Zeraphine’s POV
The air was icy, sharp against my skin, but I didn’t stop running. My breaths came in short gasps, each one clouding the night air like smoke. The Lunar Shard was cold in my hands, its glow steady, a silent reminder of what was at stake.
The forest around me seemed quieter now, as if holding its breath. Every crunch of snow beneath my boots echoed loudly in the stillness. I wasn’t sure how much farther I had to go, but I couldn’t let myself slow down. Not when the elders were so close.
“Just a little more,” I whispered to myself, gripping the shard tighter.
My heart pounded in my chest, each beat urging me forward. My legs burned with each step, and the weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on my shoulders. But I had to keep going. I couldn’t let Varin and Rivara win.
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