"Then don't think about what it is," Mara said firmly. "Think about what *you* want. Right now, what do you want?"
Wei Lin's trembling hands stilled slightly. She closed her eyes, blocking out the noise of the battle and the Codex's whispers. Deep within her, she searched for something—anything—stronger than the fear.
"I want..." She took a deep breath. "I want to protect my friends. I want this thing to stop."
The Codex flared in her hands, its golden light overwhelming the dark energy around it. The fissure began to pulse, the tendrils retreating as if recoiling from the light. The creature roared, its skeletal form twisting unnaturally as the energy surged toward it.
"Lin, whatever you're doing, keep it up!" Mara shouted, shielding her eyes from the brilliance.
