The ritual started gently, almost deceptively so. I felt a small tug on my life force, like something was pulling energy from deep inside me. It was uncomfortable but not painful.
Then the intensity increased.
The gentle tug became a strong pull. My life force was flowing out of me in a steady stream, feeding the magical prison that held The Architects. I gasped as the sensation grew stronger, like I was being slowly drained of everything that made me alive.
Beside me, Aurora was experiencing the same thing. Her hand gripped mine so tightly I thought my bones might break, but I held on because we needed to stay connected throughout the ritual.
The First Born chanted in that language that hurt to hear, their voices weaving magic that surrounded us like chains. I could feel the prison st
