hoes of the city's once-vibrant past. Broken fountains, cracked mosaics, and toppled spires told stories of

the weight she now bore. She cast a glance at Malrik, who moved with practiced

a divine relic, running headfirst into trials that could

"You have a lot of opinio

nto," he said with a smirk. "You've got the look of someone w

I didn't ask for your help, Malrik. If you're no

lira. You think I don't know what's at stake? I've seen what happens when people

d and resumed walking. "What do you know abo

the truth you want. The one the priests tell you, or the one bu

buried one," Ka

their own. The Betrayer's act shattered the balance of their power, and in their weakened s

alf?" Kaelira asked

ered in fragments. And those fragments can corrupt anyone who stumbles upon them. That

herself. "And the trial

ower in relics like the orb you're carrying. They created the trials as a

if I

e gods," he said simply. "And

sts, her resolve harden

en scarred by whatever force had destroyed Sahraketh. The ground was uneven, cracked in place

mple. Its walls were adorned with faded carvings depicting scenes of worship, war, and betray

the monolith. The runes seemed to shift and writh

t," she sa

nd resting on one of his knives. "Be carefu

g. She reached out and touched the mono

scent of flowers and the sound of birdsong. She stood in a lush,

he desolation she had just left behind. But Kaelir

oice called, s

e. It was difficult to make out their features, but they rad

a called back, her vo

zon. Kaelira followed their gesture, her gaze landing on a towering structure

rkened. The air grew cold, and the sound of birdsong was replaced by a l

this time urgent. "Find the spire,

he shadows surged toward he

edges of the monolith. She was back in the pla

" Malrik asked,

r voice shaky. "A spire. And someon

"A spire? Did

ad. "No. But I think

lared brightly, and a beam of light shot skywa

ination," Kaelira sai

dle of nowhere, probably guarded by things w

a small smile. "You can

nned. "Not

s glow. The journey was far from over, and the trials yet to come would deman