"Then take this. You'll need proper equipment, won't you?"
As soon as the ring touches Alter's hand, I feel its power.
And Alter, of course, feels it too.
"This is…" she whispers, eyes widening slightly, like she has recognized something significant..
Eris steps forward and gently places her fingers over the ring.
Then she taps it once.
Twice.
"Awaken, guardian of the abyss," she says softly, her voice like a prayer.
"Rise from silence and cloak the soul in shadow…"
As she starts her chant, the ring responds immediately.
A faint glow seeps from its surface, soft and pulsing, like the heartbeat of something long forgotten.
And then, the light deepens, shifting into a rich violet hue as ancient glyphs begin to shimmer across the band. One by one, they flare to life, intricate and sharp, glowing brighter with each beat.
The air grows thicker, charged.
And then—
