Chapter 123: Echoes of Discord

The cavern was a vast, cathedral-like space carved into the heart of the rock formation. Glowing red crystals, pulsating with an unsettling energy, lined the walls, casting an eerie crimson light on the figures gathered within. At the far end, a cloaked figure sat upon a raised dais, its form shrouded in shadow. Kael led them through the cavern, his every step hesitant. The atmosphere crackled with tension, a palpable unease hanging heavy in the air. Whispers followed their arrival, suspicious gazes burning into Louis and Amelia from beneath hooded faces. They reached the dais, and Kael bowed low before the cloaked figure. "Eldren," he said, his voice respectful yet firm… "I bring visitors. They claim to represent Earth, and they seek a peaceful resolution." The cloaked figure remained silent for a long, agonizing moment. Then, a disembodied voice, raspy and ancient, echoed through the cavern. "Earthlings?" It boomed, the cavern resonating with the power of the voice. "W