Elara woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat, the echo of the whisper still lingering in her mind. She sat up in bed, clutching the Blade of Eternity at her side as if it would ground her. The dream had felt so real—too real. The Blade's presence in her mind was growing stronger, its pull more insistent. She could no longer ignore it.
She stood and dressed quickly, her movements sharp and deliberate. She needed clarity, answers. The weight of their journey to the Abyssal Nexus was pressing down on her, but she couldn't let herself be distracted by the strange connection she shared with the Blade. She would figure that out later.
Her thoughts returned to Kira. Elara had saved her, but at what cost? The Blade had drawn energy from Elara herself, as if it had a will of its own. What if next time, she couldn't stop it? What if it took more than just her strength?
