Merslin and his companions stood solemnly in the sacred chamber where Eleonus, the revered high elf oracle, lay in eternal slumber. Though his body had long ceased to breathe, a faint trace of his spiritual energy still lingered — not passive, but purposeful, as if trying to whisper a truth that had yet to be uncovered.
Sensing the importance of what remained, Merslin made a decisive call. "We need to speak with the Queen and the Elders. Something is wrong."
Upon arriving at the sanctuary of the high elves, the group was met with a troubling sight. The Queen and the Elders, once paragons of wisdom and grace, appeared altered. Their expressions flickered between lucidity and madness. Their eyes, once radiant with knowledge, now shimmered with a haze of corruption.
"Your Majesty… Elders… what's happening to you?" Merslin asked with cautious urgency.
The Queen, regaining clarity for a fleeting moment, looked at them with pain in her eyes. "The corruption… it's overtaking us. We… couldn't resist it."
Her voice trembled, and the Elders beside her clutched their heads, visibly struggling to stay grounded in their minds.
"Aria," Lydia said quickly, turning to the healer. "Use your restoration magic. It may not cure them completely, but it might buy us a moment of clarity."
Aria nodded and raised her hands. A soft, golden light pulsed from her fingers, enveloping the Queen and her council. The haze lifted slightly, their minds steadied — if only for a short while.
"This won't last long," Aria whispered. "But it should help them speak freely — for now."
The Queen exhaled shakily, then locked eyes with Merslin. "You came because of Eleonus… You felt his power. Then you must know. The prophecy… was tainted."
Merslin nodded gravely. "We believe so, Your Majesty. We want to know how — and why — it was corrupted. What truth lies beneath it."
The Queen's voice lowered. "You must summon the remnants of Eleonus's spirit. Not through necromancy, but by drawing forth echoes of his memory. But beware… the corruption has spread. If we act, it may stir again."
One of the Elders, voice hoarse, added, "We have little strength left, but we can assist in the ritual. His memories may hold the answers you seek. Time is not our ally. We must move quickly."
Merslin turned to his allies. "We're ready. We'll face whatever truth lies ahead."
With their last reserves of energy, the Queen and Elders began the summoning rite. A surge of magical energy radiated through the chamber, resonating like a heartbeat across the sacred walls. The air shimmered with ancient power.
"This… this is his essence," the Queen murmured.
Light converged in the center of the room, gradually forming into the dignified figure of Eleonus. Though translucent, his presence commanded reverence. His eyes glinted with the weight of untold truths.
"I know why you've awakened me," he said, voice heavy and sorrowful. "But are you prepared for what lies beneath the veil?"
Merslin met his gaze without hesitation. "We came to uncover the truth — and to end the darkness that has begun to consume this world. Whatever burden it brings, we will carry it."
Eleonus paused, as if searching their souls for conviction. At last, he spoke again. "Then you will see what I have seen. Prepare yourselves… for truth is never kind."
As his memories enveloped them, visions of the corrupted prophecy began to surface. But so too did the tendrils of darkness, slithering ever closer — threatening to twist their minds before they could grasp the answers they sought.
***
Eleonus's Truth and the Hidden Clue
Following the spiritual trace of Eleonus, Merslin and his companions delved into the ancient oracle's memories. Though Eleonus had delivered the prophecy urging the high elves into the Great Slumber, his heart had always been clouded by doubt. He had followed the prophecy, not out of faith, but out of fear—and left behind a clue.
"I was compelled to accept this prophecy as divine will," Eleonus's spirit said solemnly. "But a part of me always questioned its authenticity. Was it truly the will of the gods... or was another truth buried beneath it?"
Merslin, absorbing his words, asked, "And yet, you chose to follow it. Why?"
Eleonus responded in a heavy voice. "I had no choice. Fear of annihilation gripped me. But... I left behind a clue—one that could shatter everything. If I was wrong, those who find it will uncover the truth."
Merslin's eyes lit up. "Where is this clue? Can we still reach it?"
"It resides within my memories," Eleonus said. "But to find it, you must face many trials. Seek it within the dreamscape of the Great Slumber. It will lead you to the truth."
As his image faded, the companions exchanged anxious glances. Just then, the Queen and Elders, slowly regaining their senses, turned to face them.
"If what Eleonus left behind holds the power to change everything, we must uncover it. The corruption is growing stronger. We cannot waste time," the Queen declared.
"Will you aid us in retrieving this clue, Your Majesty?" Aria asked gently.
The Queen nodded. "Through Eleonus's lingering spiritual power, we will summon the echoes of his memories. Within them lies the fragment of truth. But beware—the darkness will not allow us to proceed unchallenged."
Merslin stepped forward, resolute. "We will face it. No matter the obstacles, we will uncover the truth."
Yet, Idanna stood quietly, listening. Conflict churned within her heart.
"I was there when the corruption began. And now, it falls to me to see it ended. To atone for my past, I must be the one to act."
Merslin was taken aback. "Idanna, you don't have to do this alone. We can find another way."
Idanna closed her eyes, recalling the pain caused by her past choices. "This corruption began with me. And now it must end with me. I hope you'll understand why I must make this sacrifice."
Though Lydia tried to stop her, offering other solutions, Idanna remained firm. "Unless I give myself, the corruption cannot be cleansed. If my sacrifice can purify it all, then that is my fate."
Idanna entered Eleonus's dreamscape. There, she came face-to-face with his spiritual form, which greeted her with both sorrow and solemnity.
"Idanna," Eleonus said, "when I delivered the prophecy, I hoped it was true. But now I see that it was tainted. I gave all my strength to resist the corruption, but it was too great."
"I made the same mistake," Idanna replied. "I sought power, but its price was too high. Now it's up to me to correct it."
"I know the pain of your path," Eleonus said quietly. "But your decision will save this world. I trust you'll make the right choice."
With renewed determination, Idanna confronted the corrupted force embedded within Eleonus's memory. As it tried to consume her, she resisted, drawing upon every ounce of strength, her past and her resolve burning within her. She fought to purify what had been tainted.
Meanwhile, Merslin and the others fought off a new wave of corrupted elves outside. These once-noble beings had fallen fully to the darkness. Black energy radiated from their twisted blades.
Lisa raised her Sunblade high, charging into the fray. "Idanna is protecting us! Now it's our turn to protect her!"
Lydia unleashed powerful magic, her firewolf tearing into the enemy ranks and burning away their shadows.
Merslin, binding foes with lightning chains, hurled a spear of thunder through their lines. "We hold the line—no matter what!"
As the battle raged, Idanna succeeded. She sealed the corrupted force within the dreamscape. But in doing so, she expended all her power and sacrificed herself.
Outside, Merslin and the others felt her passing. They knew her sacrifice had saved them all. Heads bowed, they vowed to carry on her legacy.
Even Malion and the descendants of the blood elves came to understand her choice.
"Idanna finished what she began," Malion said, voice thick with grief and admiration. "Her sacrifice was for us all. We must never forget her."
Her memory lived on, a beacon of hope, redemption, and the courage to face one's past and forge a better future.