章 183: knocked

The force of the explosion knocked Emily to the ground, her breath stolen by the raw power surging through the air. The entire chamber seemed to pulse with life, as if the very stone around them had awakened to the call of ancient magic. Through the blinding light, she could barely make out the shapes of her companions, struggling to stay on their feet.

"Emily!" Calem's voice cut through the chaos, sharp with panic.

"I'm fine!" she called back, though her body felt like it was being torn apart by the energy radiating from the relic. The heat from it burned against her skin, but she couldn't let go. Something deeper was happening now, something beyond her control. It was as though the relic had become a living entity, its will intertwining with hers.