The morning sun filtered gently through the trees as Elias and I stood before the Ash Queen, both of us cleaned and clothed in simple garments that still carried a faint shimmer from the heart’s power. It felt strange to be so ordinary again, after everything we’d been through, yet the weight of what we carried—our bond with the realm, the heart itself—made us feel stronger than ever.
The Ash Queen’s presence was calm but commanding. She looked at us with her piercing eyes, though there was no longer any shadow in them. “You have done well.” She said softly. “The realm is safe again, because of you. Because of the choices you made, the courage you showed.”
I reached out instinctively, but she didn’t take my hand. Instead, she bowed her head slightly, a gesture of quiet respect. “Remember
