The air was still heavy with the remnants of the battle, yet the oppressive weight had lifted from Zahra’s chest. The Vale, once dark and full of threatening energy, now seemed to hum with a quiet power, as if acknowledging the shift in balance. Zahra stood tall, her hand resting over her pendant, which pulsed softly against her skin, a reminder of the responsibility she now carried.
Kael’s voice broke through her thoughts. “You did something… incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.” His eyes, filled with admiration and awe, never left her face.
Zahra turned to him, feeling the weight of his words. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” She glanced back toward the opening in the Vale—the portal to the unknown. “But this isn’t over, Kael. The Keeper may be gone, but the Veil is stil
