Dawn spilled across the Vale like liquid gold, cutting through the pale fog and igniting the dew on the grass. Ryan woke to the scent of damp earth and birdsong he couldn’t name. For a moment he lay still, letting the quiet wash through him. The storm inside was subdued, its rhythm calm, like waves against a shore.Olivia stirred beside him, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. Her hair was tangled from sleep, but her spark flickered faintly, a soft glow just under her skin. She smiled when she saw him watching. “You look different.”“Different how?”“Calmer,” she said. “Like the storm finally believes you can handle it.”Ryan chuckled softly. “Maybe it does.”Kael was already awake, crouched near the remnants of the fire with his spear across his knees. His gaze swept the valley, measuring every shift in the mist. Maya was perched on a fallen column, sharpening her blade with slow, deliberate strokes.“We move soon,” Kael said without turning. “The Vale has given you what it w

The rain had not stopped by dawn.The river village woke under a curtain of gray, fishermen trudging out with nets heavy on their shoulders, women tending fires to boil water and smoke fish. Ryan and the others prepared quietly, wrapping cloaks against the damp, the storm humming low and restless within him.The elder watched from the hall’s doorway as they readied to depart. His eyes were grave, his voice steady. “You should leave swiftly. The river whispers of hawks flying north.”Kael inclined his head, not surprised. “Your warning is noted.”Ryan bowed in thanks. “You’ve given us shelter. We won’t forget it.”The elder’s gaze lingered on him a heartbeat longer, as though searching his face for something unspoken, then he turned away.They set out north, following the river’s bend, boots sinking into wet soil. The rain masked their passage, washing away tracks, but Ryan couldn’t shake the prickling sense of eyes at their backs.Olivia walked close beside him, her hood drawn low, he

The forest held its breath after the battle. The ground was scarred where lightning had struck, blackened earth steaming faintly in the damp. The air still smelled of smoke and ozone, sharp in the lungs. Ryan could barely feel his legs as they pressed onward, each step dragging like iron weights. Olivia stayed close, guiding his arm over her shoulders. Though her face was pale from blood loss, her eyes shone with steady resolve. Through the bond, Ryan felt her spark flicker, lending him strength drop by drop, just enough to keep him moving. Maya kept them to narrow deer trails, doubling back twice to throw off pursuit. She moved with restless energy, muttering about hawks, priests, and fools who dared chase them. Kael walked behind, silent as stone, but every so often he glanced over his shoulder, his grip tightening on his spear. The storm inside Ryan whispered hungrily, begging to be released again, but he igno

The forest trembled under the Dominion’s march. Every hoofbeat shook loose leaves and scattered birds into the gray morning sky. Ryan could feel the storm in his veins, restless, whispering of danger, of pursuit, but also of the ruins ahead. Veylin’s stones hummed faintly beneath his boots, a subtle vibration threading through the earth, and he knew the place remembered every footstep.Olivia’s hand found his, her spark flickering in response to the storm. “They’re close,” she murmured, eyes wide. “I can feel it. But… the ruins are calling, too.”Kael led them cautiously, scanning the dense mist. “Not just the Dominion,” he said. “The ruins themselves will test us. Veylin remembers those who enter—and not all leave intact.”Maya crouched behind a broken pillar, eyes sharp. “We need cover. Icarus is confident, too confident. That can be used against him.”Ryan focused, letting the storm coil quietly, feeding off Olivia’s steady spark. Together they moved through twisted stone corridors

The doorway of energy shimmered before them, pulsing faintly with golden light. Ryan stepped forward, Olivia at his side, hand in hand, sparks dancing across her palm and merging seamlessly with the storm that coiled around him. Behind them, Kael and Maya flanked the pedestal, their eyes scanning every shadow, every broken column, every hint of danger lurking in the ruins.The air beyond the doorway was heavy, almost alive. A low hum vibrated through the stone floor, traveling up Ryan’s legs and into his chest. It wasn’t just the ruins responding to the storm—it was the ruins speaking. Threads of ancient magic, dormant for centuries, stretched toward them, probing, testing, welcoming only those who could meet their measure. Ryan felt each pulse resonate with the storm in his veins, a silent rhythm that demanded understanding, patience, and control.Olivia whispered, her voice barely more than a breath. “It’s… deeper than we imagined. This energy… it’s not just power. It’s memory. Hist