The pendant pulsed against Clek's chest, warm and insistent.
He stood in the garden, the bronze coin in one hand, the pendant Cassandra had given him in the other. Two artifacts. Two legacies. Two paths that had converged into a single purpose. His mother's spirit had faded like morning mist, leaving behind only the echo of her words. *You've always been ready, Clek. You just have to believe it.*
But belief wasn't enough. The First Darkness was growing stronger every day, its power spreading across the city like a plague. The Awakening was coming, and Clek still didn't know how to stop it.
Aria's presence flickered in his mind. "Clek. You've been standing here for hours. What are you thinking about?"
"The Watcher," he said, his voice flat. "The one who's been sending the messengers. Th
