At the far end of the hall, a figure sat on a raised platform. They were cloaked in white, their face obscured by a golden mask. In their hands, they held a book, its cover glowing faintly.
Jude and Lyara exchanged glances before stepping forward.
The figure's voice echoed through the hall, calm and measured. "You have chosen the path of understanding."
Jude's heart pounded. "Who are you?"
The figure turned a page in the book, their movements deliberate. "A guardian of knowledge. A keeper of the flame's truth."
Lyara's gaze flickered to the book. "What truth?"
The figure tilted their head slightly. "The truth that power is not just wielded. It is carried. And to carry it, one must understand its weight."
Jude clenched his fists. "And if we don't?"
The figure closed the book. The light around it dimmed slightly. "Then the flame will consume you."
The words sent a chill through him, but he held his ground. "What do we have to do?"
