As the weight of this revelation settled upon us, the crystals emitted a soft, rhythmic hum, as if in agreement with the terms. It became clear that the spirits were not passive observers but active participants in a cosmic exchange.
"But that's not all," the hooded figure continued, their voice carrying a mysterious cadence. "If you seek something of value, you must be prepared to give something of equal value to the spirits. A fair exchange, for the spirits value equilibrium above all else."
The forest, now charged with an electric energy, seemed to pulse in synchrony with the negotiation between the hooded figure and the ancestral spirits. I contemplated the weight of the decision before me — a delicate dance with forces beyond my comprehension, where every revelation and exchange had
