Faelar continued to lead us up through the mountains towards the crater. Towards the rift. Our boots crunched carefully on the jagged ice.
The climb was nearly vertical. The air was thin, and the magical pressure of the rift felt like a physical weight pressing down on my skull. Lady Elara’s shield was barely holding.
My eyes were closed most of the time. I was using the Nexus as a literal compass, my hand in Torian’s as he guided me over the terrain. Lysandra’s energy wasn’t just there, it was centered. She was radiating pure, panicked focus from a point straight ahead.
“We are close,” I warned. “The energy is massive. I can feel the rift drawing her in.”
Faelar held up a gauntleted hand, bringing the team to a halt. We were standing on a razor-thin ridge. Just beyond the ridge, th
