Tarik stood before the ancient altar, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the stone figures that surrounded them. The air felt thick with an unseen power, as though the mountains themselves were holding their breath, waiting for his decision.
Ayna stood beside him, her gaze steady and unwavering. She had been silent ever since they reached the plateau, but her presence spoke volumes. She didn’t need to say anything more—Tarik knew that this moment, this choice, was his alone to make.
He reached out, his hand hovering over the altar. The stone was cold beneath his fingers, and for a moment, he hesitated. What would happen if he chose wrong? What if he failed to protect the worlds that depended on him? But then he remembered the path that had led him here—the trials, the teachings, the lessons of courage and determination that had shaped him.
With a deep breath, he placed his hand on the altar. Instantly, a surge of energy coursed through him, so intense that he nearly staggered. His mind raced with visions of countless worlds—each one teetering on the edge of destruction, each one crying out for help. He saw the faces of those he had met on his journey: Lumis, Eili, Ayna… their hopes and fears intertwined with the fate of all existence.
The rumble of the mountains grew louder, more insistent, as though the earth itself was demanding an answer. Tarik closed his eyes, trying to center himself, to hear his heart over the chaos of his thoughts.
“I am ready,” he whispered to himself.
A voice, ancient and deep, echoed in his mind. The choice is not just for you, Tarik. It is for all that is and all that could be. Will you bear the weight of eternity on your shoulders?
He knew the answer. He had known it all along.
“I will,” he said aloud.
The mountains seemed to respond, the rumble turning into a low, approving hum. Tarik felt a wave of warmth wash over him, and when he opened his eyes, the world around him had changed. The altar was no longer a mere structure of stone—it was a gateway, a portal to something vast and boundless.
Ayna stepped forward, her expression unreadable but her eyes filled with a quiet understanding. She had known what he would choose, and now, the next phase of their journey was about to begin.
“Your choice has been made,” she said softly. “Now, we must face what comes next.”
The wind picked up, swirling around them, carrying with it the scent of distant lands and unknown challenges. The path ahead was unclear, but Tarik felt a surge of strength within him. He was no longer just a traveler. He was a protector, bound to a greater purpose than he had ever imagined.
Together, they stepped through the portal, and the mountains, once silent and watching, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.