Lyra, ignoring the time distortions and the emotionless attacks of Seraphina and the automatons, rushed towards the shimmering arch. Her heart beat strongly, but in her mind, there was clarity – she had to reach the Ancient Sovereign's message. It was their only hope.
Kaelan and the rest of the pack fought bravely, though their Song of Life weakened under the suppressive attacks of the Primeval Beings. They saw Lyra run through the arch and knew they had to buy her time. Varg, with newfound strength and determination, lunged at Seraphina, trying to divert her attention.
Crossing the arch, Lyra felt time momentarily stand still, then shatter into billions of fragments. She found herself in a gigantic, circular chamber that seemed to transcend physical dimensions. Its walls were made of shimmering crystals that pulsed with a delicate, golden light. These were no ordinary crystals; Lyra felt that each one was like a library of memories, holding echoes of ancient Songs.
In the center of the chamber floated a gigantic crystal, shining with an intense, multicolored glow. This was the Crystal of Harmony, and within it, Lyra saw flashing images – the history of the universe, the rise and fall of civilizations, the evolution of the Song of Life, and the Primeval Beings themselves. This was the essence of the Ancient Sovereign's knowledge.
She approached, feeling her Primeval Magic react within her, pulsating in response to the Crystal's presence. As she extended her hand, the Crystal of Harmony sent out a wave of energy that enveloped Lyra, connecting her to its essence.
A voice resonated in her mind. It was not Aeris's voice, nor Seraphina's, nor any voice she knew. It was a voice that resonated with the very essence of the Song of Life – the voice of the Ancient Sovereign.
"Welcome, Blood Moon Luna. The time has come. The Shadow of Oblivion was but one aspect of imbalance. The true threat lies in the pursuit of absolute order that ignores the Song of Life – this is the Song of the Primeval Beings."
Visions began to flood Lyra's mind, clear and distinct. She saw the Primeval Beings – not as monsters, but as an ancient civilization that had achieved incredible technology. She saw how they strove for perfection, eliminating all variables, all emotions, which they considered a source of chaos. They built societies based on pure logic, where every being had its place and function, devoid of free will and feelings. Lyra understood – their world was perfect, but empty.
"Their pursuit of order is a disease that spreads across the universe. They believe that the Song of Life – emotions, intuition, creativity – is an error in their perfect system. Their technology allows them to suppress the Song, not destroy it, because they do not understand its nature. They are… logical, not evil."
This was terrifying. No hostility, just cold, ruthless logic that sought to annihilate the essence of existence.
"The full Song of Life is not just a Song of joy and sorrow. It is a Song of Balance. It embraces chaos and order, light and shadow, emotions and logic. Only when each side is acknowledged and integrated can the Song be complete and unbreakable. My Song was created to contain all these aspects."
New patterns of magic, a new understanding of the Song, began to form in Lyra's mind. She saw how the Song of Life could become a shield that not only repelled but also absorbed and transformed, even incorporating the coldness of the Primeval Beings. She saw how the Song could become a bridge that not only connected but also taught and engaged in dialogue.
"Seraphina… is a tragic example. Her hatred, amplified by the Shadow of Oblivion, was an easy target for the Primeval Beings. They did not understand her emotions, but they could use her as a catalyst to suppress the Song. Her spirit is now trapped between two worlds – between the chaos of emotions she could not control, and the order that consumes her. You must find a way to free her, or she will be a tool of their destruction."
Lyra felt deep sadness. Seraphina was a victim of her own weaknesses and manipulation. Now she was merely a tool.
"The Darkness Below… is a sanctuary. The memory of the Primeval Beings. In their civilization, they rejected emotions, but some of their units, those called 'Anomalies,' still felt. These anomalies hid memories and knowledge of the Song of Life in the Crystals of Harmony, so that the Song could survive. These crystals are… the only trace of emotion in their world. You must take the Crystal of Harmony. It is the key to saving your world and perhaps… to awakening the Primeval Beings."
The message ended. Lyra felt the energy of the Crystal of Harmony surge into her, merging with her own Song of Life. It was a vast, all-encompassing knowledge.
Lyra opened her eyes. The Crystal of Harmony in her hands was smaller, but it radiated a powerful glow. She understood. The full Song of Life was not a battle for one side's victory, but for finding balance.
She returned to the arch, feeling the Primeval Magic within her now different, more powerful, more complex. She saw Kaelan, Elara, and the rest of the pack fighting desperately against the automatons and Seraphina. Their Song of Life was weak, but they fought on.
Lyra raised the Crystal of Harmony. From her hand, this time, shot a wave of light that was not combative, but… educational. The light struck Seraphina and the automatons. It did not harm them, but caused a momentary chaos in their programming. The automatons stopped, their lights flickering.
Seraphina screamed, but it was not a scream of hatred, but of confusion. For a moment, her eyes again shone with a purple glow, and her body became less ethereal, as if her own will was trying to fight the control of the Primeval Beings. It was only a moment, but Lyra knew it was enough.
"We have to go!" Lyra cried. "I have what we need!"
Kaelan, Elara, and the rest of the pack, seeing the momentary disorientation of their opponents, rushed towards the arch. Time began to collapse again, and visions from the past and future swirled around them as they fled the Darkness Below.
Lyra felt this was just the beginning. The knowledge she had gained from the Crystal of Harmony was immense, but the responsibility she carried was even greater. She had to teach the world a new Song – the Song of Balance – before the Primeval Beings reached their world to impose their order.