The Path of Balance

: Into the W

he way, the glow from the Heartstone-now a living light within him-casting faint golden halos on the walls. Kael limped behin

h the mountain itself bent reality. The deeper they went, the stronger t

black as midnight, its surface unnaturally smooth. In its center rose a stone platform ba

slowly. "Lo

"Nothing about thi

ious step forward

ng stirred

eper B

oo fast and too large to be anything natur

reath. "Of course ther

lucent scales that shimmered like starlight, and eyes that burned with an eerie intelligence. Its

wor

unged at th

thin him and slamming it into the creature's flank. It re

rrier of light to block its next strike. Together, they fought in perfect sync-Kae

eature was

sphere above the platform. "You need t

ged another snapping jaw. Kael

creature thrashed and coiled, but Kael and Lys drew its att

. Visions burned behind his eyes-ancient wars, broken pact

nce wasn't just

s a p

Ch

cient Guardians ech

ance... but

would be weakened-but it would cost him his life. His essence would

ood trailing from his side. Lys was on her knees,

world needed him. But

a decision. Not to sacrifice hi

ew Gu

red his will into it. Not the an

ew

, into the lake, into the world beyond. The creature shrieked

is body glowed faintly, his eyes

im, gripping his side.

. "I knew you'd f

pulling them into a fierce em

the M

ready changing. Storms died. Crops once blighted began to reg

ias wa

ere his

t-the part where Elias found who he