As the dust settled, the colossal figure of Tharos loomed over the group. His towering frame was carved from the same stone as the mountains surrounding them, veins of glowing green energy pulsing beneath his rocky exterior. His eyes, twin orbs of molten emerald, scanned the clearing with a mix of confusion and suspicion.
The Earthwarden gripped his massive hammer, its head embedded with runes that thrummed with latent power. His deep voice reverberated like a landslide, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?"
Varun stepped forward, his storm crackling in the air. "It is I, Varun, Storm Lord of the Skies. We come seeking your aid, Earthwarden."
Tharos's glowing eyes narrowed. "Varun. The traitor of balance. You should not have come."
Varun's expression darkened, but before he could reply, Solon intervened. "Tharos, it is not only Varun who seeks you. I, too, have returned to call upon your strength."
Tharos turned his gaze to Solon, his expression softening slightly. "Solon, the Sun God. Your light fades, yet you persist. Why do you summon me after all these centuries?"
Amara hesitated, then stepped forward, her voice steady despite the weight of Tharos's presence. "Because Nyxaris is rising again. The shadows are spreading, and the world is falling into darkness. We need your help to stop it."
Tharos's gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, she felt as though the weight of the earth itself was pressing down on her. "A mortal speaks for the gods? How far they have fallen."
"She's not just a mortal," Nerys said sharply. "She has proven her worth, time and again. It is her courage that brought us here."
Tharos was silent, his massive form unmoving. Finally, he spoke, his voice heavy with skepticism. "And why should I rise to fight? The world has endured chaos and imbalance before. Perhaps it is time for the cycle to end."
Amara stepped closer, her fists clenched. "You can't mean that. You're the Earthwarden—protector of balance, right? If Nyxaris wins, there won't be any balance. Just eternal shadow."
Tharos regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. "You speak of balance, mortal, yet you do not understand it. To fight Nyxaris is to fight the cycle itself. What makes you think you can succeed where the gods failed?"
Amara met his gaze, her voice rising with conviction. "Because I don't have the luxury of failure. This isn't just about gods or balance or cycles. It's about people—about the lives that will be snuffed out if we don't stop Nyxaris." She stepped forward, her voice firm. "You said I don't understand balance? You're right. I don't. But I understand what's at stake. And I'm willing to fight for it, no matter what."
Tharos stared at her for a long moment, the green light in his eyes flickering. Then, to everyone's surprise, he laughed—a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the Vale.
"You are bold, mortal. Perhaps too bold for your own good." He straightened, his massive form casting a shadow over the group. "But I cannot deny your determination. Very well. I will hear your plea."
Solon stepped forward, his voice careful. "Tharos, we ask for your strength in the battle to come. The shadows are spreading faster than we can contain them. Without you, we will not stand a chance."
Tharos's expression darkened. "You ask much, Solon. But my power is not freely given. If I am to join this fight, you must prove that you understand the cost of balance."
Nerys frowned. "What do you mean?"
The Earthwarden raised his hammer, its runes glowing brighter. "The cycle of balance demands sacrifice. To restore harmony, something of equal value must be lost. If you are truly committed to this cause, then one among you must bear the burden."
Amara's heart sank. "What kind of burden?"
Tharos pointed his hammer at her. "You, mortal. You have bound yourself to this fight. To awaken my full power, you must anchor it. My strength will flow through you, but it will come at a price."
Amara swallowed hard. "What kind of price?"
Tharos's gaze was unyielding. "Your life will no longer be your own. My power will sustain you, but it will also consume you. When the fight is over, so too will be your time in this world."
The clearing fell silent as Tharos's words hung in the air. Solon and Nerys exchanged uneasy glances, while Varun's expression was unreadable.
"You can't expect her to agree to that," Nerys said, her voice sharp. "She's just a mortal."
"She is no ordinary mortal," Tharos replied. "She is the lynchpin of this effort. If she falters, all will be lost."
Amara took a shaky breath, her mind racing. The weight of the choice before her was overwhelming, but deep down, she knew there was only one answer.
"I'll do it," she said, her voice steady.
"Amara, no!" Solon stepped forward, his golden light flickering. "There must be another way."
"There isn't," Amara said firmly. "If this is what it takes to stop Nyxaris, then I'll do it. I didn't come this far just to back down now."
Tharos nodded, his expression grave. "Very well. Step forward, mortal, and accept the Earthwarden's blessing."
Amara approached the towering god, her heart pounding. Tharos raised his hammer, its runes blazing with emerald light, and brought it down gently onto the ground. A wave of energy surged through the clearing, wrapping around Amara like vines.
She gasped as the power flowed into her, grounding her to the earth and filling her with a strength she had never known. The price of this power echoed in her mind, but she pushed the thought aside.
When the light faded, Tharos lowered his hammer and turned to the others. "The Earthwarden stands with you. But be warned—this fight will test you all, and the cost will be great."
As the group prepared to leave the Vale, a chill swept through the air. The shadows that had fled during Tharos's awakening began to creep back, more numerous and more menacing than before.
"They're growing stronger," Solon said, his voice grim.
"They sense our strength and fear it," Tharos said, his hammer glowing faintly. "But fear alone will not stop them. We must move quickly."
Amara adjusted her satchel, the weight of her new power settling heavily on her shoulders. "Then let's not waste any more time."
With Tharos now among them, the group pressed onward, the shadow of Nyxaris looming ever closer.