The shadows swirled around Amelia and Sophie, rising in the air like a storm cloud gathering its strength. The ground beneath them shifted, threatening to swallow them whole. The whispers intensified, becoming incoherent, a cacophony of voices, crying out in desperation.
Amelia stepped forward, her hands trembling as she prepared herself for the battle that was to come. The stone may have been destroyed, but the darkness had only been momentarily disrupted. It was clear that the curse was far older, far deeper, than they had ever imagined.
"We're not done yet," Sophie said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Amelia turned to her friend, feeling a surge of determination. "No, we're not. But this time, we'll fight together. We'll finish what we started."
As the shadows converged around them, the two women raised their hands in unison, their combined energy reaching out to meet the darkness head-on.
Together, they would bring balance once more.