The chamber shuddered, dust spiraling down from the unseen heights. The First Fragment's chains strained, glowing with fractures that bled light into the darkness.
Elyon shouted over the tremor, "If it breaks free, there's no sealing it again!"Kaelis's grip on her blade tightened. "Then we cut it down before it can"
"No!" The word tore from Aloysius before he realized he'd spoken.Every eye turned to him. Even the Fragment's many-voiced whisper paused, curious.
He stepped forward, shard in hand. "You all think it's just a weapon. A danger to be caged. But… what if it's the only thing that can stop what's coming?"
Kaelis's gaze hardened. "Or what if it is what's coming?"
The memory of Rena's warning burned in his ears. Her voice real or imagined pressed against his skull."Don't let it bind you."
The Fragment spoke, each word vibrating through the stone."Choose, mortal. My hand or your hesitation. The chains will not hold much longer."
A fissure split across the floor, revealing a glimpse of something vast beneath an ocean of shifting light, roaring like a storm.
Elyon moved closer to Aloysius. "If you do this, there's no undoing it. The gate will mark you as its vessel."
The shard pulsed again, now matching his heartbeat perfectly.He could drop it now. Let it shatter. Let the gate close forever.Or he could take one more step forward… and let the Fragment inside.
The air grew heavy, waiting for his answer.