The glow from the barrier flickered, its light still holding strong but now tinged with strain. Morgana lowered her arms slowly, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Her body felt as though it had been wrung dry, the effort of maintaining the ritual draining her of every ounce of energy she had left. But the Heart of Oaths continued to pulse steadily beneath her hand, its warmth the only thing keeping her standing.
Kirin returned from the walls, his sword glistening with the remnants of battle. His face was hard with focus, but when his eyes met Morgana's, they softened slightly. He approached quickly, his voice low but urgent.
"How long can we hold this?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the shimmering dome that stretched over the fortress.
Morgana shook her head. "Not long. The Heart is strong, but Nyx's power is immense. It's only a matter of time before he overwhelms us."
