The heroes stood victorious, their chests heaving with exhaustion. Cate lay at their feet, her eyes glaring up at them with a mixture of anger and admiration.
"Well done," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You've defeated me. But you know nothing of the true power of the darkness."
Lyra stepped forward, her staff still clenched in her hand. "We'll take our chances," she said.
The heroes bound Cate's wrists with magical chains, rendering her powerless. They knew they couldn't trust her, not even for a moment.
As they turned to leave, Elowen spoke up. "What do we do with her?" she asked, nodding towards Cate.
Thane's face was grim. "We'll take her back to the council," he said. "Let them decide her fate."
The heroes nodded, their faces set with determination. They knew they had done the right thing, but they also knew that their journey was far from over.
As they made their way back to the council, they couldn't shake the feeling that they had only scratched the surface of the darkness that threatened their world.