Chapter 166: Chapter 166: The Burden of Power

As the light from the crystal dimmed, leaving a warm afterglow in the chamber, Elara and her companions slowly released their hands from the pedestal. The power of the Keep had settled within them, a quiet hum that thrummed in their veins, both reassuring and unnerving in its intensity.

Elara took a moment to steady herself, her senses still reeling from the immense energy that had surged through her. She felt different—stronger, more connected to the world around her. But with that strength came a weight, an unspoken responsibility that pressed heavily on her shoulders.

Ethan, ever perceptive, noticed the shift in her demeanor. "Elara, are you alright?"

She nodded, though her eyes remained fixed on the crystal. "I'm fine. It's just… this power, it's unlike anything I've ever felt. It's as if the Keep has become a part of us, and we a part of it."