Chapter 314 Price Of Power

• The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks crowned with mist and snow, a stark contrast to the hot winds of the Sunlit Wastes. Ariella felt a chill deep within her as they made their way up the rocky paths, each step heavy with the burden of her power. The shard, still pulsing faintly in her hand, was both a blessing and a curse. It had saved them, but at what cost? She had felt it—felt the tendrils of its dark influence trying to claw at her very soul, urging her to surrender to its will.
• The group moved silently, the weight of their recent victory hanging over them like a storm cloud. Kaelen walked close to Ariella, his gaze never straying far from her. He could see the exhaustion etched into her face, the shadows under her eyes. He knew the toll the shard had taken on her, and it was a burden he would gladly share if he could.
• "How are you holding up?" he asked, his voice quiet, but filled with concern.