I remained seated on the cold stone floor for a few moments, twisting my staff thoughtfully, processing the information I'd gleaned from the vision. The method of casting, using a crystal formation like that, was completely unfamiliar to me, yet it hadn't been able to hide its secrets from the Oracle of Eternity. I had clearly seen its purpose and the intricate workings of the spell. It wouldn't be easy to stop, but at least I was no longer fighting an invisible enemy.
My hands tightened around my staff, knuckles white, as I recalled the rest of the vision, the image of Elise twisted and tormented. Every time I sought a glimpse of the future, she seemed to be there, just out of reach, a haunting reminder of my failure. Her presence left a dull ache in my heart, and seeing her treated as nothing more than a plaything for Alverin's twisted desires filled me with a rage that threatened to consume me.
