Above the altar, three vortexes of light formed, each very different from the other.
The first was a writhing mass of shadow, black tendrils curling like smoke, edged with a faint crimson glow.
The second was a void of deep purple, flecked with stars, its edges crackling with unstable energy.
The third was a radiant orb of gold and white, pulsing with warmth, its light so pure it seemed to burn away the shadows. The vortexes spun faster, their energies clashing, sending shockwaves through the hall that rattled the chandeliers and cracked a mosaic tile beneath Arkanos's boots.
Suddenly, the vortexes collapsed inward, each converging on the altar with a final, blinding flash. The light vanished, leaving a heavy silence, the air crackling with residual energy. Three figures stood where the vortexes had been, their presence filling the hall with an almost tangible weight.
