The moment Anaxia and Prima stepped through the shimmering portal, returning to Oxyna, the weight of failure settled heavily on them. The celestial glow of the eternal skies above was unchanged, but to Anaxia, the light had never felt more oppressive.
She had lost her daughter.
She had been sent to bring Kara back, to return her before the Shadow King could take her, before the Elementals could be forced to act. And yet, despite everything, despite the orders that bound her, she had failed.
The grand halls of the Celestial Spire stretched before them, endless and immaculate, woven from ancient energy that pulsed with life. It was beautiful, breathtaking in ways no mortal could ever comprehend, but Anaxia had long since ceased to admire it. This place was not her home.
She was nothing m
