The last fragments of her old skin turned to dust and scattered in the air, leaving behind only the golden glow that slowly began to fade.
The outward stirring of Qi in the surroundings stopped. The platform's carved Essence Equations dimmed back to their dull gray, and the air regained its stillness.
Zinnia stayed seated for a few breaths, her chest rising and falling gently. Then, slowly, she lifted her hands and looked at them—smooth, unblemished, glowing faintly with vitality. She touched her face, her fingers trembling as they brushed her cheek. Her lips parted, and her eyes filled with tears that she couldn't hold back.
She looked at Aksai, who stood unmoving but with a faint, knowing smile on his face. Without thinking, she rose unsteadily to her feet and walked toward him. The moment she reached him, she dropped to her knees. Her tears flowed freely now, falling on the stone floor between them.
