Her fingers tightened slightly, as if restraining Jay's anger.
"I don't want you to force this," she said gently. "Not like this."
Jay looked at Liv for a long moment.
The anger in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by something heavier concern.
He let out a short breath, then turned back to the sorcerers.
"I won't cross the boundary," he said coldly. "But I'm not leaving until your Grand Sorcerer appears."
The wind rose, tugging at the sorcerers' robes.
And in the midst of that tension, Liv realized one thing with perfect clarity, this journey was no longer just about seeking answers. It was the beginning of something far greater something that, from the very start, had been determined to prevent her from ever reaching it.
The sorcerers finally lost their patience.
"There's no need for you to be so stubborn," one of them said coldly."The Grand Sorcerer will not meet you."
The words were delivered flatly, as if the decision were absolute and beyond challenge.
