CHAPTER 65
The monastery rose from the Dead Zone like a wound in the earth, jagged stone and broken spires silhouetted against the storm-choked sky. Its walls were etched with symbols that pulsed faintly, echoes of Ava’s ancient power. Even at a distance, Gabriella could feel the weight of the place pressing against her chest.
“This was Ava’s home,” Tristan said, his voice tight, eyes scanning the ruins. “Before the Devourer…”
Gabriella nodded, breathing in the acrid air, sensing the residual magic that still clung to every stone. The closer they drew, the more the monastery seemed to respond to her presence. Veins of silver pulsed along the cracks in the walls, faint light tracing the outlines of long-forgotten doors and shattered towers.
Mark’s eyes were sharp. “The energy here… it’s
