Starting half of this chapter will be in Luci's Point of View.
The once-majestic company lay in ruins, debris scattered like forgotten dreams. Smoke and shadows blurred the edges of my vision, but through the haze, I saw him...
—Zero. His figure, shrouded in black, moved with an unrelenting purpose, each step carrying him further from me. The soft glow of light caught on Athlea's hair as he held her in his arms, her body nestled against him like she had always belonged there.
My knees buckled as a cold, heavy weight crushed my chest. I collapsed to the ground, my trembling fingers clawing at the broken stone beneath me.
"Athlea... wait... for me…" My voice was barely a whisper, the words choked and raw, torn from a heart that was shattering with every passing second.
Memories came rushing in, unbidden and unrelenting.
