Chapter 84: Ripples of the Failsafe
The chamber lay still in the aftermath of the failsafe's activation, but the air thrummed with latent energy. Valen stood at the obelisk's base, his head bowed and shoulders tense as the lingering echoes of its power rippled through him. His breath came in shallow gasps, and his hands trembled slightly as they fell to his sides. Though the golden runes on the obelisk had dimmed, their mark remained, etched into his very being.
Behind him, his allies watched in silence, their expressions a mixture of concern and uncertainty. The silence stretched, broken only by the faint hum of residual magic in the air.
Aylara was the first to step forward, her saffron eyes narrowing as they fixed on Valen. "Are you alright?" Her voice was sharp, probing, though the undercurrent of worry softened its edge.
Valen straightened slowly, turning to face her. "I'm fine," he said, though his voice was quieter than usual.
