Briar
I stared at Eric, my mind reeling from his revelation about the gem. The cool stone pulsed in my hands, its power tantalizingly close yet completely out of reach. The air in the shrine felt thick, oppressive, as if the very walls were closing in around me. The scent of old stone and something wild, untamed, filled my nostrils, mixing with the metallic tang of fear and adrenaline.
"You're lying," I spat, but even to my own ears, the words lacked conviction. My voice trembled slightly, betraying the fear that was rapidly replacing my earlier confidence. "This is just another one of your mind games."
Eric's lips curved into a cruel smile, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. He took a step closer, and I fought the urge to back away. "Am I? Why don't you try it again, Briar? Go
