide?”
Elara stood frozen, her eyes widened as the voice echoed through the air. “What do you mean?” she inquired, her tone steady yet cautious.
“Your memories. Your dreams. Your hopes. Choose, and I shall bind myself to you.”
The air grew colder, the weight of the fragment’s demand pressing down on us all. Elara glances back at me, her eyes searching mine for guidance.
I move nearer, my voice resolute. “You don’t have to do this.” She shook her head. “I do.”
Turning back to the fragment, she squares her shoulders. “I
offer my dreams.”
The fragment pulsed once more, its light becoming blind-
ingly bright. The room trembled, and a sharp, piercing noise filled the air. Elara cries out, her hand clutching the fragment as its energy surged through her. I lunge forward, but Darius holds me back, his grip unyielding.
“She must finish this!” he shouts above the noise.
The light from the fragment enveloped Elara, lifting her from the ground as its power surged into her. Her scream reverberated through the chamber, filled with both pain and something else, determination. When the light finally receded, she fell to her knees, her breathing laboured.
I was at her side in an instant, catching her before she couldfall completely. “Elara,” I said, my voice urgent. “Are you all right?”
She nods faintly, her eyes unfocused for a moment before they fixed on mine. “I’m... I’m fine,” she said, although her voice quivered. “It’s done.”
The fragment had disappeared, its energy now embedded within her. The runes on the walls dimmed, their light fading to a faint glow. Darius kneels beside us, his expression a blend of relief and concern.
“What did it take?” he asks softly.
