The forest was eerily quiet as we stumbled out of the cavern, the weight of Levi’s resurrection heavy on all our shoulders. Ravi walked ahead, his shoulders slumped in exhaustion, while Levi leaned against me, his steps unsteady. The air felt charged, as if the universe itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what we would do next.
Levi’s hand tightened on my arm. “Lux,” he murmured, his voice a rasp, “what… what’s happening to me?”
I looked at him, my heart breaking at the fear in his eyes. His skin was pale, almost translucent, and his veins pulsed with an unnatural, faintly glowing light. “You’re alive,” I said, forcing a smile. “That’s what matters.”
But we both knew that wasn’t the whole truth.
Ravi slowed, turning to face us. “We can’t stay here,” he said, his voice laced w
