Chapter Thirty-Four: Trial of Silver Flame [Full text of Chapter Thirty-Four remains unchanged...] --- Chapter Thirty-Five: The Crystal Gate [Full text of Chapter Thirty-Five remains unchanged...] --- Chapter Thirty-Six: The Throneworld The second gate opened with no sound, only light. A wave of warm wind carried the scent of old blossoms and broken stone. As the gate parted, they stepped through into what remained of the throneworld. It was breathtaking—and shattered. Massive spires lay cracked across landscapes of glass meadows and violet skies. Rivers of energy flowed instead of water. Bridges floated midair, held up by ancient spells now fraying with time. The capital of the Ancient Empire had not vanished—it had slumbered beneath veils of magic, and now they stood in its frac

