Aurora's POV
The portal spat me out onto damp earth, the taste of ozone sharp on my tongue. As I struggled to my feet, disoriented and gasping, I realized I had no idea where I was. Dense, primordial forest surrounded me, ancient trees stretching towards a sky painted with unfamiliar constellations. My impromptu escape had worked almost too well.
As the adrenaline of my departure faded, the enormity of what I'd done crashed over me. I was alone, truly alone, for the first time in my life. The thought was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Suddenly, the air around me began to crackle with energy. My skin tingled, and I watched in horror as tendrils of celestial light began to emanate from my body, swirling around me like living ribbons. The events of the past hour – the argument, the emot
