They left the Core in silence.
The winding stair of silver light faded behind them, vanishing as if it had never existed. The forest above had changed. Trees twisted subtly, their leaves shimmered with iridescent hues, and the air held a different charge—like the world itself had shifted in their absence.
Naida walked ahead, her gaze hard. Joren trailed behind, expression unreadable. Noah stayed close to Sophia, watching her more than the path ahead.
Sophia said nothing.
The memory of Dorian's betrayal clung to her like smoke. He had been with them since the beginning. He had fought beside her. Shared firelight, near-death, and laughter. Now he was gone—consumed by the Core—or something else entirely.
And worse, he'd known something. Something Elyra had buried.
⸻
They made camp in a
