The bells of Eryndor tolled at dawn.
Slow. Heavy. Relentless.
Kael sat at the edge of his narrow window, staring at the distant cathedral towers glowing gold beneath the rising sun. The city stirred below him — merchants shouting, carts rattling, footsteps rushing.
Life moved on.
As it always did.
But Kael felt it again.
That strange emptiness.
That quiet ache.
He pressed a hand against his chest.
Nothing.
No warmth. No presence.
Everyone else claimed they could feel it — faint echoes of divine energy lingering in the world like a dying ember.
Kael felt none.
Never had.
"Still pretending the sky will talk back?"
Kael turned.
Lira leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, a crooked smile dancing across her lips. Her silver hair caught the morning light like liquid moonlight.
Kael sighed. "I'm not pretending."
"You've been staring at clouds for ten minutes."
"Five."
"Ten."
Kael slid down from the window. "Maybe today will be different."
Lira laughed softly. Not mocking — never mocking. Just amused.
"You know the gods left centuries ago, right?"
"So they say."
"So they prove," she corrected.
Kael hesitated.
Because deep inside, beneath logic, beneath reason…
He wasn't convinced.
Not entirely.
They walked through the crowded streets together.
Stone roads, towering arches, banners fluttering between buildings. Eryndor was a city built on faith, even after the gods abandoned it.
Statues still stood.
Temples still burned incense.
People still prayed.
Old habits were hard to kill.
"Today's the festival," Lira said.
"I know."
"You look thrilled."
"I hate festivals."
"You hate crowds."
"I hate noise."
Lira smirked. "You're going to love what happens next."
Kael narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like that's a threat?"
Before she could answer—
The air changed.
Kael stopped walking.
Every sound around them dulled, as if the world itself inhaled.
Merchants froze.
Birds fell silent.
Even the wind stilled.
A ripple of unease spread through the street.
Then—
A voice.
Not loud.
Not echoing.
But impossible to ignore.
"…Finally."
Kael's eyes widened.
People gasped. Some fell to their knees.
Others screamed.
Because the voice came from nowhere.
And everywhere.
Lira grabbed Kael's arm. "Did you hear that?!"
Kael's heart pounded.
But his face drained of color for a different reason.
Because unlike everyone else—
He heard…
Nothing.
The sky darkened.
Without clouds.
Without storm.
Without warning.
And high above the cathedral—
Something moved.
Something vast.
Something ancient.
Kael stared upward, breath trembling.
"I don't understand…" he whispered.
Lira's grip tightened.
Fear flickered in her eyes.
"Kael…"
"What?"
"…The statues."
Kael turned.
Every divine statue across the plaza—
Cracked.
And for the first time in history—
The silent god began to wake.