The moment the second ring burned across my wrist, the valley responded with sound instead of silence. A deep groan rose through the ground, vibrating through my bones with terrifying force. The rumble traveled outward in expanding waves until the entire ridge shook beneath my knees. The air filled with a low hum that felt like the earth was breathing badly for the first time in centuries.
Silver cracks flared brighter around us with blinding intensity. The light poured upward like molten fire. The world tilted again as the fissures widened into spiraling canyons. The Heartline surged like a living river beneath the fractured mountain. The valley floor trembled violently, sending snow and stone plummeting into the glowing depths.
The girl screamed as she stumbled backward. Her voice tore
