The crystal pulsed with a rhythm that wasn't quite human.
It sat at the heart of the chamber, a sphere of pure golden light, its surface shimmering with an inner fire. The shadow was contained within, its power bound by Ethan's will, its voice silenced by the crystal's song.
But the song was changing.
Ethan felt it first as a discordant note, a faint tremor in the crystal's rhythm. Then it grew, spreading outward, rippling through the light and dark that bound the world together. The shadow was stirring, testing the crystal's bonds, probing for weaknesses.
"What is this?" Viktor asked, his face pale as he entered the chamber. "The crystal is changing."
Ethan's consciousness reached out, touching the crystal's surface. "The shadow is fighting back. It's trying to break free."
"Can it?
