The landscape shifted as the group journeyed deeper into the Forgotten Vale. The rolling grasslands gave way to jagged cliffs and dense, ancient forests. The air grew heavy with mist, and an eerie silence blanketed the area, broken only by the distant calls of unseen creatures.
Amara clutched her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the chill of the valley seeping into her bones. "This place feels… wrong," she muttered.
"It is not wrong," Nerys corrected, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. "It is untouched. The Vale has been shielded from mortal influence for centuries."
"And from the shadows?" Amara asked.
"For now," Varun replied, his voice low and cautious. "But even this sacred place will not remain untouched forever."
As they descended into the heart of the Vale, Amara noticed carvings etched into the stone walls of the cliffs—depictions of massive beasts, battles between gods, and a figure towering over them all, wielding a hammer that seemed to split the earth.
"That's Tharos, isn't it?" Amara asked, pointing to the figure.
Solon nodded, his golden aura flickering faintly in the dim light. "Tharos, the Earthwarden. He was the first to turn against Nyxaris during the Primordial War. His strength is unparalleled, but he chose to retreat from the world after the Fall of the Pantheon."
Varun grunted. "Retreat is a kind word. He buried himself in the earth and refused to rise, even as the world crumbled."
"Why?" Amara asked, frowning.
"Tharos believes balance comes from stillness," Nerys explained. "To him, the world's chaos was punishment for the gods' hubris. He vowed not to act until the scales tipped too far."
Amara shook her head. "Well, if Nyxaris isn't tipping the scales, I don't know what is."
They reached a clearing where massive stone pillars rose from the ground, their surfaces covered in ancient runes glowing faintly with emerald light. At the center of the clearing stood a colossal statue of Tharos, his hammer raised as if ready to strike.
"This is it," Solon said, his voice reverent. "The Shrine of the Earthwarden."
Amara stepped closer, her eyes tracing the intricate carvings on the statue. "So… how do we wake him up?"
Nerys walked to the base of the statue and placed her hand on the stone. Her expression darkened. "The Vale's magic is strong, but Tharos's slumber is deeper than I expected. He has sealed himself completely."
Varun's eyes narrowed. "Then we break the seal."
"It's not that simple," Nerys said sharply. "The seal is woven with the earth's own energy. Forcing it open could destabilize the entire Vale."
"Then we do it carefully," Amara interjected. "There has to be a way."
Solon knelt by the statue, his hand brushing the runes. "There is. Tharos's seal responds to balance. If we can channel opposing forces—light and shadow, storm and stillness—it may be enough to wake him without breaking the Vale."
Amara nodded. "So, teamwork again. Great."
The group took their positions around the statue. Solon stood at the eastern pillar, his faint light illuminating the runes. Nerys moved to the western pillar, her water weaving through the air like flowing silk. Varun took the northern pillar, his storm crackling with restrained power. Amara stood at the southern pillar, her heart pounding as she prepared to do her part.
"Ready?" Solon called.
Amara nodded. "Let's do this."
Solon began, his light flowing into the runes and spreading across the statue. Nerys followed, her water coiling around the pillars and feeding into the energy. Varun raised his hands, summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the ground, the shockwave rippling outward.
The runes began to glow brighter, and the ground trembled. Amara gritted her teeth as the energy swirled around her, pulling her into the flow. She reached into her satchel and pulled out the shard of mirrored glass, holding it up to reflect Solon's light toward the center of the statue.
The glow intensified, and a deep rumble echoed through the Vale. The statue's eyes began to flicker, and the runes pulsed with life.
"Almost there!" Solon shouted.
But before they could complete the ritual, the shadows attacked.
Dark tendrils emerged from the forest, slithering toward the shrine like living smoke. Amara turned just in time to see a massive shadow-beast lunge at her. She dove out of the way, the creature's claws raking the ground where she had stood.
"Shadows!" she yelled, scrambling to her feet.
Varun roared, unleashing a bolt of lightning that struck the beast, but more were already swarming the clearing. Nerys conjured a wave to push them back, and Solon summoned what little light he could to hold them at bay.
"We can't let them disrupt the ritual!" Solon shouted.
Amara looked at the statue, its light faltering as the shadows encroached. She clenched her fists and ran toward it, dodging tendrils of darkness.
"Keep them off me!" she yelled over her shoulder.
Varun and Nerys moved to intercept the shadow-beasts, while Solon focused his light on protecting Amara. She reached the base of the statue and climbed onto its pedestal, her hands trembling as she held the glass shard higher, angling it to catch the light.
"Come on," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Wake up, Tharos. We need you."
The light flared brighter, and the ground shook violently. Cracks appeared in the statue's surface, spreading like veins of molten rock. The shadows shrieked and recoiled as the energy surged.
With a deafening roar, the statue exploded in a burst of light and stone. A massive figure emerged from the rubble, his hammer slamming into the ground with enough force to send a shockwave through the Vale.
Tharos, the Earthwarden, had awakened.