[Perhaps she wasn't the same person back then. The Emberly you know today may have been shaped by time, by the harsh realities of the Godly Realm,] Lia suggested. [Don't forget, your family's history with the gods runs deep. The phantoms may have been her only hope.]
Yes, deep down, Pyris couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps there was more to her decision. Whatever had driven her, one thing was clear—their family's fate was now entangled with beings far beyond their control, and the fragile peace they'd known was at risk of unraveling.
Now, with these secrets uncovered, Pyris knew that the fragile peace they had enjoyed was crumbling, and sooner or later, everything would collapse. His family's involvement, the threat of the phantoms, the gods' lingering fear—it was all coming to a head.
"Time to buy the mask," Pyris muttered under his breath. "The training begins now."
Time was of the essence, and Pyris had to be ready to face whatever was coming.
