The heroes arrived at the council, their faces weary from their journey. They were greeted by the council members, who listened with rapt attention as they recounted their tale.
The council members nodded gravely, their faces set with concern. "You have done well," one of them said. "But the darkness is far from defeated. We must decide what to do with Cate."
The council debated long into the night, their voices hushed as they discussed Cate's fate. Finally, they reached a decision.
"Cate will be imprisoned, her magic bound and her memories erased," the council member announced.
The heroes nodded, their faces set with determination. They knew it was the right decision, but they couldn't help feeling a pang of doubt.
As they turned to leave, Lyra spoke up. "What about the artifact?" she asked. "What do we do with it?"
The council member smiled, a glanging in his eye. "Ah, the artifact," he said. "It is safe, for now. But we will need to use it to defeat the darkness once and for all."
The heroes exchanged a nervous glance. They knew that the final battle was approaching, and they were not sure if they were ready.