Golden odyssey

Light engulfed everything, turning every corner of the room into a sea of blinding radiance. The floor vibrated beneath their feet, pulsing to the rhythm of a heartbeat, while the air, thick and heavy, carried an eerie warmth—almost suffocating.

Eryndal closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the pressure rise. Every fiber of his being was tense, waiting for the fateful moment. He was no longer in control of his own breathing. The shadow of the creature hovered around him, and he knew the time he had left to choose was counted in seconds. Fate waited for no one.

— Make your choice, the creature said in a low, almost whispered voice, yet chillingly clear. The price is that of the soul or that of life. He who spills his blood within this circle shall see his power grow. But he who loses his heart… shall see all he has loved turn to ashes.

A shiver ran through Eryndal at these words. The heart… He knew what it meant. He knew this sacrifice was not merely physical. It was a choice that reached deep into the soul, beyond flesh. It was not just the life of a loved one that could be lost but everything that made him who he was.

Alessia, standing by his side, slowly turned toward him. Her eyes glowed with a dark light, yet her face remained impassive.

— Eryndal… what are you going to do? she asked, her voice trembling. If this creature is right… If we really have to choose… What is the price of this power?

Alessia's words echoed in his mind, but there was no easy answer. How could he choose? How could he sacrifice something so precious without knowing if it was worth it?

— This is not a choice one makes for oneself, Elion replied, his voice gentle but firm. It is a choice made for the future. Perhaps even for all of humanity.

Eryndal turned his head toward the silver-haired mage, searching his eyes for understanding.

— And you, Elion? What sacrifice are you willing to make?

The mage did not answer immediately. His eyes shone with a deep light, as if he were seeing something beyond the present moment, something the others could not perceive. Then, at last, he spoke in a calm, almost serene voice.

— Sacrifice is not merely loss, Eryndal. It is an exchange. Sometimes, we must lose something in order to move forward. It is the only way to break the cycle of fate.

Darek, who had remained silent until then, stepped forward, his gaze as hard as steel.

— If I must sacrifice my life, so be it, he said in a rough voice. But I will not abandon my comrades. We have been through too much together not to see this through to the end.

Alessia turned to him, a sad smile on her lips.

— And if we must sacrifice something else? she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. What will happen to those who can never return?

A heavy silence fell upon them. The creature's shadow crept closer, merging into the circle like a rising tide.

— Sacrifice is a strange thing, the creature explained, its voice resonating through the room like an ancient melody. Sometimes, it is not just about what you lose. Sometimes, it is about what you become.

Eryndal felt a chill run through him. He closed his eyes, focusing on the symbol engraved on his palm. He could feel the heat emanating from it, raw energy pulsing like a heartbeat in his hand. He knew that this power, this knowledge he sought, had already changed him. But how far would it go?

There was no turning back. The path he had chosen—the path of truth, of knowledge—had led him here. And now, he had to face this choice. A choice with no clear outcome.

— There is only one way to know what the cost truly is… he murmured.

He lifted his gaze to the creature. The silence grew heavier, like an invisible pressure compressing the air around them. Every moment stretched, each second feeling like an eternity.

— I choose, he finally said, his voice clear and resolute. I choose to pay the price, whatever it may be. To understand, to know, to save what can still be saved. But I will not do it alone. We are all in this sacrifice, together.

The creature straightened, its eyes glinting with a strange light. A mysterious smile formed on what seemed to be its face, and the light in the room grew brighter, more intense.

— Very well, it said simply. The choice has been made. The sacrifice begins.

At the center of the circle, a blinding burst of light erupted, consuming everything in its wake. Eryndal closed his eyes, feeling the heat of the light, the weight of the decision, the burden of the fate he had just accepted.

Then, everything turned to darkness.