The dormant amulet pieces were a cold weight in their hands, a promise that felt more like a sentence. They stood in the silent, empty chamber, the echoes of the Caretaker's final words hanging in the air. They had survived the temple’s trials, but the victory was hollow. The real trial the impossible, public confession loomed ahead.
"We need to get back to the Vale," Kael said, his voice rough but steady. The healing had restored his strength, but the silvery scar on his chest was a constant, cool reminder of his vulnerability. "The heir is our priority. The amulet… We’ll figure that out after."
Elara nodded, slipping the silver chain into a small, inner pocket of her tunic. It lay against her skin, a stagnant secret. "But the ritual said we need to unite the amulet to wake the heir’s l
