Lira moved quietly through the dim corridors beneath the academy's library. The stone walls were cool and rough beneath her fingertips, and the faint flicker of torchlight cast long shadows that danced along the arching ceiling. Her heart thrummed with anticipation—and a trace of nervous fear—as she clutched the final Spirit shard in her palm. This was the last piece, the culmination of months of trials, labyrinth explorations, and encounters with the lingering spirits.
The hidden stairwell had always been a secret, tucked behind a revolving shelf in the oldest section of the library. Now, as she descended, the air grew cooler, heavier, carrying a faint hum that seemed to resonate with the shard itself. Lira felt the subtle vibration, like a heartbeat of energy, grow stronger the deeper she went. She could almost hear the whispers of the other shards calling to this one, a faint chorus that tugged at the edges of her consciousness.
