“Protect the relics!” Eryx shouted. He surged forward, channeling his energy through the stones, making them pulse in rhythm with ours, a heartbeat of power that synchronized with the tension in my chest.
Gage moved beside him, fists igniting with flickering energy, the air around him shimmering. Arlo stayed slightly behind, arms outstretched, feeding energy into the circle from a distance. Even weaker than Kaelen and me, his contribution through strategy and alignment felt essential, like the quiet keystone holding a crumbling arch together.
I felt Kaelen’s hand tighten on mine. “I can do this.” He said, and for the first time, a sliver of certainty cracked through the fear. I believed him, and with that belief, I braced for the storm.
The being struck. I pushed back with every ounce o
