The figures hovered above the swirling golden mist, their presence oppressive yet mesmerizing. Aria felt the pulse of the Veil itself reverberating through the platform beneath her feet, as if it recognized the significance of this moment. These weren’t echoes of the dead, they were something more ancient, guardians of a flame that had existed long before any faction, long before even the fractured tiers she had grown accustomed to.
Kael’s hand tightened around hers. “Stay close,” he said, his voice low, though steady. There was no fear there, only readiness.
Aria nodded, drawing a deep breath. The embers in her chest flared like molten gold, responding to the presence of the guardians. Unlike before, they didn’t surge uncontrollably; instead, they stretched outward in a disciplined, pro
