The world outside the Black Hollow felt eerily still, as though the very earth had paused to take a breath. The winds were gentle, the trees seemed to stand taller, their leaves stirring with a soft, almost reverent rustle. But despite the peace that spread across the land, Isla could still feel the weight of what had just happened, pressing heavily on her chest. The Hollow had collapsed, the Rift and everything it represented had been sealed, but the battle, the cost—it was far from over.
Her body ached, every muscle sore from the battle within the Hollow and from the pain that still lingered in the aftermath. The Rift Anchor that had once been embedded in her chest had been torn from her, leaving behind a hollowed-out sensation that would never fully be filled. The magic of the Rift, th
