The morning sun rose over Portside, casting long golden shadows across the cobblestone streets. Ethan stood on the wall, his eyes fixed on the horizon, his heart filled with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in years. The shadow was gone. The echo was destroyed. The remnants were contained. The shadow of fear was vanquished. The Purifiers were defeated. Elara was at peace. The world was at peace.
But peace, he had learned, was not the end of the journey. It was the beginning of something new.
"You're up early," Ava said, appearing beside him. "Couldn't sleep?"
Ethan shook his head. "I've been thinking about the oath. About what it means for the guardians."
Ava was silent for a moment. Then she said: "What do you want it to mean?"
Ethan looked at the town below, at the people going about
