Rael approached the ruined tower with caution, each step bringing him closer to the dense aura of magic that seemed to seep from the very stones. The air around the structure felt heavy, as if weighed down by the passage of centuries, and the ground was choked with twisting roots and thick moss that clung to his boots as he walked. The warmth of the medallion in his hand pulsed rhythmically, its pull drawing him toward the entrance of the tower, where the remnants of an ancient wooden door lay shattered.
The golden-eyed woman moved beside him, her gaze fixed on the darkened archway that yawned before them. "Lyssa's magic is still strong here," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Be on your guard. If there are wards or traps, they may still be active."
Jarek, Liora, and Tomas had spread out behind them, weapons ready as they scanned the surrounding area for any sign of danger. The wraiths had not followed them into the valley, but that did little to calm Rael's nerves. The queen's power was not the only danger in these wilds, and the ruins had an air of ancient menace that set his instincts on edge.
Rael exchanged a glance with the golden-eyed woman, then took a step forward, crossing the threshold into the tower. The inside was dark and cool, with faint streams of light filtering through gaps in the crumbling walls. A spiral staircase wound up along the interior, its steps cracked and worn. The air was thick with dust and a lingering, almost metallic scent that made the hairs on the back of Rael's neck stand up.
"This place hasn't been touched in a long time," Liora remarked, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "But I can feel the magic here. It's... unsettled."
Rael gripped the medallion tightly, feeling it tug him forward, urging him deeper into the tower. "The source of Lyssa's magic is close," he said, his voice steady but laced with tension. "We should follow the pull of the medallion."
As they climbed the winding staircase, Rael noticed faint carvings etched into the walls—symbols and runes that seemed to glow faintly as he passed. He could not read the language, but the shapes were familiar, reminiscent of the markings he had seen on the queen's anchors. It sent a shiver through him to think that the same magic that bound so many souls was now guiding him deeper into this place.
The stairs ended in a small, circular chamber at the top of the tower, where the ceiling had collapsed, leaving the space open to the sky above. In the center of the room stood a stone pedestal, and atop it lay a cracked crystal orb, its surface marred by spider-web fractures. The orb pulsed faintly with a dark light, and Rael could feel the medallion grow hot in his hand as he approached.
"Lyssa's magic is sealed in this orb," the golden-eyed woman said, her gaze fixed on the crystal. "It must have been used to contain her power—or at least a fragment of it."
Rael reached out tentatively, his fingers hovering just above the surface of the orb. He could feel a thrumming energy radiating from it, a rhythm that matched the pulse of the medallion. "What do we do?" he asked, glancing at the woman.
"We need to awaken the magic within it," she replied. "But be careful—whatever is sealed inside may not be... entirely friendly."
Rael took a deep breath, then placed his hand on the orb. The moment his skin made contact with the crystal, a surge of energy shot through him, sharp and cold like a jolt of lightning. The fractures in the orb began to glow, the light spilling out in tendrils that snaked around his hand, winding up his arm.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, harsh and laced with desperation. "Who dares disturb my sanctuary?" The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, reverberating through the air and vibrating in Rael's skull.
Rael gritted his teeth, fighting against the pressure in his head. "Lyssa," he said aloud, hoping his voice carried the strength he needed. "We seek your aid against the queen."
The light within the orb flared, and the voice responded with a bitter laugh. "Aid against the queen? How quaint. I have no quarrel with you, child, but my war with the queen ended long ago. She made sure of that."
"Then help us finish what you started," the golden-eyed woman interjected, stepping closer to the orb. "You sought to break free of her control—so do we. We shattered the queen's anchors, but her power remains strong. We need what knowledge you have of the Abyssal Fane."
There was a pause, the light in the orb dimming slightly, as if Lyssa's voice was considering the request. "The Abyssal Fane…" the voice repeated, softer now, almost wistful. "It is a place of endless darkness, where the very essence of magic is raw and untamed. I drew from it to gain power over the queen's bindings, but the cost…" The voice faltered, then continued with a tone of bitterness. "The cost was too great. It consumed me."
Rael felt the cold tendrils tighten around his arm, and a sudden chill washed over him. "We don't want the Fane's power for ourselves," he said quickly. "We need to destroy it—cut the queen off from its magic forever."
The light within the orb pulsed once more, and for a moment, the voice seemed to grow distant, as though Lyssa was struggling to remember. "Destroy the Fane?" she said at last, the words laced with disbelief. "It cannot be destroyed—only contained. I tried… oh, how I tried…"
"There must be a way," the golden-eyed woman insisted, her voice urgent. "If you could contain its power once, then we can do it again. Tell us what you know."
The chamber grew colder, and Rael could feel the weight of Lyssa's presence pressing against his mind. "There is… a ritual," she said slowly, as if each word cost her great effort. "It requires a binding—a sacrifice—to seal the Fane. You must anchor the spell to a living soul, one that is willing to carry the burden of its magic."
Rael's blood ran cold. "A living soul? You mean someone has to… bind themselves to the Fane?"
"Yes," Lyssa replied, her voice carrying the weight of ancient sorrow. "To seal the Fane, one must offer their own life and magic to create a new anchor. It is the only way to close the rift and sever the queen's connection to it."
A tense silence settled over the chamber as the implications of Lyssa's words sank in. The cost of closing the Abyssal Fane was no ordinary price—it would demand the life and magic of one who was willing to sacrifice everything.
The golden-eyed woman's face was ashen. "There must be another way," she said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Lyssa's voice was calm, but resolute. "There is no other way. Magic has a price, and the Fane's magic is the most costly of all. The ritual is the only way to ensure the queen can never draw from its power again."
Rael's hand tightened on the orb, the warmth of the medallion still pulsing against his chest. He could feel the weight of the decision looming over him—a decision that could mean the end of the queen's reign, but also the end of his own life.
He looked to the golden-eyed woman, who met his gaze with a mixture of determination and fear. "We need to think about this," she said, her voice steadying. "This choice cannot be made lightly."
Jarek, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke. "If this is the only way, then we need to find someone willing to make the sacrifice," he said grimly. "But no one should be asked to do this."
Rael's mind raced, the weight of Lyssa's revelation pressing down on him like a leaden shroud. He had fought so hard to escape the queen's chains, to be free. Now, to destroy her power completely, he might have to bind himself to the very magic he had sought to break free from.
His jaw tightened, and his voice came out firm, though it trembled slightly. "If this is the price, then I'll be the one to pay it," he said. "I've fought the queen this far—I'll see it through to the end."
The golden-eyed woman's eyes widened, a flash of pain crossing her face. "Rael, no," she said, her voice almost pleading. "We can find another way—"
"There isn't another way," he interrupted, his tone resolute. "This has to end. I'm not going to let the queen keep destroying lives. If my sacrifice can seal the Fane and end her reign, then it's worth it."
The silence that followed was heavy, and the orb's light dimmed once more, as if acknowledging his resolve. "Then prepare yourself, Rael," Lyssa's voice echoed, her tone softer now, almost gentle. "The path ahead is perilous. But if you have the courage to face it, you may yet break the chains of fate."
The glow of the orb faded entirely, leaving the chamber in darkness. Rael felt the weight of his decision settle over him like a cloak, heavy and cold, but he did not waver.
He would see this through, no matter the cost.
For his freedom, for the lives the queen had taken, and for the world that lay beyond her shadow.
The end was drawing near, and Rael would be ready to face it.