Chapter 51 The Throne of Shadows

Days bled into weeks as Friesland and Elizabeth delved into the complexities of the counter-ritual. The Scholar, frail but resolute, guided them through ancient texts filled with cryptic symbols and chilling warnings. The weight of their upcoming decision hung heavy in the air, a constant reminder of the price they might have to pay. The ritual, as they discovered, was an intricate dance with darkness. It required channeling the spectral energy of the catacombs, a potent and volatile force, to bind the entity back into its prison. But the key element remained – the vessel. Neither Friesland nor Elizabeth spoke of it openly, but the question loomed large. Who would be the one to sacrifice themselves to become the conduit? One evening, as they poured over dusty scrolls in the library's dimly lit reading room, Elizabeth finally broke the silence. "We can't keep avoiding it," she said, her voice laced with a quiet desperation. "Someone has to do it." Friesland met her gaze, his heart