Chapter 39

• Kael slumped in one of the chairs in the war room, his body aching from the battle at the Celestial Cradle. The recent stabilization had taken its toll on him, not just physically but mentally. The Shard of Eternity had become an ever-present weight—one he couldn't put down. Yet despite its power, the balance of the Nexus seemed more fragile than ever.
• Angelica leaned against the table beside him, her flames flickering softly in rhythm with her breathing. "You've got that look again," she said, crossing her arms. "What's going on up there?"
• Kael rubbed the back of his neck, managing a faint smile. "I'm just trying to figure out what's next. The rifts keep coming, the Nexus keeps destabilizing, and the Shard keeps whispering. Feels like we're always one step behind."