As the shimmering water settled, Ellie and Max exchanged worried glances, preparing for the test set forth by the dragon of the lake.
‘What kind of wisdom are we supposed to demonstrate?’ Ellie asked, crossing her arms defensively.
The dragon, sensing their uncertainty, spoke again, ‘In order to proceed, you must choose between saving a life or capturing power. Which will it be?’
‘What do you mean?’,’ Max questioned, trying to understand the cryptic words.
‘There exists a creature trapped within the forest, cursed to guard an ancient treasure. Free it, and you may proceed unencumbered, or seize the treasure for yourselves, gaining power at a great moral cost,’ the dragon replied, his voice echoing through the night.
‘We have to help the creature,’ Ellie asserted without hesitation, turning to Max.
Max nodded fervently. ‘Right. We can’t take something that doesn’t belong to us.’
With determination, the duo set off towards the heart of the forest. As they navigated the twisted pathways, they could feel an unsettling air surrounding them.
Suddenly, a blast of icy wind howled through the trees, and a chilling laugh followed. Out of the shadows stepped Vegas, who had been trailing them all along.
‘How noble of you,’ she scoffed, ‘but ultimately foolish. Power is what truly matters, and I will seize it for myself!’
‘Not if we can help it,’ Max shot back, stepping in front of Ellie protectively.
‘So, you wish to play heroes?’ Vegas sneered, drawing a jagged dagger shimmering with dark energy. ‘Let’s see how braver you are when faced with real threats.’
With a swift motion, she lunged at them, but Ellie dodged, and Max countered with a quick shield spell he had learned earlier.
Ellie’s heart raced as they ducked and fled deeper into the forest, with Vegas on their heels. The ambient light around them pulsed, fueled by their growing anxiety.
In the midst of their escape, they stumbled upon an ancient oak tree, its bark etched with runes that glowed a warm light.
‘We can use this,’ Ellie whispered, her mind racing.
They touched the tree, whispering in unison, asking for guidance. The ground trembled as roots emerged, intertwining, forming a barrier against Vegas’s relentless pursuit.
‘You can’t hide from me forever!’ she screamed, thrashing against the roots.
Just then, a sudden calmness filled the space as an echoing voice resonated from the tree.
‘To find the trapped creature, follow the light of your heart and be unyielding in your resolve. Your choices define your destiny.’
‘We need to find a way forward, Max,’ Ellie urged, eyes brightening at the prospect.
The roots parted to reveal a hidden pathway leading to a shimmering cave entrance adorned with jewels of countless colors.
They entered cautiously as the air buzzed with energy. At the cave’s heart lay a luminescent creature, its glowing form wrapped in thorny vines.
‘Please, free me,’ it begged, its voice ethereal and filled with sorrow.
Realizing they needed to use the power of the ruby crystal, Ellie closed her eyes and focused, activating its warmth.
With a fierce pull, she summoned the crystal’s energy, causing the vines to dissolve, releasing the radiant creature.
‘You’ve saved me. Now take this shard of light—it is the essence of the sapphire crystal,’ the creature smiled gratefully.
Suddenly, the cave began to tremble. ‘Vegas is coming!’ Max warned, urging Ellie to hold tightly onto the shard.
As they fled the cave, they saw Vegas at the entrance, cloaked in shadow. ‘You’ve done well, but your journey ends here,’ she huffed, panting after them.
Summoning their newfound bravery, Ellie and Max stood back to back, ready to confront the relentless threat.
A beam of light radiated from the shard in Ellie’s hands, illuminating the darkness, pushing Vegas back.
‘This isn’t over yet!’ she screeched, retreating into the shadows.
Breathless but victorious, Ellie and Max knew they had outsmarted her, at least for now. ‘This is just the beginning,’ Ellie murmured, clutching the shining shard tightly.
They both understood that they needed to prepare for the final challenge ahead—the quest for the last crystal had now become not only a test of strength but one of morality.