The merging of the two crystal shards sent a shockwave through Elara's body that knocked Kaelen back several feet. Her eyes, once a soft brown, now held a permanent swirl of golden and sapphire light. She stood in the center of the melting ice cavern, feeling more powerful than ever, yet strangely hollow inside. The memory she had sacrificed left a cold void in her heart.
"You did it," Kaelen said, standing up and dusting snow from his cloak. But his voice lacked joy. He saw the change in her—the way she stared at her hands as if they belonged to a stranger.
"I feel... different," Elara whispered. "The world looks sharper, colder. I can hear the heartbeat of the mountain itself."
Before Kaelen could respond, the ground shook again. This time, it wasn't the giant. High above, the sky began to turn a sickly purple. The Council had tracked the energy surge. They weren't just sending scouts anymore; they were bringing the Void-Breakers.