pulse

The air seemed to pulse with tension, the world around us trembling as though caught in the throes of some unseen quake. Every breath I took felt like a battle in itself, the entity's malevolent energy pressing down with such force that it made every inhale feel like a challenge. I could feel the weight of its gaze on me, pulling at the deepest corners of my mind.

Leif and Zara stood their ground behind me, but I could sense the strain in their postures. Raven hovered close, her eyes fixed on me with a mixture of fear and fierce loyalty. The entity hadn't moved since I'd blasted it back with the light, but it was still there, its presence heavy in the air.

"Jade, you have to be careful," Raven urged, stepping forward slightly, her tone pleading now. "It's waiting for you to use the crystal again. It wants you to tap into that power."

"I know," I whispered, my eyes never leaving the shadowed figure before me. "But it's the only way."