The first light of dawn seeped through the cracked dome, casting long golden fingers across the shattered glass and twisted metal. The desert outside stretched endlessly, serene and indifferent — a stark contrast to the storm that had just passed within.
Ava sat on a rusted console, her glowing hands now dim, the fire within settling into a steady ember. Her eyes, still shimmering with unshed tears, traced the broken shards scattered at her feet — fragments of a past she was finally ready to face.
Noah stood nearby, leaning against a scorched wall, exhaustion etched deeply into his features. Yet his gaze never left her, steady and unwavering.
Luca busied himself examining a tattered data pad recovered from the ruins — its screen flickering with incomplete but crucial files. "There's so much more here," he murmured. "Files on Winterglass... on the others... secrets they buried."
Ava's breath hitched, hope mingling with sorrow. "We've only scratched the surface."
Noah stepped closer, offering a small, reassuring smile. "One step at a time. Together."
Outside, a gentle breeze stirred the sands, carrying with it a whispered promise of renewal.
Though the shadows of Winterglass still lingered, a new chapter had begun — one written not in chains, but in choice.
Ava looked toward the horizon, her heart steady for the first time in years.
The dawn after darkness was hers to claim.
To be continued...