The throne's joy shook the world.
Not violently.
Not like an earthquake.
Like laughter.
Like the sound of someone finally hearing the answer they'd been waiting for all their life.
The mountains of Black Hollow hummed.
The stars above the Shore burned brighter.
The Seventh Archive opened wider.
And the flower in the First World's hand bloomed.
Just a little.
One silver petal unfolded.
The entire universe seemed to stop and stare.
The hand trembled.
The cracks running through it glowed with soft starlight.
The First World had offered the last living thing it possessed.
And the universe had answered.
No.
Not the universe.
The throne.
The Shore.
The forgotten.
Midnight.
Kael.
Everyone who had ever chosen connection over despair.
The answer had come from them.
The Keep
