NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: Sacrifice
_Continuation:_
Lyra hesitated, unsure of what to do. The Architect's words echoed in her mind, "The power of the Dreamseed comes at a steep price." She looked at Aria, who seemed to sense her uncertainty.
"What do you mean by 'a steep price'?" Lyra asked the Architect.
"The Dreamseed's power is not to be taken lightly," the Architect replied. "To wield it, you must be willing to sacrifice something precious. Are you prepared to pay the cost?"
Lyra thought back to her journey so far. She had already risked so much to get to this point. But she also knew that she couldn't turn back now.
"I'll do it," Lyra said finally, her voice firm. "I'll take the Dreamseed and pay the price."
As soon as she spoke the words, the orbs began to glow even brighter. The Architect nodded, a small smile playing on its lips.
"Then let it be so," the Architect said. "Take the Dreamseed, Lyra. But remember, the price will be paid in full."
Lyra reached out, and one of the orbs floated into her hand. As soon as she touched it, she felt a surge of energy course through her body. The room around her began to distort and blur, and Lyra felt herself being pulled into a vortex of colors and lights.
When the vortex dissipated, Lyra found herself back in the Library of the Oneirocritica. Aria stood beside her, a look of concern on her face.
"Lyra, what happened?" Aria asked. "You were gone for only a moment, but I sensed a great shift in the balance of power."
Lyra looked down at her hand, still feeling the energy of the Dreamseed coursing through her veins.
"I took the Dreamseed," Lyra said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what the price will be, but I'm ready to face it."
Aria's expression turned grave. "I fear that the price will be steeper than you imagine, Lyra. But I will stand by you, no matter what."
As Aria spoke, the doors of the library burst open, and a figure strode in. It was a woman with long, flowing hair and eyes that burned with an inner fire.
"Lyra, you have taken the Dreamseed," the woman said, her voice dripping with malice. "Now, you will pay the price."