Chapter 152: Chapter 152: The Oracle's Decree

The chamber seemed to close in around them as the Oracle's words hung in the air. The weight of their quest, of the choices they had made and the sacrifices they had endured, settled heavily on their shoulders. Elara, feeling the eyes of her companions on her, stepped forward first. The soft, pulsing light of the chamber reflected off her armor, casting shifting shadows on the walls as she struggled to find the right words.

"Oracle," she began, her voice steady but edged with an uncertainty she couldn't entirely mask, "we seek the path forward. The darkness grows in the west, and we have come to understand how to defeat it. Tell us, how can we stop it?"

The Oracle's gaze was unwavering, her deep blue eyes reflecting an age and wisdom far beyond anything Elara could comprehend. She tilted her head slightly, as if considering the question, then spoke in a tone that was at once both cryptic and clear.