The silence that followed the battle was almost as oppressive as the fight itself. I stood in the center of the sanctuary, trying to catch my breath. The shadows had retreated, the dark force temporarily subdued, but the weight of what we'd done—and what I had done—was crushing me. I gripped the crystal tightly in my hand, its faint glow a reminder of the power I'd just wielded. Power I wasn't sure I could control.
Leif was the first to break the silence, moving over to where Raven had collapsed after the fight. She was alive, but barely. He knelt beside her, checking her pulse, while Zara leaned against the wall, her breathing labored, eyes filled with both relief and fear. I could feel their exhaustion, their lingering doubts. We'd survived—just barely—but I had no idea what would come next.
