0282 -
The mountain fell silent.
For a moment, none of them moved, their breath coming in ragged gasps. The path ahead was clear, the mountain's final challenge overcome. The summit was now within their reach.
"We did it," Darian said, his voice heavy with relief.
Wei Lin stood slowly, the fragments still glowing faintly in her hands. "It's not over yet," she reminded them, her gaze fixed on the path that led to the peak. "The balance is still out of reach. But we're close."
With the final trial of the mountain behind them, Wei Lin and her companions began the last leg of their ascent. The night sky stretched out above them, a vast expanse of stars guiding their way. The summit, and the balance they sought, was only a short distance away. But even as they climbed, they knew that the greatest challenge was still to come. The balance was within their grasp, but it would require every ounce of their strength, wisdom, and unity to achieve.