Lyra led them to another chamber, where walls covered in carvings told the story of the ancient civilization that had once thrived in the Eastern Wastes. They had been a people who had mastered the balance between all forms of magic, living in harmony with every race in Eldoria.
But then, a powerful sorcerer had tried to seize control of all magic, believing that balance was a weakness. In his greed, he had shattered the Crystal of Unity, the source of the civilization's power, and plunged the land into darkness. The civilization had vanished, and Lyra had been left to guard the ruins and wait for those who could restore the crystal—and the balance.
"The Crystal of Unity can be repaired," Lyra explained, gesturing to the dark crystal they had found earlier. "But it requires three things: the light of hope, the strength of unity, and the courage of sacrifice."
Hana looked at the Orb of Equilibrium. "The orb holds the light of hope we've built together," she said.
Kenji nodded. "And the strength of unity is what we've forged between humans, elves, and vampires," he added.
"But what about the courage of sacrifice?" Aerion asked, his voice serious.
Lyra's gaze fell on Hana and Kenji. "The sacrifice must come from those who lead," she said. "It will not be a sacrifice of life, but of something just as precious—your connection to the throne, your position of power. To restore balance, the leaders of Eldoria must show that no one is above the greater good."
Hana and Kenji exchanged looks. They had worked hard to build their leadership, to guide Eldoria to peace. Giving up their positions would not be easy.
But Hana thought of their children, of all the children of Eldoria. She thought of the future they wanted to create—a future where leadership was about service, not power.
"We'll do it," she said firmly.
Kenji squeezed her hand in agreement. "We've always said that our goal was to build a world where everyone is equal," he said. "This is the chance to make that real."