The Price of Light

The blinding radiance dimmed, and Kaida found herself on her knees in the chamber's center, the weight of the decision she'd made pressing heavily on her chest. The orb had dissolved into faint, shimmering fragments, swirling in the air like ethereal dust. The Warden was gone, its presence erased entirely. But Kaida's focus was on her hands—on the empty, inert book she now held. The pages were blank, the symbols and maps gone, as though the very essence of the artifact had been drained.

"Kaida," Ryven said gently, kneeling beside her. "Are you all right?" 

Her head snapped up, her heart racing. "Kenji!" she exclaimed, looking around frantically. "Did it work? Where is he?" 

Ryven's expression was unreadable as he gestured behind her. Kaida turned, her breath catching in her throat. 

There he was. Kenji stood several paces away, his figure ghostly at first, then solidifying into the form she remembered. His dark hair was ruffled, his face pale but alive. He blinked, his blue eyes meeting hers with a mix of confusion and relief. 

"Kaida?" he said hesitantly, his voice hoarse. 

She ran to him, throwing her arms around him as tears streamed down her face. "Kenji! You're okay!" 

He hugged her back, his grip weak but steady. "I... I thought I'd never see you again," he whispered. 

### A Fractured Bond 

As the siblings embraced, Ryven stood back, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. His expression was guarded, his posture tense. Kaida noticed and pulled away from Kenji, turning to Ryven with a questioning look. 

"What's wrong?" she asked. 

Ryven's gaze flicked to the remnants of the orb, now nothing more than faint sparkles fading into the air. "You succeeded, but at a cost," he said gravely. "The spire's energy is unstable. It'll start collapsing soon—and we're still inside." 

Kenji's face paled further. "Collapsing? What does that mean?" 

"It means," Ryven said sharply, "that we need to leave. Now." 

Kaida nodded, grabbing Kenji's arm to steady him. "Come on. We'll figure the rest out later." 

But as they turned toward the exit, the ground began to tremble violently. Cracks spread across the crystalline walls, and shards of energy lashed out unpredictably. The path they'd taken to enter the chamber was now blocked by fallen debris, and the air grew heavier with each passing second. 

"There's no way back," Ryven muttered, scanning the room for alternatives. His eyes landed on a faint glow in the far corner—a portal-like structure pulsing weakly. "There!" 

### The Portal's Guardian 

Kaida and Kenji followed Ryven, dodging falling debris and erratic bursts of energy. As they neared the portal, however, a new figure materialized in their path. 

This one was unlike the Warden—its form was more humanoid, its features delicate and ethereal. It had translucent wings that shimmered like water and eyes that glowed with an unnatural light. Despite its appearance, its presence radiated power. 

"You cannot leave," it said, its voice melodic but firm. "The spire's collapse will consume all within its bounds. None shall escape." 

Kaida stepped forward, her fists clenched. "We don't have time for this. Let us through!" 

The being tilted its head, its expression unreadable. "Your actions have destabilized the balance. To pass, you must prove your worth—and your resolve." 

"What does that mean?" Kaida demanded, frustration bubbling in her voice. 

The being raised a hand, and the ground beneath them shifted. The portal grew brighter, but so did the chaos surrounding it. "One of you must stay to stabilize the spire. Only then can the others leave." 

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Kaida froze, her mind racing. 

"No," she said firmly. "There has to be another way." 

The being shook its head. "This is the way of the spire. Balance must be restored." 

### A Painful Decision 

Kenji stepped forward, his legs trembling but his voice steady. "I'll do it." 

"No!" Kaida shouted, grabbing his arm. "You just got back! I'm not losing you again!" 

Kenji looked at her, his expression soft but resolute. "Kaida, I've been trapped in this place for so long. If anyone should do it, it's me. You've done enough." 

Ryven interrupted, his tone sharp. "Neither of you is staying. I'll do it." 

Kaida turned to him in shock. "Ryven, no! You've helped me so much already. This isn't your fight!" 

He smirked faintly. "I made my choice when I joined you. Besides," he added, his voice softening, "you've got a brother to protect now. Don't waste this chance." 

Kaida's heart twisted as she looked between the two people she cared about most. The weight of the decision threatened to crush her, but time was running out. The portal's glow flickered, the tremors growing stronger. 

Finally, she made her choice. 

--- 

Who will Kaida sacrifice? And how will this decision shape the future? Let me know if you're ready for the next part!

..........................

"Don't miss the chance to get advanced chapters of my novel for FREE! Just copy the link now and start reading!"

https://shorturl.at/3DZhG