hryn Maltheos stood near the pedestal, his dark eyes gleaming with a dangerous mix of ambition and cru

pite the tension, "you can't take the Heart

e Heart's power is too great to be left in the hands of those who would

ective. "You're wrong, Zephryn. The Heart's power is meant

But your idealism will do little to save you now. The

bathed in a blinding light. The force of the light pushed Caelan and Elira back, and when it subsided, Zep

Heart," Caelan said, his voice filled with urgency. "If Zephryn

have to find a way to breach the barrier. There must be a

the walls. The runes seemed to glow faintly in the presence of the Hea

to the runes. "If I can decipher them, we

for any further disturbances. Elira's knowledge of ancient magic and her intuition gui

his one indicates a counter-spell. It should neutralize the barrier

expression resolute

gy of the runes. The barrier around the Heart of Eternis shimmered and flickered as the counter-spell to

nged with relief. "Now, we need to sec

r. "Wait. We can't just take it and leave. The Heart has a

ghtful. "You're right. But what's the pla

need to find a safe place for it-somewhere Zephryn can't

"Then we should return to the palace and regroup. There

ahead uncertain but filled with a renewed sense of purpose. The journey to protect the Heart and thw