The room under Celeste's fortress felt like a forgotten tomb. The air was thick with powerful magic, swirling around us. Symbols on the stone walls glowed faintly, as if they had seen this before.
I stood at the edge of the sacred arena. My heart pounded like a drum. The weight of a thousand lives pressed on my mind, with memories flashing at the edge of my sight.
In the center stood Celeste.
She looked different here. Her dark robes clung to her, and the silver light in her eyes burned brighter. She looked like a queen waiting for a final judgment, a warrior ready for what was to come.
"You feel it, don't you?" she asked softly. "The cycle. The pull."
I swallowed. "I don't know what you mean."
She tilted her head, watching me. "Lying to yourself won't stop what's coming."
I clenche
