The night following the destruction of the Ashen Spire brought heavy rains.
It wasn’t a cleansing sort of rain, the kind that chased away ash or sorrow. It was cold. Sharp. A reminder that the world still held shadows Kaelin and her Hollow Legion had yet to face.
She stood on the balcony of her quarters in Highridge Fortress, watching the droplets race down the stone rail.
Behind her, Seren slept soundly, and the fire crackled warmly. But Kaelin couldn’t sleep. Not yet.
Theron stepped beside her, his presence a balm. "You feel it too."
Kaelin didn’t answer at first. Then she nodded. "Something’s shifting again."
Theron looked to the clouds. "I thought we were done fighting remnants."
"So did I," Kaelin whispered. "But evil doesn’t need gods. It only needs blood."
---
Three days la
