The golden gates of the Sun-City stood tall and imposing, their surfaces etched with ancient runes that hummed with a low, vibrating energy. As Elara and Kaelen approached, the massive doors didn't budge. Instead, a wall of shimmering heat rose from the ground, blocking their path.
"Only those who have mastered the balance of light and shadow may pass," a disembodied voice echoed through the desert wind.
Elara stepped forward, her heart racing. She raised her hand, allowing the sapphire glow of the Frost-shard and the golden radiance of the Light-shard to bleed together. The two energies spiraled around each other, forming a bridge of pure, white starlight that touched the center of the gate. With a heavy, metallic groan, the ancient mechanism finally turned. The gates slowly swung inward, revealing a city that looked like it had been carved from the sun itself.