Secrets Beneath the Shadows

The vision dissolved into a swirl of golden light, and the group found themselves back in the Council Hall. The hum of ancient power faded, leaving behind an oppressive silence. Each member of the group seemed burdened, as if the weight of the knowledge they'd glimpsed clung to their very souls.

Daniel glanced toward Lirien, whose ethereal glow dimmed slightly. "This war... this endless cycle. What's our role in all of this?" he asked, his voice steady but laced with uncertainty.

Lirien's inscrutable gaze lingered on him, their eyes shimmering like a stormy sea. "The Abyss has chosen you, as it has chosen countless others before. But the question is not what role you play. It is how long you can endure before you break."

The cryptic response left a bitter taste in Daniel's mouth, but he had no time to press further. A low, resonant hum echoed through the chamber. The runes that adorned the walls flared to life, casting eerie shadows as the room trembled.