Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by Elias's familiar voice calling softly from the other side."Lena? It's me."Lena let out a heavy breath and pushed herself away from the hologram. She couldn't bear to look at the stars, not now. She needed a moment of clarity, a moment of escape from the overwhelming pressure."Elias," she whispered, opening the door. "I didn't expect you."Elias stepped inside, his gaze soft but concerned as he took in her disheveled state. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, her clothes rumpled, and her eyes were darker than usual—haunted. She looked like someone who had been carrying the weight of the universe for far too long."I couldn't sleep," Elias admitted, his voice heavy with unspoken worry. "I just… I had to see you."Lena nodded, unable to find the words to reassure him. She felt as if she were a thousand miles away from him, lost in a storm she couldn't control."How are you holding up?" Elias asked, his voice quiet but insistent.Lena hesitated, then met his gaze. "I don't know anymore. I'm not sure I even know who I am anymore."Elias's eyes searched hers, his face a mixture of understanding and concern. "You're still you, Lena. But the core… it's changing you. It's not just giving you power, it's taking something from you."She swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I can feel it. The more I use it, the more I feel like I'm losing myself. Like I'm becoming something I don't recognize. Something… dangerous."Elias reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands. "You're not alone in this. I'm here, Lena. I always will be. You don't have to do this alone."His touch was warm, grounding, but Lena could feel the weight of his words hanging in the air between them. He was right. She wasn't alone—but she wasn't the same person she used to be."I can't stop now," she whispered, her voice breaking. "The war is too close. The Rhytil are getting stronger, and if I don't use the core, we'll lose everything. But…""But what?" Elias asked gently.Lena's chest tightened as she tried to push the words out, but they choked in her throat. She felt herself breaking, piece by piece. "But if I keep using it, I don't know what I'll become. I don't know if I'll be able to come back from it."Elias's hands trembled slightly as he held her, but his voice remained steady. "We'll find another way. I know we can. You don't have to give everything of yourself to this war."Lena's eyes welled with tears, but she held them back, not wanting to appear weak. She had to stay strong, for everyone. But right now, she wasn't sure if she was even strong enough to hold herself together."I don't know how much longer I can do this," she said softly. "I'm afraid that one day, I won't come back."Elias pulled her closer, his embrace warm and reassuring. "You will come back. You're stronger than you think. And I'll be right here. I promise you."