The road to the end tries to wind its way deeper into the forest, the trees are getting denser and the light is getting less and less. Emilia, Marcus, Leander and Elara remained silent; They were all lost in thought. The weight of the trial of sacrifice hung heavy on them; It's too heavy for anyone to ignore.
The air grew cold as they approached the clearing. In the middle is a stone altar, old and worn, surrounded by a circle of standing stones. A powerful, almost godlike force suddenly appeared, and Emilia felt a chill run down her spine as she stepped into the clearing.
"That's it," Elara said, her voice just above a whisper. "The final decision."
Emilia approached the altar, her heart pounding. She could feel the eyes of the forest on them, as if even the trees were watching them. She turned to her friends, taking strength from their presence. "But we will face this together."
"We're with you, Emilia. Every step of the way."
Elara began to sing softly, asking for guidance and protection from the spirits of her ancestors.
As we gather around the altar, a figure appears from the shadows. She was an old witch from the Echoing Forest, and her body glowed with an ethereal light. "Welcome, Seekers," he said, his voice echoing across the clearing. "You have passed the test of courage and wisdom. Now you must prove your worth by sacrifice."
"What should we do?" Old Ling's eyes are soft, there is a hint of sadness in his eyes. "To unlock the power needed to defeat the darkness, one of you must give up something valuable. It is not an object or a memory, it is a part of you. Your soul."
And a heavy silence fell upon the open field. She thought about everything they had been through, the wars and the relationships they had built.
Marcus suddenly said, "I will," and took a step forward. "I will make a sacrifice."
"No," said Emilia, shaking her head. "It must be me. This is my destiny." "We can't let you do this alone, Emilia."
Elara put her hand on Emilia's shoulder, touching it gently but firmly. "The prophecy spoke of a leader who would gather and defeat the darkness. You are that leader, Emilia. But that doesn't mean you have to carry this burden alone. "We are family" Marcus said, "we stand together or we fall together. But to unlock power, one must make sacrifices. For my friends, for my people, and for our future. Place your hands on the altar and focus on what you want to give up. When he walked here, he felt a deep connection with the moon, its light guiding him through the darkness. "I release the power that will change me for the better." The pain was terrible, but she pressed on, knowing it was necessary. The altar glowed with bright lights, and a low, harmonic voice emanated from the standing stones.
The light intensified, filling the clearing with a brilliant light. When everything finally quieted, Emilia sank to her knees, exhausted but still alive. She feels different from herself, weak but strong resolves. The Old Lord approached her and looked into her face. "You have proven your worth, Emilia. The Ancient's power has now been unlocked. Use it wisely Emilia stood on shaky legs. She felt that her relationship with the moon was over, that the moon was empty. But she also needed new energy, the energy of her friends, and the knowledge that she had done something worthwhile.
"We must go," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The final battle awaits." Marcus and Leander helped her to her feet, their supports weak. Elara's eyes filled with pride as she read the scroll.
"We are ready," she said, her voice strong. "But we will face this together." The sacrifice has been made and the power of the Ancients is now within reach. The final battle has come, and with her friends by her side, she knows they will prevail.