Elara watched him, her hand hovering, wanting to reach out, but sensing the invisible barrier around him. His face, usually so composed, was etched with an almost frantic intensity. His eyes, though seeing everything, seemed to hold a profound, terrifying loneliness. She felt a cold dread crawl up her spine.
He's seeing too much, she thought, her heart clenching. He's losing himself in the vision. The future of the world rested on his shoulders, but she feared the cost might be his sanity, his very humanity. The sss awaited, but Julian, the man, felt like he was already miles away, lost in the sprawling, terrifying tapestry of the Aetherium.
A sharp, insistent chime broke the silence. It emanated from the main screen, a secure notification interrupting the blank space where the Elders' f
