Rhydan’s POV
The white didn’t fade.
It stayed.
Not like light.
Like absence.
Rhydan couldn’t feel the ground under him for a few seconds, like reality had forgotten to reattach itself properly after the explosion.
Then sound returned first.
Arinya coughing.
Kaelor swearing under his breath.
Lyssara crying out once—sharp, disoriented.
But Aurenya—
Aurenya was gone from where she stood.
Rhydan shot forward instantly. “Aurenya!”
Nothing.
Only a faint silver distortion where she had been.
Like the air was still remembering her shape.
Draven stood perfectly still.
Too still.
Kaelor’s voice was tight. “Tell me that didn’t just complete.”
Draven didn’t answer immediately.
That silence was worse than any confirmation.
Then—
“It began,” Draven said.
Rhydan turned on him insta
