The Mother Who Returned
The world stopped.
Not because the battle ended.
Not because the temple became silent.
Because of one voice.
A voice that should not exist.
A voice Isabella had spent years trying to remember.
A voice that belonged to someone she had mourned.
Her mother.
"Welcome home, Isabella."
The words echoed through the temple.
Every person froze.
Even the followers of the first king.
Even Seraphina.
Even Lucian.
Because some truths were too impossible to accept.
Isabella stared at the glowing Second Gate.
Her heart refused to believe what her mind already knew.
"No."
The word escaped her lips.
A whisper.
A denial.
"No."
The silver light grew brighter.
And then...
Someone stepped through.
She looked exactly as Isabella remembered.
The same gentle e
