The massive door creaked open, revealing a sight that stopped Valen and his companions in their tracks. The sanctuary's core was breathtaking—a colossal circular chamber bathed in a dim, golden light. Towering walls of ancient stone were inscribed with glowing runes, their faint hum resonating through the air. Suspended high above the center of the room were shards of crystal, orbiting a massive pulsing gem tethered by chains of pure energy.
"This is it," Seraphine murmured, her voice filled with awe. "The Heart of the Sanctuary."
Valen took a cautious step forward, the weight of the atmosphere pressing against him. The air felt alive, thrumming with power that made his skin tingle. The whispers of the entities, ever present since their descent into the sanctuary, grew louder here, an insistent, mocking chorus at the edge of his mind.
"Does anyone else feel like they're being watched?" Kael muttered, gripping his weapon tightly.
