Mana Ties, Part Eight

The beach now hung in a palpable silence.

Lianna stood amidst the aftermath, the artifact still cradled in her hand, a strange aura emanating from its surface.

The world seemed to hold its breath, waiting for an explanation.

As the seconds stretched into a tense pause, Lianna's gaze flickered from one face to another. The unspoken question lingered in the air like a heavy mist. Her fellow adventurers stared at her, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. Layla, the one who had initially invited them to join the mission, broke the silence.

"Well, that was unexpected," Layla remarked, her tone measured. "What did you do?"

Lianna felt the weight of skepticism in the air. The artifact in her hand seemed to vibrate with an almost rebellious energy.

She took a deep breath and settled on what she wanted to say.