The crowd began to move under the elder's guidance, descending a short stair carved into the stone to a wide, luminous corridor that led into the heart of the mountain itself. At the end was a grand circular chamber.
In the center of the hall stood a crystal stone encased in pure glass. Inside it, a golden stone pulsed like a beating heart, radiating an aura both tranquil and ancient. The air around it shimmered with dense mana particles that moved with unnatural rhythm.
The elder stepped forward, removed his hat, and bowed his head before the stone. His voice, now hushed and reverent, filled the chamber.
"Great Water God… we present your chosen. Let your wisdom weigh them, your eyes judge them, and your silence shape them."
No one dared move. Not even to breathe too loudly.
For a moment, the Mind Stone responded with a quiet hum, and a spiral of golden mist danced through the room.
