The bronze coin pulsed with a cold, rhythmic light.
Clek stood in the heart chamber, the corrupted crystal in his hand, its surface slick with a darkness that seemed to seep into his skin. The source was destroyed. The corruption was severed. But the artifact remained, a hollow gift from the darkness that still pulsed with a faint, malevolent energy.
Seraphina moved to his side, her hand resting on his arm. "Clek. You need to destroy that thing. It's dangerous."
"I know." His voice was flat, hard. "But I need to understand it first. I need to know what it is, where it came from, and why the darkness wanted me to have it."
"Clek—"
"I have to." He turned to face her, his eyes burning with cold fire. "This is how we win. Not by destroying the darkness, but by understanding it. By learnin
