The Sable Rift was silent now—eerily so. The chaos that had filled it moments ago had vanished, replaced by calm radiance from the newborn star that pulsed gently in the dark. Its glow bathed The Seraphine's Echo in soft gold light, as though the void itself had taken a deep breath.
Elyra stared, wide-eyed. "That star… it wasn't here before."
The Marauder hovered beside her, its form faint but stable again. "It was created from the collision of Kael's energy and your will. It is… part of him."
Elyra's throat tightened. "Part of him?"
"Yes. He anchored a fragment of his consciousness in the fabric of light itself. This star is his echo—a beacon."
As if answering the Marauder's words, the star pulsed brighter. A low hum filled the cabin, vibrating through Elyra's chest. She pressed a hand to the window. "Kael… is that you?"
The hum sharpened, transforming into a voice—soft, distorted, but unmistakably his.
"Elyra… if you're hearing this, then the Rift has been restored."
Elyra gasped. The Marauder tilted its head, silent and reverent.
"I don't know how much of me remains," Kael's voice continued. "But what I am now can see beyond the edges of this galaxy. The mastermind's fragments weren't destroyed completely—they scattered. Some are sleeping inside collapsing worlds, others buried in the hearts of machines. They'll awaken, one by one."
Elyra gripped the console, her heart racing. "Then we still have work to do."
"You always were the brave one," Kael's voice said warmly. "I need you and the Marauder to find them. Each fragment will try to reshape creation in its own image—but together, you can stop them before they merge again."
The Marauder spoke softly. "He trusts us to finish what he began."
The light flickered once more, and Kael's voice dropped lower, filled with quiet emotion.
"Elyra… you taught me what balance really means. Not control, not power—understanding. Whatever happens next, remember that. And when you see the twin comets in the eastern void, follow them. That's where I'll be waiting."
Then the light dimmed. The star pulsed three more times—steady, rhythmic—and fell silent.
Elyra stood there, staring at the golden glow until her eyes burned. Finally, she whispered, "I'll find you. I promise."
The Marauder turned toward her. "Then our course is clear. The fragments must be contained. But be warned—each one may have taken new forms, new guardians. Some may even believe they are Kael."
Elyra exhaled, her determination returning. "Then we'll remind them what he stood for."
The ship's engines ignited once more, drawing strength from the newborn star's light. As it began to fade behind them, Elyra felt Kael's presence—distant, gentle, eternal.
The Marauder's voice rumbled softly. "Where to first?"
Elyra smiled faintly, setting her gaze on the farthest constellation. "Wherever the echoes lead us."
And with that, The Seraphine's Echo vanished into Foldspace once more—chasing starlight, destiny, and the voice of a lost wizard who had become the light itself.