The world felt different the moment they stepped off the beaten path. The air in the Seraphim Verge grew heavy with moss and memories, each breath tasting of damp earth and old secrets. They followed Thalen’s map farther than ever before, hoping to find safety... and maybe something stronger.
At last, the trees parted. A clearing opened at the heart of the wood, and in its center rose a structure carved from black stone and entwined with ivy. Pillars cracked and worn leaned into archways that swallowed the light. Somehow, despite its ruin, the temple stood strong, ancient yet unbowed.
“This is the Temple of Nyr,” Thalen said softly, almost reverently. “A sanctuary built for the Veil‑Touched—Moonborn children who held the veil open and survived. They came here to learn. To heal. To rememb
