The ritual needed three things.
The ancient text was specific: a carrier of Original Blood, a place where the seal was thinnest, and a sacrifice of intention — not blood, not life, but *purpose*. The seal had been built on will, on the collective determination of the first Royal Blood to protect the world from what they'd found. To strengthen it, Lumi would need to add her will to theirs.
Sera read the passage three times to make sure she understood.
"Purpose," she said. "Not power. Not blood. Just... intention."
"Like a promise," Elara said quietly.
Sera looked at her sister. Elara had been reading alongside her all morning, devouring the ancient texts with a hunger that surprised even herself.
"Yes. Like a promise."
---
They chose the Ironcrest seal.
It was the weakest of the re
