Stillness never lasted forever. It cracked softly before it shattered. The change began just before dawn. Ilyra woke with certainty rather than alarm. The presence had shifted. Not closer, Not louder, Different. The sky held a pale gray tension as if light hesitated to arrive. Birds remained quiet. Wind stilled.
She rose and stepped outside. The borrowed body moved with practiced ease. No doubt remained now. Only readiness. Caelen joined her moments later. His expression was steady. He felt it too.
The boundary stones trembled faintly. Not failing. Responding. The presence advanced one measure forward then stopped. The earth did not break. The air did not burn. Balance strained but held. Ilyra walked toward the outer marker and placed her hand upon the stone. Grounded. Focused. She did not summon power. She allowed alignment. The borrowed body accepted the strain without resistance.
The presence reacted. Not aggressively. Curious. Stillness broke not into chaos but into motion. Slow. Intentional. This was not invasion. It was approach. Ilyra stood firm as light finally reached the horizon. She understood now that the moment they feared was not destruction.
It was contact. And contact required courage more than strength.