The air was thick with oppressive darkness, and Kaelron's breaths came in ragged gasps as he stirred awake. The sharp, metallic tang of shadow-forged restraints cut into his wrists, their cold weight pinning him to a jagged stone altar. He tried to summon Ignis's strength, but his merging magic felt distant, suppressed by the malevolent energy coursing through the room.
The chamber around him was dimly lit by flickering violet flames that cast long, distorted shadows. Cultists moved silently, their robes trailing along the cold stone floor as they chanted in a guttural, ancient language. At the center of it all stood Veyrith, his imposing figure wreathed in a sinister aura.
"Awake at last, Catalyst," Veyrith said, his voice dripping with mockery as he approached. "You've proven... resilient. Admirable, even. But this is where your defiance ends."
Kaelron's glare was as sharp as his words. "You won't win, Veyrith. My companions—"
