Ciara hesitated, understanding the weight of the sacrifice. Binding the Heartstone with her blood meant her life force would fuel it, linking her own strength to its power. If she fell, the Heartstone would be lost, but if she succeeded, it would become a weapon unlike any other—a symbol of her own will to protect those she loved.
"Yes," she whispered, determination filling her voice. "I will bind it with my blood."
She took her dagger, making a small cut on her palm and letting her blood drip onto the Heartstone. The gem pulsed, absorbing her essence, glowing brighter as it sealed their bond.
As the ritual concluded, Ciara felt the Heartstone's energy settle within her. She was now bound to it, her strength woven into its core. She knew that with the Heartstone, the Amulet of Elyndor, and the Shadow Veil, she now had everything she needed to face Kael.
