Silence.
Total.
Oppressive.
The entire chamber felt like it had stopped breathing.
Hundreds of creatures knelt before Luna, their hollow eyes fixed on her, their broken bodies trembling as if waiting for judgment. Not attack. Not chaos.
Judgment.
Kael stood just behind her, his gaze locked on her back, every muscle in his body tense. He didn’t move. Didn’t interrupt.
Because he knew—
This was her choice.
And whatever she chose…
There would be no going back.
Luna’s hand trembled slightly, still raised, still connected to every single one of them.
“I can feel them…” she whispered.
Her voice was softer now.
Heavier.
“They’re not empty…”
Her fingers curled slowly.
“They’re trapped.”
A low, broken sound echoed through the army, like a collective breath of pain.
Kael’s jaw tig
