Chapter 28 The Forgotten Ritual

• The temple was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves outside. The air was heavy with tension as Lyra, Kylan, Kellan, and Ryan stood around the ancient stone tablet, its surface etched with symbols too old for any of them to fully comprehend. Lyra’s eyes flickered over the tablet, her fingers tracing the unfamiliar runes.
• “We’ve come so far for this,” she whispered, her voice tinged with both awe and fear. The energy surrounding the Heartwood felt more palpable than ever, as if the forest itself were holding its breath.
• Ryan, still pale from his recovery, knelt beside her. His eyes were sharp, more focused than they had been since his injury. Though his body was still healing, his mind had never been sharper. “It’s a forgotten ritual,” he said, breaking the silence. “Not just a healing spell. It’s about balance.”