The ruins of the village stood silent, a quiet contrast to the chaos of the battle that had raged moments before. The sky above, once fractured with the energies of collapsing dimensions, was now settling into a strange calm. The echoes of distant battles and strange creatures had faded, leaving only the steady pulse of the relic at the center of the village.
Seraphyne stood before the Keeper, her heart was heavy with the weight of the decision that lay before her. Xavierre and Keizu had joined her, standing in solemn silence. The Keeper, once a figure of mystery, now stood vulnerable in the fading light. His eyes were filled with centuries of regret, and his expression, though worn, held a deep sorrow that seemed to span beyond the limits of time.
"This village," the Keeper began, his voice low and somber, "was never meant to be a prison."
