The morning sun rose slowly over Mt. Hayp, bathing the jagged peaks and the hidden valley in a soft, golden light. Mist lingered among the cliffs, curling like delicate fingers around the ancient stone, and the currents of Aerthalis shimmered faintly in the air, as if sensing the serenity of the moment. I stood on the edge of the clearing, my hair catching the light, my eyes reflecting the mountains beyond, and for the first time in what felt like a lifetime, I felt… safe.
Marcus appeared silently behind me, as he always did, though now the tension that had once surrounded his presence was softened, eased by the intimacy of the last night. I did not flinch or turn—I had grown used to his sudden appearances, to the strange, protective pull he always exuded. Instead, I allowed myself to sim
