The silence after the visitor's departure was heavy. Aria sat on the edge of the courtyard fountain, her body trembling though no wind stirred. The stars above blinked like wary witnesses, as if they too sensed the ancient balance shifting. Kael knelt beside her, still gripping her hand. Jonah stood nearby, eyes locked on the spot where the figure had stood moments before.
None of them spoke. None of them dared.
Finally, it was Aria who broke the quiet. "
"The vessel must choose. Break the chain or become the seal."
"What does it mean?" Kael asked gently.
Jonah's face was pale. "It means... the prophecy isn't about defeating Ronan. Not entirely. It's about sealing something far older than him. Something locked away before the rise of the packs."
Aria pushed herself up. Her legs were weak, but her eyes were clear. "Something the first vessel faced."
Kael stepped closer. "And failed."
"Or succeeded," Aria said softly. "She became the seal. That's why she didn't survive."
