A Sacrifice of Choice

The weight of the decision loomed over me, heavy and suffocating. I couldn't focus, couldn't breathe. The air in the sanctuary felt thick, almost oppressive, as if it were pressing down on my chest with every passing second. The moment Zara had deciphered the truth about the sacrifice, everything had shifted. No longer was this just about stopping the dark force closing in on us—it was about deciding who, if anyone, would make the ultimate sacrifice.

I paced back and forth in the dimly lit chamber, unable to shake the image of that final battle between the ancient sorcerers and the shadowy entity. Their desperate faces haunted me, reminding me of the price they paid. They had failed. Would we?

The others stood in a rough circle, waiting for me to speak, to guide them. But for the first time since this journey began, I didn't know what to say.