Elara's surroundings darkened, and she experienced a sensation through her body drawn into an eruption of sound and light.
She made an effort to fight, but she was speechless, and her body was motionless.
The guardian's caution, "Remember, Elara, with great power comes great responsibility," was the last thing she remembered.
Be careful with the crystal's power."
When at last her vision cleared, she saw that she was in a huge cave lined with crystals.
Bright crystals covered the walls and ceiling, and an unearthly force permeated the room. Elara strained to process everything, her head racing.
A figure with a hood over its face stood in front of her.
It spoke in a quiet, strange voice, "Welcome, Elara." "I have been waiting for you."
Elara tried to speak, but her voice was barely a whisper. "Who are you?" she managed to croak.
The figure stepped forward, its hood falling away to reveal a woman with long, flowing hair and piercing green eyes.
"I am the guardian of this world," she said. "And you, Elara, are the key to its survival."
Elara's mind raced with questions, but before she could ask any of them, the guardian raised her hand and pointed to a massive crystal that dominated the center of the cavern.
"That is the Heart of the Otherworld," she said. "And you, Elara, are the only one who can unlock its power."
Elara's eyes widened as she approached the crystal.
Its energy was pulsating through her veins, beckoning her with an intensity that defied reason. The protector spoke once more as she extended her hand to touch it.
"Keep in mind, Elara, that the power of the crystal comes at a high price.
Are you willing to pay the price?"
Uncertain of what was to come, Elara hesitated.
She felt compelled to move further, though, and she reached out to touch the crystal.
Her flesh touched the crystal, and a burst of light and sound shot through the cavern.
Elara had a strong, pulsating force coursing through her body as she felt herself lifted off the ground.
She heard the guardian's voice again. "Elara, you have unleashed the power of the crystal.
Use it carefully now."
However, Elara noticed when she peered around.
The crystals were breaking apart and raining down on her like lethal rain as the cavern collapsed.
Then she noticed him: a shadowy figure with his frighteningly intense gaze locked on her.
He said, "Welcome, Elara," in a tone full of hate. "I was reaching out for you.
You will never get it out of here alive, I promise you."
The creature lifted a hand, and the tunnel started to collapse, widening Elara's eyes in terror.
After that, everything became invisible to the physical eyes.
-------------------------------------
Elara's was in a dark place and her body experienced certain form of reactions as a result of sound waves.
She made an effort to fight, but she was speechless and her body was immobile.
When at last her eyesight cleared, she was standing in a large, empty room. The cavern had vanished, leaving behind a barren wasteland of twisted metal and shattered diamonds.
Standing in front of her, the figure's intensely unsettling gaze remained fixated on her.
With a voice full of hate, he said, "Elara, you shouldn't have come here."
"Now, you will never leave this place alive."
Elara opened her mouth, but her voice was hardly audible.
She choked out, "Who are you?"
The figure grinned, delight sparkling in his eyes"Elara, it's me who has been anticipating your arrival.
You now have to pay a price for releasing the power of the crystal."
Elara's thoughts were racing, trying to figure out what was going on.
The power of the crystal was now hers, but at what price?
And who was this person who appeared to be in control of her destiny?
The figure lifted his hand and gestured to a huge, twisted crystal that dominated the middle of the scene while she stood there, petrified in fear.
"That is the Heart of the Otherworld," he declared. "And you, Elara, are the only one who can destroy it."
When Elara comprehended what the person was asking her to do, her eyes widened in fear.
Destroy the crystal to avoid the danger of wiping out the Otherworld completely?
Or reject it and accept the fallout from her deeds?
And then the figure spoke again as she stood there, frozen in terror.
"Elara, you have one minute to make a decision.
The decision will then be made on your behalf."
And so the countdown started.
In 60 seconds...
In 59 seconds...
In 58 seconds...
Elara realized she needed to move quickly. But which choice was the right one?
And what would her decision cost?
She reflected on her travels, the people she had encountered, and the difficulties she had encountered.
She remembered the guardian, who had forewarned her of the crystal's power, and Ariana, who had led her into the Otherworld.
Next, she made her choice
She reflected on her travels, the people she had encountered, and the difficulties she had experienced.
She remembered the guardian, who had forewarned her of the crystal's power, and Ariana, who had led her into the Otherworld.
She then came to a choice.
With a firm and determined voice, she declared, "I will not destroy the crystal."
The stranger smiled approval glinting in his eyes.
"Excellently, Elara," he remarked. "You've made up your mind.
You now have to deal with the repercussions."
And with that, the surroundings started to shift.
The fractured crystals and twisted metal started to reassemble, taking on a strange new shape.
Elara realized she needed to move quickly.
A sudden wave of energy flew out from her raised hands, striking the figure and sending him hurtling across the terrain.
However, as she triumphantly stood there, she understood that her deeds had cost her dearly.
The web of reality was falling apart in front of her eyes, and the Otherworld was crumbling.
Elara was aware that she was the only one with the power to stop it.
What would Elara do ?