Evelyn and Marcus moved quickly toward the source of the voice, their footsteps echoing through the empty streets of the Lost City. The ruins around them seemed to grow more imposing with every step, the towering structures reaching high into the swirling clouds above. The air was thick with an oppressive energy, as though the` city itself was watching them, waiting for something.
As they rounded a corner, they found themselves standing in front of a massive stone archway. Beyond it lay a vast courtyard, and in the center of the courtyard stood a large, circular platform made of the same shimmering stone that seemed to pulse with an eerie, otherworldly light.
And there, standing on the platform, was Claire.
Her figure was bathed in the soft glow of the platform, and her eyes were wide with confusion and fear. She looked disoriented, as though she didn't fully understand where she was or how she had gotten there.
"Claire!" Evelyn shouted, running toward her.
Claire turned at the sound of Evelyn's voice, her expression filled with relief. "Evelyn… Marcus… I don't know what happened. One moment, I was with you, and the next… I was here."
"We're going to get you out of here," Marcus said, his voice filled with determination as he reached the platform. "But first, we need to figure out what this place is."
Claire nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the platform beneath her feet. "I don't think I was pulled here by accident," she said quietly. "There's something about this city… it feels like it's alive. Like it's trying to communicate with me."
Evelyn's brow furrowed as she looked around the courtyard. The city was ancient, forgotten, but there was a strange energy pulsing through it, as though the civilization that had once lived here had left something behind—something tied to The Source.
"We need to be careful," Evelyn warned. "This city could be connected to The Source in ways we don't understand. If the Order finds out about this place…"
Marcus shook his head. "We won't let them. But we need answers. This city could hold the key to stopping the Order once and for all."
As they stood on the platform, the ground beneath them began to tremble, and the shimmering light grew brighter. The carvings on the stone walls seemed to shift and change, forming new patterns and symbols that pulsed with energy.
"What's happening?" Claire asked, her voice filled with fear.
Before Evelyn could respond, a voice echoed through the courtyard—a deep, resonant voice that seemed to come from the very stones themselves.
"You have come to the city of the Forgotten," the voice said, its tone ancient and powerful. "This is a place of memory, a place of reckoning. The power you seek is beyond your understanding."
Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as she realized what was happening. The city wasn't just a ruin—it was alive, in some strange, magical way. The civilization that had once thrived here had left behind more than just stone and carvings. They had left behind their essence, their knowledge, and their connection to The Source.
"What do you want?" Marcus called out, his voice echoing through the empty streets.
The voice responded, its tone solemn. "The Source is not meant to be controlled. Those who seek to wield its power will be consumed by it. The civilization that once stood here fell because they sought to harness that which cannot be harnessed."
Evelyn's mind raced as she pieced together the meaning behind the voice's words. The Lost City had been destroyed by its own ambition—by its attempt to control The Source. And now, the Arcane Order was on the same path, seeking to unlock a power they couldn't fully understand.
"We don't want to control The Source," Evelyn said, her voice steady. "We want to stop those who do. The Arcane Order is trying to unlock it, and if they succeed, it will destroy everything."
The voice fell silent for a moment, and then it spoke again, this time softer, more contemplative. "You carry the weight of ancient decisions. The path you walk is fraught with danger, but there may yet be hope. The knowledge you seek lies within these ruins. But be warned—once you learn the truth, there is no turning back."
Evelyn glanced at Marcus and Claire, her heart heavy with the gravity of the situation. They had come so far, faced so many dangers, and now they stood on the precipice of understanding. But the answers they sought could change everything.
"We're ready," Evelyn said quietly. "We'll face whatever comes next."
The light around them pulsed one last time, and the carvings on the walls shifted once more, revealing a hidden doorway at the far end of the courtyard. Beyond it, the path to the heart of the Lost City—and the truth—awaited them.
With a deep breath, Evelyn, Marcus, and Claire stepped forward, ready to uncover the forgotten secrets of the ancient civilization and, with it, the key to stopping the Arcane Order.