The hallways of the fortress were quaking beneath their feet as Riku, Mira, Kira, and Kaito strode through the final corridor. The very air was tentative with elemental residue that shivered into existence under the reverberations of the powerful energy just barely used. Shadows writhed along the walls as if the mountain itself were grieving for what lay deep inside.
At the very end of the corridor stood a large stone door embossed with swirling elemental runes glowing faintly hot red and azure. Without missing a single second, Kaito stepped in, cut his palm, and dripped blood onto the center glyph.
With a roar of grinding stone, the door jerked open.
The chamber within glowed a ghostly red. The Elemental Sage—Sayuri—was suspended in a gigantic altar of spiraling stone and flame. Her body swayed weakly as her eyes opened and closed. Dark tendrils of energy siphoned from her body to a glowing crystal above.
"No...," Mira whispered. "We're too late."
Kaito's eyes narrowed. "Not if we break the seal. Everyone stand back—"
"Wait!" stepped Amara. Her eyes were wide, yet her voice was steady and chillingly certain. "If you destroy the seal now, Sayuri's spirit will be torn apart."
Riku turned back. "Then what do we do?! There has to be another way!"
Amara stared at the floor. "There is. One spirit must replace another. A life for a life."
Everybody froze.
"No," Mira whispered. "Amara, no. Don't even think about it."
Amara turned to her. "If we don't stop this now, they'll win. Sayuri is the key to keeping Aetheria balanced. If she dies, the chaos will spread."
"You don't have to do this," Kira insisted. "We'll find another way."
"There is no other way," Amara said softly. "I have seen it. In my dreams. The spirits showed me. This moment was always going to come."
Mira shook her head, grabbing Amara's arms, tears streaming down her face. "Please… please don't leave me."
Amara smiled and placed her hand gently on her sister's cheek, wiping the tears away. "I'm not leaving. I'll still be with you. In the wind. In the stars. In your strength."
Riku stepped forward. "You're a hero, Amara. We'll never forget this."
With her head held high, Amara walked up to the altar. The seal instantly accepted her sacrifice — the crystal's red glow softened in response to her presence.
For the last time, she turned around. "Protect each other."
Then, in one expansive breath, Amara stepped into the circle.
A blinding, searing light lit up the room. Riku shielded his face. Mira screamed her name.
Once the light dimmed, Sayuri was seen to gently float down from the air, still unconscious, but breathing. The dark energy had vanished. The crystal split in half and turned to dust.
And Amara... she was nowhere.
Silence.
Mira collapsed to her knees in an ungodly wail and sob. Riku placed his hand over her shoulder, fighting back his own tears.
Kaito bowed his head. "A warrior's sacrifice... We owe her everything."
Kira's fists clenched. "We'll make them pay. For Amara. For everyone they've hurt."
Riku gazed at the patch of sky visible through a crack in the chamber ceiling. The wind swept through softly, almost like a whisper.
He could have sworn he heard her voice,
"You'll change the world, Riku. So keep going."