The heroes sat in the council chamber, their faces weary but their spirits high. They had defeated the darkness, but they knew that the road to recovery would be long and hard.
The council members gathered around, their faces set with determination. "You have done the realm a great service," one of them said, his voice shaking with emotion. "But we must now decide what to do with Cate."
The heroes looked at each other, their faces filled with concern. They knew that Cate had been a powerful ally, but she had also been a formidable enemy.
The council members debated long into the night, their voices hushed as they discussed Cate's fate. Finally, they reached a decision.
"Cate will be imprisoned, her magic bound and her memories erased," the council member announced.
The heroes nodded, their faces set with determination. They knew it was the right decision, but they couldn't help feeling a pang of doubt.
As they stood to leave, Lyra spoke up. "What about the artifact?" she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
The council member smiled, a glanging in his eye. "Ah, the artifact," he said. "It is safe, for now. But we will need to use it to rebuild the realm and restore the balance of magic."
The heroes nodded, their faces set with determination. They knew that they had accomplished something special, something that would be remembered for generations to come.
As they left the council chamber, the heroes couldn't shake the feeling that their journey was far from over. They had defeated the darkness, but there were still shadows lurking in the corners of the world.