Aelric held the pendant tightly in his hand, the faint pulse of dark energy radiating from it unsettling. Around him, Lyra and Seraphina exchanged grim looks, their expressions mirroring his unease. The council room was unusually silent, every leader present weighed down by the implications of the discovery.
"It's not just a trinket," Lyra said, her voice steady but filled with tension. She leaned closer to examine the intricate carvings on the pendant. "These symbols—they're more than decoration. They're conduits for dark magic, specifically designed to spread corruption."
"Which means someone here has been actively working against us," Seraphina said, her tone edged with frustration. She began pacing, her boots clicking sharply against the stone floor. "The darkness isn't just a remnant of the Shadow King's power. It's being nurtured."
Aelric set the pendant down on the table, his brows furrowed. "Someone in Elanor is helping it grow. But why? What could they possibly gain from betraying their own people?"
"Fear is a powerful weapon," Lyra replied, folding her arms. "The darkness feeds on it, and some people believe that aligning with it will give them control—or at least protection. They're wrong, of course, but fear clouds judgment."
Seraphina stopped pacing, her jaw tightening. "So we're not just fighting a faceless enemy. We're fighting one of our own. Someone who knows this city, its defenses, its people."
Aelric nodded, his grip on the table tightening. "Which makes them even more dangerous. They could strike at any time, from anywhere."
The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of their situation settled over them. Finally, Aelric straightened and looked at his companions. "We need to find out who it is, and fast. If the darkness takes hold here, it could undo everything we've fought for."
Lyra stepped forward, her expression determined. "I can question the mages and soldiers who've had access to the gates. If someone's been tampering with magic, they would've needed time and space to work."
"I'll talk to the councilors," Seraphina said. "They're not above suspicion, and I'm not above asking uncomfortable questions."
"And I'll speak with the villagers," Aelric added. "They've seen things we might overlook. If there's a pattern, they might be the ones to notice."
Seraphina gave him a sharp look. "Be careful, Aelric. Whoever this traitor is, they've already proven they're willing to use dark magic. Don't give them a chance to target you."
"I won't," he promised, though the weight of her warning lingered in his chest.
As they left the council chamber, Aelric couldn't help but glance back at the pendant on the table. Its faint, eerie glow seemed to mock him, a reminder that the battle for Eldoria was far from over.