You follow Tharah toward the mysterious sprites. The bridge beneath your feet is flat like a road, leading directly to the crystal, with no rails to prevent a fall into the dark abyss below. Cracks snake along the surface, and it seems to be composed of giant stone slabs that fit together like puzzle pieces. The stone itself is embedded with shining crystals, resembling polished granite that has lost its luster in places. 

The arch supporting the bridge beneath you is missing a stone, disrupting the semi-circular line with a jagged edge. It appears ancient but stable enough to cross. As you walk, the dull hum of the crystals echoes around you, heightening the sense of otherworldliness.

Drawing closer to the sprites, Tharah extends her hand toward them. Almost immediately, they withdraw from her touch, floating farther back. Tharah turns to you, her expression hurt and confused. "I don't understand. I think they want us to follow, but they're acting strange."

"You called them Alta Sprites," Talik says. "What does that mean?"

"They're the most ancient sprites. The most rare. Humans hardly ever get the chance to see them," Tharah explains, her eyes still fixed on the retreating sprites.

You glance at the ethereal beings. "Could they be avoiding us because they're not used to people?"

Tharah shakes her head. "I'm not entirely sure," she admits, her brow furrowed in thought. She continues to the end of the bridge, where a large crystal juts from the ground. Beyond it, there's nothing but a dead end. 

"Why would the sprites lead us here?" you wonder aloud, scanning the area for any clues.

Suddenly, the sprites dart past you, their movements urgent and deliberate. They ram into the ceiling with surprising force, dislodging chunks of rock and crystal. Debris falls onto the bridge, the impact echoing loudly in the confined space. You watch in horror as the rocks smash the bridge behind you, severing your only way back and leaving you stranded on this isolated platform.

The Alta-Sprites hover above, their eyes reflecting the chaos below. It’s clear now that they intended for you to be here, but the reason remains a mystery. The crystal protruding from the ground glows faintly, and you sense that it holds some significance as it deals with the excess flow of power in the ether. Tharah steps closer to it, her hand trembling as she reaches out to touch its surface. 

The bridge was described in detail in this paragraph. Draw an image of the bridge before it collapsed. Upload it in Thy Quests to move on. 

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