Xavier took a deep breath, eyes half-closed in thought before glancing at the altar. "Alright, then tell me—how the hell do I wake this thing up or get it to start responding?"
The goddess's tone shifted into something softer, almost ceremonial. "Place the fragment on the altar."
Xavier stood, grabbed the fragment, and walked over to where the altar was stationed. He set the fragment onto it without hesitation.
The reaction was instant. The altar's runes flared, threads of golden light wrapping around the fragment before pulling it downward. A faint hum reverberated through the air as the smaller fragment sank and seamlessly merged into the larger core already resting on the altar. Sparks of red and gold shot across the room like veins of living fire before settling into a soft, steady glow.
A few seconds later, the goddess's voice filled the room again—calm, almost impressed. "It has indeed awakened before."
