The trio stood before the Council of Elders, their artifacts in hand. Zorvath's piercing gaze seemed to bore into their souls as he spoke.
"Well, heroes, you have passed the first test. But the journey ahead will be far more treacherous. The fate of the realm hangs in the balance, and only you can tip the scales."
Eira's eyes sparkled with determination. "We're ready for whatever comes next."
Arin's analytical mind kicked into gear. "Tell us, Zorvath, what lies ahead?"
Zorvath's expression turned grave. "The Shadow King has risen from the depths of the underworld. His darkness spreads across the land, corrupting all it touches. You must stop him before it's too late."
Lirien's grip on her scroll tightened. "We'll need to gather more information if we're to have any chance of defeating him."
The Oracle nodded. "Ah, yes. The ancient texts speak of a ritual to banish the Shadow King back to the underworld. But it requires three ancient artifacts, hidden across the realm. You must find them before the Shadow King can claim them for himself."
Arin's eyes narrowed. "Which artifacts do we need to find?"
Zorvath's voice dropped to a whisper. "The artifacts are hidden within three temples, guarded by powerful entities. You must face your deepest fears and greatest challenges to claim them."
Eira's creative spark began to dance with ideas. "I sense that each temple represents a different aspect of ourselves. We'll need to confront our own demons if we're to succeed."
Lirien's eyes locked onto Zorvath's. "What are the three artifacts we need to find?"
Zorvath revealed the locations: the Temple of Shadows in the Dark Forest, the Temple of Flames in the Blazing Mountains, and the Temple of Mirrors in the Maze of Reflections.