The sky had ignited in a cascade of dazzling light, the kind that would have made even the stars feel inadequate. Zafron's breath caught as a brilliant streak shot across the sky, trailing gold and crimson fire before crashing into the earth with an ear-splitting boom. The shockwave sent ripples through the air and had him gripping Thera's hand as they raced toward the impact site. Calista and Aurelia were hot on their heels, their curiosity piqued despite the urgency.
The ground where the light struck was scorched, a perfect circle of molten glass glowing with heat. In its center, a figure slowly rose, steam curling around a body that seemed sculpted from pure, shimmering gold. As the haze cleared, Zafron's eyes widened, and Thera's jaw dropped.
