The eerie silence that followed the collapse of the vortex settled like a thick fog over the ruins. Amara, Elias, and Kirin stood in the aftermath, each of them weighed down by exhaustion and the haunting echoes of what had just transpired. The air was still, unnaturally so, as though the world itself was holding its breath, uncertain of what came next.
Amara's muscles ached, her mind reeling from the battle they had barely survived. She wiped the sweat and grime from her face, but no amount of effort could erase the lingering dread. The rift was sealed, but its shadow had left a mark on the world—on her.
"We need to move," Amara said quietly, breaking the silence. "Find Seraphina and Morgana. Make sure they're safe."