The next morning, the study room buzzed with subdued energy as Elias, Marie, and Jonas prepared for the first leg of their journey. The air was thick with tension—Jonas still bristled from their previous argument while Marie carried the weight of her growing doubts. But Elias's determination burned brighter than ever, driving the team forward despite their reservations.
"We'll start with the Essence of Starlight," Elias said, spreading a map across the table. His finger landed on a mountain range in South America. "If my hunch is correct, it could be a rare form of quartz or crystal. Something tied to celestial events—meteorite impact sites, perhaps."
Jonas crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "And how exactly are we supposed to find a specific crystal in the middle of nowhere? Do you realize how many 'star-like' minerals there are?"
Marie glanced at the map, her brow furrowed. "There's a legend about crystals that form in places struck by meteors. Some ancient cultures believed they contained the essence of the heavens. If those stories are true, there's a chance we're looking for something real."
Jonas muttered under his breath but didn't argue further. The group packed their notes, leaving the library's dim confines for the open world, where their search for the ritual's components would truly begin.
The journey to South America was grueling, marked by long flights, endless drives, and sleepless nights spent poring over local folklore. Their destination was a remote mountain village nestled near an ancient meteorite crater. The villagers, wary of outsiders, greeted them with guarded expressions as they approached.
Elias explained their purpose carefully, omitting any mention of Malakarath. "We're looking for crystals that might have formed in the crater. Do you know where we can find them?"
An elderly man stepped forward, his eyes sharp despite his age. "You seek the Estrella Muerta—the Dead Star," he said, his voice low and steady. "But you won't find it. Many have tried, and none have returned."
Marie exchanged a glance with Elias. "Why not? What happens to them?"
The man shook his head. "The star protects its heart. It allows no one to take what belongs to the heavens."
Jonas scoffed. "Great. Another cryptic warning. What else is new?"
But the man's words stuck with them as they trekked toward the crater. The path was treacherous, and the closer they got, the more they felt an inexplicable pressure, as though the air was pushing them back. Shadows flickered at the edges of their vision, and Elias couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.
At the crater's edge, they found shards of a translucent crystal embedded in the rock. The shards shimmered faintly as if catching a light that didn't exist. Elias reached for one, but as his fingers brushed the surface, a sharp pain shot through his hand, and he pulled back with a gasp.
"It doesn't want to be taken," Marie murmured, her voice barely audible.
Elias gritted his teeth, ignoring the sting. "We don't have a choice."
With careful effort, they pried the shard free, wrapping it in cloth to carry back with them. But as they left the crater, the shadows seemed to follow, and the faint whispers of Malakarath's name echoed in the distance.
Their next destination was a remote region in the Middle East, where ancient texts spoke of a substance that bubbled from the ground like lifeblood. Elias believed it could be a rare form of naturally occurring oil, rich in iron and other elements that gave it a red hue.
The desert was unforgiving, the heat oppressive as they followed a guide through the arid landscape. The guide, a wiry man named Farid, was cautious, his gaze constantly scanning the horizon.
"This place is cursed," Farid said as they approached the site. "The ground here bleeds, and those who take from it pay the price."
Elias, undeterred, pressed him for more information. "What do you mean, 'pay the price'?"
Farid hesitated before answering. "They hear things. Voices in the wind, calling their names. Some say they see shadows in their dreams, figures that follow them wherever they go. It's better to leave it alone."
Despite the warning, the team pressed on. They reached a barren expanse of cracked earth where crimson liquid pools seeped through the ground. The sight was mesmerizing and unsettling, the liquid glistening like fresh blood under the harsh sun.
Elias crouched beside one of the pools, carefully collecting the substance in a glass vial. The air around them grew colder as he worked, and a faint hum vibrated through the ground.
"Hurry up," Jonas muttered, his eyes darting nervously. "I don't like this place."
As Elias secured the vial, a sudden wind whipped through the desert, carrying the faint, unmistakable sound of whispering. The group froze, their eyes scanning the empty landscape, but no one was there.
"Let's go," Marie said, her voice tight. "Now."
They left in haste, but the whispers followed them, growing louder as the sun dipped below the horizon.
The final component, the Heart of the Devoted, was the most elusive and the most troubling. The text described it as a living sacrifice, someone who had been touched by Malakarath's influence. The implications were clear, but none of them were willing to voice them aloud.
Instead, they searched for alternatives, combing through texts and consulting with historians specializing in ancient rituals. Their journey took them to Eastern Europe, where rumors of cults devoted to shadowy deities still lingered in the more remote regions.
In a small, crumbling village nestled deep in the Carpathian Mountains, they found a woman named Lenka who claimed to have knowledge of such rituals. Her home was filled with relics—bones carved with runes, jars of preserved herbs, and symbols painted on the walls in dark red.
"You seek the Heart," Lenka said, her voice raspy. "A piece of a soul given willingly. It must be pure, untainted by fear or doubt."
Elias's stomach churned. "What does that mean? How do we find it?"
Lenka studied him for a long moment, her eyes piercing. "The Heart must come from one who believes. One who understands. Only they can offer what is required."
Her words hung heavily in the air. The implication was clear, but Elias refused to entertain it. There had to be another way—something they hadn't discovered yet.
As they left Lenka's home, the shadows stretched longer and darker. Elias felt the weight of her words pressing down on him, but he pushed it aside. They had two of the three components. That was progress.
But the most challenging part was yet to come.