Liam's boots shifted slightly on the stone floor as he took another step closer to the altar, his eyes locked on the treasure that floated silently above it. The air around it seemed to hum softly, like a whisper too faint to hear, but too persistent to ignore. The light from the artifact bathed the tomb in a ghostly radiance—beautiful, yes, but ominous too. It didn't just glow. It called.
He stared at it, torn between awe and dread.
Then he heard her voice.
"The treasure you see," the queen said quietly, standing a few paces behind him, her voice echoing faintly in the vast, treasure-laden tomb, "has enough power to restore the lifeblood of Elysium… if it's returned to the core."
Liam froze.
He didn't turn to her. He didn't speak.
Because those were the words he had feared hearing.
