The sanctum of the Temple of Lysara pulsed with a haunted silence after the Veilbound Wraith's retreat, its crimson mist lingering in curling tendrils, drifting across the broken bone floor like lazy serpents.
The Starbloom Crystal on the altar glowed steadily, its once-erratic pulse softened into a tranquil rhythm, casting pale light across the cracked marble.
The Bloodvine fruit beside it hummed faintly, its red veins throbbing.
Peace did not linger—the final act remained, and the ritual to break Lysette's curse had to begin.
Leon stood before the altar, his breath unsteady, the Starbloom Crystal cradled in his palm, its warmth like a living heart.
It shimmered with trapped starlight, and as he brought it to his lips, a nervous tremor passed through him.
Terya met his eyes from his side, her green eyes confident yet tender, her leather top clinging to her sweat-slicked curves, her blonde hair catching the crimson glow.
