Lyra had barely taken a breath after the surge of the Soulstone's energy when she realized she had made a grave mistake.
The power coursing through her was intoxicating—blinding. It was as though the ancient archmage's spirit had awakened within her, and she could feel every whisper of his wisdom, every shudder of his regrets. But there was a price to pay for such a rush of power.
The earth beneath her cracked, as though the very ground was rejecting her newfound strength. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her breath came in sharp, shallow gasps.
It's too much, she thought, her hands trembling as the Soulstone's glow flickered. I can't control it.
Behind her, the sound of boots crunching on gravel reminded her of the presence she'd tried to ignore—Gorrath, the Terrible, was close. His brutal footsteps were unmistakable.
But in that moment, it wasn't the enforcer she feared. It was the magic within her that threatened to consume her. Her vision blurred as strange symbols began to twist on the edge of her mind, fragments of an ancient language that burned her very soul.
Then, a voice—a familiar one—pierced through the chaos.
"Lyra, listen to me!"
Master Varek's words cut through the storm inside her, steady and commanding. "You must anchor yourself. Focus! The stone seeks to consume you, to bend you to its will. You must take control, or it will take you."
Lyra stumbled, trying to steady herself. "I—I can't," she gasped, her voice strained with the weight of the power thrumming through her. "It's too much."
"You are stronger than this," Varek urged, though his voice was now tinged with an unfamiliar edge of urgency. "You're ready, but there's something I didn't tell you. Something I should have long ago."
For the first time, Lyra felt a flicker of doubt, like a crack forming in the foundation of everything she thought she knew. "What do you mean?"
Varek's voice grew darker. "The Soulstone—it was never meant to be wielded by one person alone. It was designed to contain the soul of a god—Malakar's former master. And the price for such power? It's your soul, Lyra."
Lyra's knees buckled. Her soul?
Before she could speak, she heard Gorrath's voice from the shadows.
"Your mentor is lying to you, little mage. The stone will never save you. It will only destroy you."
With her heart racing, Lyra staggered to her feet, summoning what strength she had left. She couldn't trust Varek anymore—or could she? The magic pulsed again, louder than before, urging her to make a choice.