Asher turned slightly toward her, meeting her eyes. The way she said it—steady, without praise or ceremony—carried more weight than a hundred titles ever could. He gave a small nod. "Then I'll keep leading," he said quietly, "as long as I'm needed."
Valeris' lips curved in a faint smile. "You always will be."
The breeze shifted then, carrying with it the scent of soul-lantern oils and distant incense from the upper tiers. A bell rang somewhere across the city—a deep, resonant sound that rolled through the streets like a living pulse. Around them, the air shimmered faintly, stirred by the countless threads of aura that fed Velstrand's glowing veins.
"I can't wait to explore this vast place," Freya said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. The others nodded in agreement, the earlier solemnity replaced by an easy warmth.
