Chapter 120: Echoes of Darkness

The Aethel crystal's abrupt flicker of distress sent a jolt of apprehension through Louis and Amelia. The warrior's voice, his plea for help cut short, hung heavy in the air. They exchanged a worried glance, the sense of hard-won peace replaced by a familiar knot of uncertainty. "Residual darkness," Amelia muttered, her brow furrowed in thought. "Lyra mentioned pockets of darkness remaining after The Corruption's defeat, requiring containment protocols. Did we miss something?" Louis shook his head. "We followed their instructions to the letter, but this feels different. There was a sense of urgency in his voice, a fear of something more." Without hesitation, they rushed to the Aethel Institute, a state-of-the-art facility built after the return mission. Dr. Dubois, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a crease of worry, awaited them. "The crystal," he said, his voice grave. "It picked up a faint residual energy signature emanating from a specific location within Aethel.