The air inside the temple grew heavy, the oppressive weight of the Voidborne's magic making it hard to breathe. Elara could feel the cold tendrils of darkness wrapping around her mind, trying to pry into her thoughts, to sow doubt and fear. She gripped the Luminara Staff tighter, forcing the creeping dread away as the glow of the staff pushed back against the encroaching shadows.
Kirin stood at the center of the chamber, his eyes scanning the complex web of runes and sigils carved into the altar. Each stroke of the ancient symbols pulsed with dark energy, binding the ritual in place, the growing portal above it swirling with chaotic power. If they didn't stop this ritual soon, the Voidborne would flood their world, and there would be no turning back.
Seraphina and Jarek flanked the entrance, their eyes trained on the shifting shadows that lined the walls. The dark figures of Voidborne soldiers moved in the periphery, waiting for the right moment to strike.