The storm howled around them as Artemis followed Lyra deeper into the fractured landscape. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet seemed unstable, shifting like a living thing.
Lyra's armored footsteps were steady, sure—unlike Artemis's, which faltered with every pounding heartbeat.
"Why show me this?" Artemis asked, voice barely audible over the storm.
Lyra glanced back, her red eyes piercing the gloom. "Because you carry the fire—the power to mend the fracture. But power alone isn't enough. You must understand what lies beneath."
Ahead, they came to a cavern carved into the side of a jagged cliff. The entrance pulsed with the same green and gold light Artemis had seen in the cathedral.
Lyra stepped inside first. The cavern walls glowed with ancient runes, their shapes shifting like whispers. In the center, a pool of liquid light shimmered, reflecting the swirling storm outside.
"This is the Heartwell," Lyra explained. "The source of the fracture's power—and its weakness."
Artemis stepped closer, mesmerized by the glowing pool.
"It's connected to every portal," Lyra said. "Every tear in the worlds. If you can control the Heartwell, you can control the fracture."
"But how?" Artemis asked, staring at her reflection in the light.
Lyra's expression darkened. "That is the question. The Heartwell demands a bond—not just with power, but with sacrifice. You must give something precious in return."
Artemis's mind raced. "I've already lost so much… But if this is the key to saving everyone, then I'll do whatever it takes."
A sudden ripple disturbed the pool's surface. Shapes formed—faces, memories—flashing before Artemis's eyes.
Lyra's voice was calm but firm. "These are echoes of those who tried before you—and failed."
Artemis clenched her fists. "Then I'll succeed where they didn't."
Lyra nodded slowly. "Good. Because the fracture won't wait—and neither will the Hunters."
The words hung heavy in the charged air as the cavern trembled once more.
Outside, the storm was reaching a crescendo.
Inside, Artemis felt the weight of destiny pressing down.
And the fight for the world was only just beginning.