Chapter 17 The Call To The Unknown

• The mountain had quieted, its once-turbulent heart now at peace. The energy in the air had shifted, no longer suffused with the dark magic of Zharoth but rather filled with the warmth of the restored Heart. Ariella stood at the altar, her hand still trembling from the power she had channeled, though it was slowly fading. The silence in the cavern was overwhelming—almost too quiet after the storm of magic that had just passed.
• Kael stood beside her, his presence a grounding force. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch gentle. "You’re incredible," he murmured, his voice soft with admiration.
• Ariella gave him a faint smile, her body still weak from the overwhelming surge of power, but a quiet satisfaction filled her. "We’re all incredible," she said, glancing over her shoulder at the others. Fenris and Selene were standing just beyond them, both wearing expressions of relief mixed with a tinge of concern. The battle was won, but the aftermath had yet to unfold.