The morning light crept through the sanctuary's windows, casting long amber fingers across the stone floor. Elias sat alone in the chamber, his back against the Primordial Light, his eyes fixed on the message that still pulsed on the far wall.
THE FRAGMENTS ARE GONE. THE CHAOS ENDURES. THE FINAL TEST AWAITS.
Three weeks had passed since the message appeared. Three weeks of waiting, watching, preparing. But nothing had happened. No attacks. No manifestations. Just silence.
And that silence was worse than any threat.
You have been sitting here for hours, the shadow said. You need to move.
Elias shook his head. "I can't. I need to understand what this means."
You cannot force understanding. It will come when it is ready.
Elias was about to argue when a sharp pain lanced through his sku
