The air shimmered violently as a rift split open in the center of a grand marble hall.
A swirling portal of void and darkness twisted the space, emitting an eerie hum yet calmly controlled, going so far so show how much control the one behind it had.
The shapes of Mira, Alera, the displeased Zara, and Nysa emerged from it, stepping onto the polished floors with precision and haste.
Alera's face reflected exhaustion, urgency, and the residual tension of a fierce battle.
Mira led the group, her steps resolute despite the weight of Pyris in her arms. He lay unconscious, his head resting against her shoulder, his clothes—a resemblance of a cloak—tarnished and singed.
Behind her, Zara kept a careful pace, her expression somber yet displeased on the inside. Alera followed, Living shadow faintly flickering in her wake showing her frustration, while Nysa lingered near the portal.
