The chamber fell silent once more, save for the soft hum of the heart's energy. The air around them had shifted, as though it, too, was holding its breath. Elara stood at the center of the room, her body trembling from the strain of her efforts. Her connection to the heart had intensified, every nerve in her being attuned to its pulse. But now, she was on the edge of something far more profound.
The light from the heart, though still dim, was brighter than it had ever been, and the corruption that had been festering for centuries seemed to recede. The dark figure that had haunted her visions—its shadowy presence—was no longer looming over them. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Elara sensed a fragile sense of peace. The corruption had not been eradicated, but it had been held at bay, temporarily stilled by the connection she had forged with the heart.
