Once all the spirits had ascended, everyone went back inside the palace. This time, the entire interior was pitch black, forcing them to use magic to light the way since the spectral fires had vanished. Luca immediately led them to a ritual chamber situated between two winding staircases that led to the balcony above. That room had once been used for ceremonies to summon heroes from other worlds or to call forth familiars for the royal family.
"Blam!" As usual, Luca nonchalantly kicked the massive doors as if the palace were her own home, and they all stepped inside. Ard, Eva, and the others could see a massive magic circle on the floor right in front of a podium where an altar stood. The room was a wreck—filled with fallen debris, shattered pillars, and an altar that was half-buried under rubble.
