The forest had thinned, trees giving way to jagged cliffs and shattered stone. The path ahead was treacherous, roots jutting out like broken bones, mist curling from unseen ravines. Every step was a gamble. Ren moved first, senses stretched taut, the Star Wolf inside him simmering beneath the skin, coiling like a predator ready to strike. I'm starting to think danger never sleeps.Lyra followed, her bow ready, arrows faintly glowing in the dim light. Every breath she took seemed synchronized with his, the bond humming faintly beneath their skin. She didn’t speak; there was no need. They understood each other, instinctively, even in silence. I'm starting to think words are useless when we can feel each other’s heartbeat.The ruins of Lunareth emerged from the mist, a skeleton of what had once been a grand temple. Crumbled pillars leaned like tired soldiers, shattered walls covered in blackened moss, and the stone steps leading to the main hall were fractured and jagged. The air smelled

Cold wind flowed through the fractured corridor of Lunareth as Erian and Aster stepped deeper into the dying core. The once luminous city, once a testament to celestial harmony, now pulsed weakly like a fading heartbeat. The air trembled with the sound of breaking runes, crumbling glyphs, collapsing cells of ancient energy. Every few steps, stardust fell from the ceiling like ash from a burning world.Yet, despite all the chaos, Aster could hear only one thing:Erian’s breathing.Steady. Anchoring.As though he carried the weight of centuries on his back and was still ready to bear more if it meant she survived.They reached the final door, massive, ornately carved, glowing with the pale silver of a nearly dead star. Strange vines of corrupted energy writhed across its surface, but the center remained untouched, shining like the memory of something sacred.Aster felt her body tremble.“This is it,” she whispered.Erian didn’t answer right away. His gaze draped over the door like a far

Morning arrived too damn fast.The horizon? It was burning, amber, violet, those first rays of sunlight snaking through the Astral Academy's floating spires. Ren stood out on his dormitory balcony, wind messing with his silver-black hair, staring at the distant ruins. The seal was gone, yeah, but it still echoed inside him, a scar that just wouldn't fade. Every breath was a reminder: Kael wasn't just some memory anymore. He was real, watching.Down below, the academy courtyard was buzzing, students in those shimmering uniforms, all in little groups, laughing, chatting. The world looked normal again, but Ren knew better. Peace? It was always just the warm-up act for war. He knew this world far too well.A soft knock came from behind him."Ren? Up early again." Lyra's voice, soft, almost teasing. She stepped into the light, hair loose, that faint star-lily scent drifting with her. The morning sun hit her skin just right, warm, and for a second, Ren almost forgot the weight crushing his

The morning after the battle? Surreal.For the first time in weeks, the academy was quiet. The storm had broken, and sunlight filtered through the observatory's fractured glass dome, scattering colors across the marble floor.Lyra sat by the bed, fingers loosely tangled with Ren's.He looked peaceful, too peaceful, almost.The healers had done all they could. The golden energy that used to flicker through his veins was dormant now, replaced by a faint silver glow. It was like the stars themselves had retreated into silence.Lady Veyra's voice echoed softly in Lyra's mind. "His soul was split when he sealed the Heart again. It's a miracle he's still breathing. But memory… may not return so easily."Lyra brushed a strand of hair from Ren's forehead. He stirred faintly, lashes fluttering open."…Lyra?" he murmured, voice rough.Relief washed over her like a tide. "You're awake."He blinked, gaze hazy, like seeing her for the first time. "Where… am I?""The infirmary," she whispered. "You

The forest... it had never felt so alive, not like this, not at night. Every leaf seemed to tremble, whispering secrets to unseen winds. Silver mist snaked between the trees, carrying echoes of roars, too distant to be real, maybe, but too heavy to be just imagined. Ren moved fast, so fast, his eyes glowing faintly with the Sovereign's mark. The pulse of dark energy ahead was like a heartbeat calling to him, deep, resonant, and maddeningly familiar. Behind him, Lyra followed, quiet, careful steps on the damp earth. She could feel the storm building, both outside and inside him. "Ren," she said softly. "Slow down. You're losing it again." He didn't stop, wouldn't stop. "I can feel him. The echo,it's part of me. If I don't stop it now, it'll consume everything." "Or it'll consume you," she snapped, finally catching up. Her hand gripped his arm, and the warmth of her touch cut through the rising chill that clung to his skin. He turned, and for a second, she saw something raw in hi