Tyler stumbled to his feet, his mind reeling. The clearing was eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of energy dissipating into the air. His heart pounded as he looked around, desperate for any sign of Amara.
“Amara!” he yelled, his voice hoarse. “Where are you?”
There was no response. The orb, the Primordial One, the oppressive darkness—they were all gone. But so was she.
The talisman in his hand flickered weakly, its once brilliant glow now a pale shimmer. Tyler clutched it tightly, willing to show him something, anything. He refused to believe she was gone.
“No,” he muttered, shaking his head. “This isn’t over. It can’t be.”
As he turned in frantic circles, his eyes caught something glinting on the ground near the center of the clearing. He rushed over and knelt down, his breath cat
