As they stood on the platform, the carvings on the walls seemed to shimmer with a strange, ethereal light, as though the ancient magic that had once filled this chamber was slowly awakening. The air grew heavier, and Evelyn could feel the pull of The Source growing stronger, like an invisible force drawing them toward the heart of the ritual.
"We need to figure out how this works," Claire said, her voice filled with determination. "If we can understand the ritual, we might be able to stop the Order from using The Source."
Evelyn's mind raced as she considered their options. The ceremony depicted on the walls was ancient, and the exact details of the ritual were unclear. But one thing was certain: the sacrifice was central to the process. The figures on the walls were shown offering something to The Source—something that allowed them to access its power.
But what could they offer? What could they sacrifice to gain control of the energy that had once destroyed an entire civilization?
Marcus stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the shimmering liquid in the bowl. "We have to be careful," he said again, though his voice was filled with uncertainty. "If we activate this ritual without understanding it, we could unleash something we can't control."
Evelyn knew he was right, but there was something about the liquid—something that called to her, beckoning her to reach out, to touch it. The energy radiating from the bowl was like nothing she had ever felt before. It was powerful, yes, but it was also… familiar.
Without thinking, Evelyn reached out and dipped her fingers into the liquid. It was warm, almost comforting, and the moment her skin touched it, she felt a surge of energy rush through her, filling her with a sense of clarity and purpose.
"Evelyn, what are you doing?" Marcus asked, his voice filled with alarm.
But Evelyn didn't answer. She couldn't. The moment her fingers touched the liquid, her mind was flooded with images—flashes of the past, of the civilization that had once thrived here, of the rituals they had performed, and of the sacrifices they had made.
She saw the ancient priests, their faces shrouded in shadow, standing around the platform, chanting in a language that was both foreign and familiar. She saw the glowing light of The Source hovering above them, and she saw the figure on the platform—a young woman, dressed in ceremonial robes, her face pale but determined.
Evelyn's heart raced as she realized what she was seeing. The woman was the sacrifice. She had offered herself to The Source in exchange for power, and the civilization had believed that by doing so, they could control the energy of The Source.
But they had been wrong.
The moment the woman had made the sacrifice, the energy of The Source had consumed her. It had overwhelmed her, destroyed her, and in the process, it had destroyed the entire city. The civilization had been wiped out, not because they had failed to control The Source, but because they had misunderstood its nature.
The Source wasn't something that could be controlled. It was a force of creation and destruction, and those who sought to harness its power would be consumed by it.
Evelyn gasped, pulling her hand from the liquid as the vision faded. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her body trembled with the weight of what she had just seen.
"We can't use this," Evelyn said, her voice shaking. "The sacrifice—it doesn't give you power. It destroys you. That's what happened to the Lost City. They thought they could control The Source, but they couldn't. It consumed them."
Marcus's face paled as he processed her words. "Then what do we do? The Order is still out there, and they're trying to do the same thing."
Evelyn's mind raced as she considered their options. The ritual wasn't the answer. It had never been the answer. But the knowledge they had gained here—the truth about The Source—was the key to stopping the Arcane Order.
"We have to stop them," Evelyn said, her voice filled with determination. "We have to make sure they don't repeat the mistakes of the past. They think they can control The Source, but they can't. No one can."
Claire stepped forward, her expression filled with resolve. "Then we'll stop them. We'll take what we've learned here, and we'll use it to end the Order's plans once and for all."
Evelyn nodded, though her heart was heavy with the weight of the task ahead. They had uncovered the truth about The Source, but now they had to face the Arcane Order—and stop them from unleashing a power that could destroy everything.
As they left the chamber and made their way back through the ruins of the Lost City, Evelyn couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. The Arcane Order was powerful, and their ambition knew no bounds. But they had something the Order didn't: the truth.
And they would use it to save the world.