Kael and Lyra stumbled across the warped rooftops. The city below had twisted into impossible angles, buildings bending like paper. The blue light from the artifact flickered and pulsed in Kael's hands, struggling to maintain form.
Lyra: "Kael… what's happening? This isn't real… it can't be."
Kael: "It's real enough… I can feel it. The artifact—it's… alive."
A chilling wind blew past them, carrying whispers that made their skin crawl.
Voice: "You don't belong here… yet."
Lyra grabbed Kael's arm. "We need to move, now!"
Kael ran, but the path beneath them shifted constantly. Every step forward made the rooftops stretch and twist, trapping them in loops. Shadows flickered, some humanoid, some monstrous, but always just out of reach.
Suddenly, the masked figure appeared ahead, floating slightly above the warped tiles. Its silver mask reflected the blue glow of the artifact.
Masked Figure: "Curiosity… is a dangerous thing."
Kael: "I won't let you take it!"
He raised the artifact; the blue light surged, forming a protective barrier around them. But the shadows outside the glow began to press in, distorted faces screaming silently from the void.
Lyra: "Kael… it's too strong!"
The artifact pulsed violently and lifted from Kael's hands, hovering toward the masked figure. Kael lunged, but the air warped, throwing him
Kael saw the artifact vanish into the figure's outstretched hand. The whispers grew louder, echoing directly into his mind:
"You don't control it… it controls you."