She narrowed her eyes at the inscription. What if the test wasn't about actually leaving someone behind?
She took a slow, deliberate breath. Then she stepped forward.
"If a sacrifice is needed," she said clearly, "I will be the one to stay."
The air around them rippled. The golden light of the inscription flared, illuminating the entire courtyard.
Quinn's eyes widened. "Mallory, no—"
The moment the words left her lips, the ground trembled. The mist that had surrounded the Ruined City began to shift, coiling toward the Gate like unseen hands reaching for something.
Then, just as suddenly as it started—everything went still.
The Gate pulsed once more, and then…
The inscription vanished.
Mallory's breath caught. The others looked around, eyes wide with disbelief.
Greg blinked. "Wait. That's it? No one actually has to stay?"