The chamber fell into a tense, fragile silence as Valen stood before the obelisk, his hand hovering just above its surface. The runes glowed with an intensity that matched the storm of emotions swirling within him. Each symbol seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat, demanding a decision, a choice that would seal not just the academy's fate, but his own.
Behind him, his allies watched with bated breath, their expressions a blend of worry and determination. The oppressive energy in the room weighed heavily on them all, the whispering hum of the failsafe filling every corner like a living presence.
"You have to decide, Valen," Seraphine said softly, her voice cutting through the tension. "The failsafe won't wait forever. It's reacting to you—to the Void Essence. You're the only one who can activate it."
