The altar loomed before them, ancient and foreboding. It was a massive stone slab carved with runes that seemed to pulse faintly in rhythm with the Tear in Kate's hand. The energy emanating from it was palpable, making the air around them hum with power.
Brison scanned the area, his instincts on high alert. Though the shadows were gone for now, he couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them.
"Do you feel that?" Kate asked, her voice trembling.
"Yeah," Brison replied, his hand tightening on the hilt of his knife. "It's like the air's alive."
Kate stepped closer to the altar, her heart pounding in her chest. The Tear glowed brighter with each step, almost as if it were eager to reunite with the structure. She turned to Brison, her eyes wide with uncertainty.
"What happens now?" she asked.
Brison shook his head. "I don't know. The stories only said the Tear was the key to defeating the darkness. But no one ever explained how."
Kate glanced down at the shard in her hand. Its light was warm and inviting, but there was something deeper beneath it—a power that felt ancient and overwhelming.
"Maybe…" she began, hesitating. "Maybe we have to put it in the altar. Complete it somehow."
Brison frowned, stepping closer to her. "And what if that's what the shadows want? What if this is a trap?"
Kate hesitated, doubt creeping in. But then she looked at Brison, the way his eyes held both fear and unwavering trust in her. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"I don't think it's a trap," she said. "The Tear… it feels like it's trying to guide me. Like it wants to be here."
Brison studied her for a moment before nodding. "Okay. But I'm not letting you do this alone."
Kate smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Together, they approached the altar. As Kate raised the Tear, the runes on the stone began to glow brighter, their light spreading across the surface like liquid fire. The hum in the air grew louder, vibrating through their bones.
"Here goes nothing," Kate whispered, placing the Tear into a small, circular depression in the center of the altar.
The moment the shard clicked into place, the ground beneath them trembled. A blinding light erupted from the altar, shooting into the sky like a beacon. Kate and Brison shielded their eyes, the force of the energy pushing them back.
When the light finally dimmed, the altar was transformed. The runes now glowed steadily, their light weaving into intricate patterns that stretched out into the snow around them.
"What did we just do?" Brison asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Kate could answer, a voice filled the air—deep, resonant, and echoing as if it came from the mountain itself.
"You have awakened the Altar of Truth."
The voice made Kate's blood run cold. She turned to Brison, but he looked just as startled as she felt.
"Who's there?" Brison demanded, his knife drawn.
"I am the guardian of this place," the voice replied. "And you, chosen ones, have taken the first step toward reclaiming balance. But your journey is far from over."
Kate stepped forward, her hands clenched at her sides. "We need to stop the shadows. They're destroying everything."
"The shadows are but a reflection of the darkness within all living things," the voice said. "To defeat them, you must face the truth of who you are."
Kate and Brison exchanged a glance.
"Face the truth?" Brison asked, his brow furrowed. "What does that mean?"
The ground trembled again, and the runes on the altar shifted, forming a swirling portal of light in its center.
"Enter," the voice commanded. "Only by confronting your deepest fears and truths will you find the power to vanquish the shadows."
Kate's heart pounded as she stared at the portal. The swirling light seemed to call to her, but the thought of stepping into it filled her with dread.
"Kate," Brison said, his voice soft but firm. "We don't have to do this if you're not ready."
She turned to him, her eyes glistening with determination. "I am ready. But you…" She hesitated, biting her lip. "Brison, there's something I haven't told you."
His expression softened. "What is it?"
Kate took a deep breath, her hands trembling. "I'm… I'm a werewolf," she admitted, her voice barely audible.
Brison blinked, momentarily stunned. But instead of pulling away, he reached out and placed a hand on her cheek.
"So am I," he said quietly.
Kate's eyes widened. "You… you are?"
He nodded, his gaze steady. "I've known for a while. I just didn't know how to tell you. I was afraid it would change how you saw me."
Kate let out a shaky laugh, relief flooding through her. "I felt the same way."
Brison smiled, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Then I guess we've been keeping the same secret."
Their shared confession seemed to strengthen their bond, a tangible warmth passing between them.
"Whatever's in that portal," Brison said, his voice resolute, "we face it together."
Kate nodded, her fear replaced by determination. Hand in hand, they stepped into the portal, the light swallowing them whole.