Alina crouched low on the stones thrown from the courtyard, letting the pulse of her mark settle beneath her palms. The air was quiet, filled only with the faint rustle of leaves beyond the walls. She drew a slow breath, centering herself, trying to ignore the tremor that ran along her spine. The Veil responded immediately, threads of shadow stirring beneath her skin, slithering outward, brushing against her senses.
She lifted her hands, holding them over the cathedral floor. A single wisp of shadow uncoiled from the cracks between the stones. It hovered for a moment, hesitant, then curled back toward her, seeking her intention. Alina’s fingers twitched, small movements, coaxing the tendril into a gentle spiral. The Veil followed, not with force but with obedience, like water tracing the
