As the machine's power died, the room began to shake. The walls trembled, and the air was filled with the sound of crashing metal.
Caira stumbled, her sword slipping from her grasp. Kael caught her, his arm around her waist.
"What's happening?" she shouted above the din.
"The timestream is repairing itself," Liam yelled back. "The machine's destruction is causing a temporal backlash."
The room shook again, the tremors growing stronger. Caira felt the timestream surging around her, its power overwhelming.
And then, suddenly, everything went black.
When Caira came to, she was lying on a cold, hard floor. Her head pounded, and her mouth was dry.
She sat up, looking around. She was in a small, dimly lit room. Kael and Liam were nowhere to be seen.
She struggled to her feet, her mind racing. Where was she? What had happened?
As she stumbled through the room, she saw a figure in the shadows. It was the voice, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly energy.
"Welcome," it said, its tone dripping with malice. "I see you're awake."
Caira's heart sank. She knew she had to escape, but how?
The voice laughed, its sound echoing off the walls. "You'll never escape," it said. "This is your new reality."
Caira's eyes narrowed. She knew she had to think, to come up with a plan.
And then, suddenly, she remembered. The timestream. She could use its power to her advantage.
With a swift motion, she reached out, grasping for the timestream's energy. It surged around her, its power overwhelming.
The voice screamed, its tone enraged. "No!" it shouted. "You can't!"
But Caira stood tall, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had the upper hand.
With a swift motion, she struck, using the timestream's power to blast the voice away.
As the voice dissipated, the room began to fade. Caira felt herself being pulled through time and space.
And then, suddenly, she was back in the library, Kael and Liam standing beside her.
They looked at her, their eyes filled with concern. "Caira, what happened?" Kael asked.
Caira took a deep breath, her mind reeling. "I used the timestream's power," she said. "I created a new reality."
Liam's eyes widened. "A new reality?" he repeated.
Caira nodded. "One where the voice doesn't exist."
Kael's face set in determination. "Then let's make sure it stays that way."
Caira smiled, her heart filled with hope. She knew they had a long road ahead, but she was ready.
Together, the three of them walked out of the library, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.