Secrets of the Sanctuary

Eira stepped through the glowing gate, her body still weak from the sacrifice. The golden light faded behind her as the sanctuary opened into a vast chamber carved from shimmering crystal. The air buzzed with ancient magic powerful and unyielding.

Kael stayed close by her side, his hand steady on her arm. "If you feel too weak, we turn back."

"I'm fine," Eira insisted, though the emptiness from losing part of her magic still gnawed at her. "We came for answers, and I won't leave without them."

Seren let out a low whistle, gazing at the towering walls etched with strange symbols. "This place must be older than the dragon wars."

Ryven, ever unimpressed, strolled ahead. "Let's hope the answers aren't buried under a thousand years of riddles."

At the center of the chamber stood a pedestal glowing with faint golden light. Upon it lay an ancient book bound in dragonhide. The cover was marked by the same symbol on Eira's wrist.

Her heart pounded. This could be the truth they've been hiding.

Kael tightened his grip on his sword as they approached the book. "Be careful if the dragons protected this place with those trials, they won't make it easy to take."

Eira reached out, her fingers brushing the worn leather. As soon as she touched it, golden magic flared around the room, and a deep voice echoed:

"Only the Dragon's Chosen may open the Book of Unity."

The ground trembled beneath them, and stone guardians erupted from the floor massive figures shaped like dragons, their eyes burning with light.

"Looks like we have to fight for it," Seren said, drawing her daggers.

Kael raised his sword. "Eira, stay back"

"No," Eira snapped, summoning what magic she had left. "I'm not running."

The first guardian lunged, claws sweeping toward them. Kael blocked the blow, the force pushing him back. Eira unleashed a blast of golden fire, but her weakened magic barely scratched the guardian's stone hide.

"Too weak," she muttered under her breath.

Seren darted between the guardians, her blades slicing at their joints. "We need to find a weak point fast!"

Ryven leaned casually against the wall, watching the chaos. "It's always violence with you people," he sighed. But a flick of his fingers sent black flames curling toward a guardian, cracking its armor.

Eira's pulse raced as she felt the dragon mark burn hotter again. She placed both hands on the book. "If I can open this, maybe I can stop them!"

The magic pushed back against her, resisting. Pain shot through her body as the cost of her earlier sacrifice dragged her down but she refused to let go.

Kael grunted as another guardian struck, forcing him to his knees. "Hurry, Eira!"

Eira's vision blurred as she channeled everything she had left. The dragon mark blazed with golden fire as the book unlocked, pages flipping open. Light filled the chamber as a voice echoed from within:

"The Dragon's Chosen must unite, or all shall fall to shadow once again."

The guardians froze mid-attack, crumbling into dust. Silence fell, leaving only the echo of the ancient warning.

Kael stumbled toward her, worry in his eyes. "Eira… are you okay?"

Eira clutched the book to her chest, exhausted but victorious. "I opened it. We have the truth now."

But as the magic faded, a cold realization crept over her. The warning wasn't just about the past.

It was about what was still to come.