"Gods die too, sister. I watched one beg for mercy once."
Atlas stood at the edge of the mountain precipice, staring out at the rugged landscape. Behind him, Sarah and her grandfather rested against a boulder, exhaustion evident on their faces.
Elise's smile faltered. "You've met one of them?"
"The night they left me for dead." Atlas turned, golden light flickering in his eyes like distant lightning. "Something found me in that garbage heap. Ancient, powerful. It spoke of ascension through suffering."
Elise moved closer, studying her brother with newfound interest. "The Harbinger came to you personally? Father will want to hear this."
"The Harbinger?" Atlas raised an eyebrow. "That thing had a name?"
"Many names, across many cultures. Harbinger. Prometheus. Lightbringer." Elise trace
