The air shifted as they stepped beyond the border.
No more echoes of explosions.
No more rumbles of battle.
All that remained was pressure.
Faint.
Yet steadily building with each step.
Aurelia walked ahead.
Her eyes were no longer searching.
She already knew the direction.
North.
The pull was clear now.
Not just a hint.
But a call.
The Blood Pact bond pulsed steadily.
Yet beneath it.
There was something else.
Deeper.
Colder.
As if something far away was trying to reach back.
"We're getting closer," murmured Kael, his eyes sweeping the dark horizon.
Ragnar rolled his shoulders, as if warming up his body.
"Good. I'm getting tired of walking."
Orion remained calm.
His steps were light.
But his gaze was sharp.
"Don't let your guard down."
Aurelia stopped suddenly.
Everyone halted immediately.
The ground ahead of them had changed.
The red cracks were no longer small.
Now they stretched wide.
Like open wounds.
And from within them—
Red light flowed.
