The air inside the chamber crackled with a charged energy, the aftermath of the ritual still lingering in the air like an unspoken warning. Lin Xuan stood at the altar, his hand still resting on the Fragment of Echoes, its faint glow now dimmed but pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to echo within his very soul. The Ashen Sage watched him, their expression unreadable, as though they were measuring every flicker of Lin Xuan's aura.
Yu Mei and Xu Yan stood nearby, their eyes darting between Lin Xuan and the sage, sensing the heavy atmosphere but unsure of its meaning. The power that had surged through the room seemed to have left them all with a heightened sense of awareness—an awareness that something more dangerous, more elusive, was now in play.
Lin Xuan slowly withdrew his hand from the altar, his thoughts still swirling from the brief vision that had flashed before his eyes. The fragment, once just a mysterious object of immense power, now felt like a key—one that could unlock doors to untold secrets. But it was clear that the price for those secrets would not be light.
The Ashen Sage spoke once more, their voice softer, almost thoughtful. "The Fragment of Echoes is not something to be trifled with. It does not just reveal the past—it distorts the present. And it will show you futures that may never come to pass."
Lin Xuan's gaze narrowed. "What do you mean?"
The sage's lips curled in a knowing smile, but there was no warmth in it. "The visions it grants are deceptive. They lure you with possibilities, futures filled with power, glory... and destruction. You must tread carefully, or you will be swallowed whole by the shadows they cast."
Yu Mei stepped forward, her brow furrowed with concern. "Then why should we continue this path, if it's so dangerous? We have no idea what we're dealing with."
Lin Xuan turned toward her, his expression steady but his mind deep in thought. "Because we don't have a choice. The Council will stop at nothing to take this from us. And I—" He paused, his gaze hardening. "I cannot afford to be weak."
Xu Yan clenched his fists, his voice low but resolute. "So, we go forward, no matter what. But I won't pretend I'm not worried. You've seen what the Council is capable of. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
The Ashen Sage nodded slowly, as if weighing their words. "Indeed. You are wise to be cautious. But readiness is more than just physical strength. The power that lies in the fragment is not only of the body—it is of the mind and soul as well."
Lin Xuan felt a chill creep down his spine. "And what happens if we're not ready?"
The sage's voice darkened. "The fragment will consume you. It will twist your desires, amplify your fears, and bind you to the very forces you seek to control. It will make you its slave."
There was a long silence as the weight of the sage's words settled over them. Lin Xuan's mind raced as he tried to piece together the puzzle that had been laid before him. The fragment was not just a weapon—it was a test. A test of character, of willpower, of resolve. It would not bend to him. He would have to bend to it.
The Ashen Sage stepped closer, their cloak trailing behind them like a shadow. "There is a way to unlock the true potential of the fragment—but it requires a sacrifice. A sacrifice that may change the very core of who you are."
Lin Xuan looked at the sage, his heart heavy with the weight of their words. "What kind of sacrifice?"
The sage didn't answer immediately. Instead, they turned and gestured toward a wall at the far end of the chamber. Lin Xuan's eyes followed the movement, and as the sage's fingers brushed against the stone, it began to glow, revealing a hidden door.
"I will show you," the sage said, "but you must decide for yourself if it is worth the cost."
The door slid open, revealing a vast chamber bathed in an eerie, unnatural light. The air within was thick, pulsing with an energy that felt like it was alive. In the center of the room stood an altar, much like the one they had just left, but this one was surrounded by intricate, glowing runes—symbols that seemed to shift and change as Lin Xuan's eyes moved over them.
"To unlock the true power of the fragment," the Ashen Sage continued, "you must offer a part of yourself—your very essence. You will bind yourself to the fragment, but it will also bind you to the forces that created it. Your soul will be intertwined with its power. And when the time comes, you will no longer be your own."
Lin Xuan stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the altar. "What exactly will happen to me if I do this?"
The sage's eyes flickered with something akin to pity, but it was gone before Lin Xuan could discern its true meaning. "You will become a vessel for the fragment's power. You will wield its strength, but you will also carry its burden. Your thoughts, your desires, your very soul will be influenced by it. It will guide you—perhaps even control you—but in exchange, you will gain power unlike anything you've ever known."
Yu Mei stepped forward, her voice filled with concern. "Isn't that too dangerous? To give up control of your soul?"
Lin Xuan turned to her, his eyes softening slightly. "Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices to protect those we love. I've already made my choice."
Xu Yan clenched his jaw, his eyes filled with a mixture of frustration and concern. "You're asking for too much, Lin Xuan. This is a gamble, and the stakes are higher than you realize."
Lin Xuan met his gaze, his expression unwavering. "I don't have time for second-guessing. The Council is already moving against us, and the only way to survive is to embrace the power we've been given."
The Ashen Sage watched the exchange with a quiet intensity, as if savoring the moment. "Very well. The decision is yours. But remember, once the bond is made, there is no turning back."
Lin Xuan turned back to the altar, his hand gripping the fragment once more. The glow within it pulsed brighter, as though urging him forward. With a steady breath, he stepped toward the altar, his mind set.
"Let it be done," he said.
As Lin Xuan placed the fragment on the altar, the room seemed to shift, the air thickening with a strange pressure. A wave of energy surged from the altar, engulfing him in a torrent of light and darkness. His body jerked, his mind flooded with visions of distant worlds, shadowy figures, and incomprehensible power. And through it all, one thought echoed in his mind:
This is only the beginning.
The shadow's grasp had tightened around him. There was no turning back.