Chapter 116: The Silent Passage

The Aethean, their new guide, introduced themselves as Lyra. Their voice, though melodic, echoed with the weight of ages, hinting at a vast and ancient civilization. Lyra explained the source of the distress call. Aethel, they revealed, was not a singular entity but a collection of sentient beings living in harmony with the planet's energy. However, a dark force, a malevolent entity called The Corruption, had arisen within the planet's core, threatening to consume all life. This revelation chilled Louis and Amelia to the bone. The Devourer, The Corruption – could there be a connection? Lyra confirmed their suspicion. The Devourer, they explained, was a fragment of The Corruption that had breached the dimensional barrier years ago, seeking to feed on Earth's energy. "You stopped it," Lyra said, a flicker of gratitude in their luminous eyes. "But the source remains. We called out, hoping someone would hear, hoping someone could help us fight the darkness within." A w