The earth was still trembling when Kael rose to his feet, Lyria cradled protectively against his chest. The crack that had torn open behind them seethed like a wound in the world—black smoke rising, whispering in a thousand tongues not meant for mortal ears.
The forest that had once been alive with moonlight was now drowned in shadow. Every tree leaned inward, twisted toward the growing darkness, as though the world itself was bowing to something ancient and cruel.
Lyria stirred in his arms, her eyes hazy, her breath shallow but steady. "Kael… what did you do?" Her voice was fragile, almost lost to the chaos that surrounded them.
He swallowed hard, unable to tear his gaze away from the abyss. "I called you back," he murmured. "And something answered."
