ground beneath her feet no longer felt solid something was pulling her, dragging her into a vor

as it had begun,

-all of it was gone. Instead, she stood in an unfamiliar space, a realm that seemed both vast and suffocating. The ground was smooth like polished obsidian

she s

e veil embroidered with intricate golden patterns. She moved with an otherworldly grace, as thou

ardians of the Amani, the ancient protectors of the land

pulse of energy rippled thr

a's mind, resonating through her very bones. "You have come to claim the artifact

I've already given my blood

ugh Amina could not see her face,

"The artifact does not yield itself to those who simply seek

seen force pressing down on her, like

to face the dark

respond, the world

rial

as fa

th caught in her throat as the void consumed everything-

her feet touch

the world was different-desolate and scorched. The sky burned with hues of deep red and orange, flickering like f

was no

fting like living shadows. Their eyes glowed w

g, its form indistinct yet unmistakably human. When it spoke,

r people," the figure murmured.

othing that I do not choose. I seek only

more solid, more menacing. Some bore the remnants of armor, others the tattered robes of scholars. Their fa

them hissed. "The artifact

artifact was powerful, but had she been w

her shifted. The wasteland around her melted

anding in

ot as she re

ess. The fields, once lush and green, were now barren, the soil turn

ere su

n with hunger and despair. Some la

She knew this was not rea

t fel

in the village, the one who had always guided her people. But he was di

voice barely above a whisper. "You h

new. Friends. Family. Each of them lo

t of the choice pr

store the land. The crops would grow again

t wha

oomed behind

voice dripping with temptation. "

s curled i

ifact's full power. Sh

hat it had done to

-her mother's voi

ace, my child. Only wisdom can

apped open. The

o

med. She would not let

ay from the temptati

power," she said. "I will n

as if burned. The vision of

as g

idified once more. She was back in the strange, shimmering

ened, meeting

," the woman said. "But yo

the darkness within her, but she knew this was o

she had mad

ot be a paw

uld wi

d do so on h