Zara stood motionless atop the wall, her eyes fixed on the spot where Elio should have fallen several hours ago.
The cold wind whipped her face, but she barely noticed it, all her attention focused on the sea of monsters stretching as far as the eye could see. Her salamander, Flare, curled tightly around her neck, offering what little warmth it could against the biting cold.
The hours had passed slowly, each minute an eternity for Zara.
The phenomenon they had witnessed last time, that disturbance in the sea of creatures that signaled Elio's progression, had not yet manifested. The ocean of beasts remained imperturbable.
Micah approached her, his expression a mixture of concern and curiosity. His swift hovered nearby, its wings fluttering nervously. "Zara," he said softly, "you won't jump this time, will you?"
