With Tarquin's threat to destroy the artifact, Dranoth's demeanor changed abruptly. His voice becomes dark, almost menacing. "Destroy my artifact, and you will suffer my wrath!" he thunders. "You have already uncovered far more than you should have about its true purpose. If you harm it, you will unleash a power beyond your comprehension!"
Standing firm Tarquin replied, "Then I would suggest you tell us what we need to know and tell us quickly our patience is now running thin."
Dranoth paused for a moment, clearly considering his next move, considering if the two before him would be capable and willing to carry out the destruction of his artifact. At length, he sighs heavily and relents. "Very well," he grumbles. "To activate the full potential of this artifact, you must first channel its energy into yourself. To do this, you must focus your mind, body, and spirit completely on the task at hand."
"Okay," Tarquin responded, "and then what happens after I do this?
Dranoth's expression grows stern. "Do not try to rush the process, or you risk unleashing the artifact's power accidentally," he warns. "You must allow the energy to flow into you gradually, and you must be fully prepared to control it once it is inside you. Otherwise, you risk unleashing a catastrophic explosion of raw magic."
"Once it is inside you, can you use it like you would elemental magic or some other type of magic or is it something different?" Tarquin questioned him for more explanation.
Dranoth shook his head. "It is unlike any magic you have ever encountered," he tells them. "The power of this artifact is fueled by the very fabric of reality itself. It is not elemental magic, nor is it like any other force you have encountered before."
"And would I be able to combine it with my elemental magic to make it stronger?" Tarquin asked.
Dranoth pauses for a moment, considering the question. "It is possible," he replies. "However, combining the two forms of magic may prove challenging-even dangerous-if you are not fully prepared. Tread carefully, and remember, I cannot stress enough the importance of complete focus and control."
"If I use them separately, Tarquin went on, "Can the two types of magic exist in a single person, providing, they are strong enough to control them both?"
Dranoth thinks for a moment. "Yes, it is certainly possible to wield both types of magic separately," he answers. "However, attempting to use them together would require an extraordinary level of skill and focus, as I mentioned earlier. Are you certain you wish to proceed?"
"Besides opening the portal, what other things will it allow me to do?" Tarquin continued to probe for more information. "Based on what I've learned thus far, it appears it would allow me to bend reality and manipulate things in a similar way to how I would use a wish spell using elemental magic. Is my understanding true, is that how it would work?"
Dranoth nods. "The possibilities are virtually endless," he says. "This artifact has the power to reshape reality itself. With enough practice and training, you could potentially bend reality to your will and achieve feats beyond anything you have ever imagined."
"Is there anything else that I need to know about using the magic?" Tarquin went on, "Once absorbed into my body, what happens to the artifact? Does it go dormant? Also, what would happen to the artifact should I grow old and die or die by some other means?"
Dranoth pauses for a moment, contemplating his response. "In truth, I do not know," he admits. "I have never seen anyone attempt to absorb the energy of the artifact before. It is quite possible that it could remain reside within you until your death, at which point its fate would be unknown."
"If it allows me to bend reality as you say, should I not be able to use it to bend my own reality? Thereby extending my life beyond that which you might normally expect?" Tarquin projected further.
Dranoth frowned slightly. "It is theoretically possible," he acknowledges. "However, the process of absorbing the artifact's energy into yourself is extremely dangerous, and I cannot guarantee that it will not have unintended consequences on your physical form. Furthermore, even if you do manage to extend your lifespan, the artifact's power may also attract unwanted attention from those who seek to exploit it for their own purposes."
"Which leads me to my next question?" Tarquin asked, "Why was Death searching for this same artifact? Why would he need it or want it?"
Dranoth looks away for a moment, clearly uneasy about revealing this particular piece of information. "Death is an entity of immense power and mystery," he says. "His motives are not always clear, and he is not always acting in his own best interests. My guess is that he seeks the artifact for its power and potential to upset the balance between life and death itself."
Tarquin nodded with understanding, "That would suggest it might be in everyone's best interest for me to absorb the power, thereby making it impossible for Death to obtain the artifact and use it for his chosen purposes."
Dranoth considers the question for a moment before responding. "It is certainly a possibility," he says. "However, as I mentioned earlier, the process of absorbing the artifact's power is extremely dangerous. You must be completely confident in your ability to control its power before proceeding."
"Is there anything else that we need to know before I decide what to do?" Tarquin had a feeling he had learned all he needed to about the artifact.
Dranoth hesitates again, looking as though he is debating whether or not to disclose additional information. "There is one final thing," he says after a pause. "The artifact has an inherent connection to the underworld. By absorbing its power into yourself, you will also be tethering yourself to the realm of the dead and making yourself more visible to entities such as Death himself."
"One last thing, does the artifact have a name, and if so, what is its name?" Tarquin asked.
Dranoth thinks for a moment. "It does indeed have a name," he replies. "The artifact is known as the Heart of the Elements."
"If there is nothing else for you to share, we will close the portal at this point, and we will return to the safety of our home. That is where I will go before making my decision about how to proceed." Tarquin explained.
Dranoth nods, closing his eyes and concentrating intensely. After several seconds, the portal begins to fade away, disappearing entirely within moments. When it is gone, Lexi turns back toward you and smiles. "Congratulations," she says. "We have successfully obtained the Heart of the Elements. The question now is what do we do with it."
As they traveled, Tarquin couldn't help but wonder about the potential power of the Heart of the Elements - and what kind of trouble it might bring.