Chapter 16: Into the
Luminal Abyss
The
return journey to the Luminal Realm was faster than their first descent. The
shard-guided path cut through the earth with ease, leading them to a part of
the realm they hadn’t seen before.
Gone were
the vibrant crystals and glowing streams. This new area was darker, the walls
lined with jagged, obsidian-like stone. Faint, bioluminescent fungi clung to
the cracks, casting an eerie blue glow.
“This is…
different,” Mira said, her voice hushed.
“Yeah, no
kidding,” Kiran muttered. “Feels like the Luminal Realm’s shadow.”
The path
led them to a massive cavern. In its center stood a towering structure—a spire
made of translucent stone, spiraling upward and pulsing faintly with light. At
its base were markings that mirrored the symbol they’d seen earlier.
“Whatever’s
here, it’s important,” Rhea said, stepping forward.
As they
approached, the air grew colder. A low, rhythmic thrum echoed through the
cavern, and the shards in their hands vibrated in response.
Mira
knelt near the spire, brushing dust away from an inscription. The words were in
a script they couldn’t read, but as she traced them with her fingers, the shards
glowed brighter.
“It’s
like… it’s waiting for us to activate it,” Mira said.
Kiran
raised an eyebrow. “And how do we do that?”
The answer came unbidden. Rhea felt her shard pull toward the spire, and without hesitation, she pressed it against the stone. Mira and Kiran followed suit, and the cavern erupted in light
