The light faded slowly.
There was no collision.
No explosion.
Only a transition.
Aurelia opened her eyes first.
The air she breathed felt different.
Lighter.
Yet also… vaster.
As if something that had been pressing down on the world had been lifted.
But that didn't mean everything was back to normal.
On the contrary.
Everything felt… changed.
Ragnar appeared beside her.
He rolled his neck slowly.
"Okay…"
He let out a long breath.
"…this is definitely not like before."
Kael stepped out of the next wave of light.
His eyes immediately scanned the surroundings.
"Something is missing."
Orion was last.
He stood still for a moment.
Feeling.
Analyzing.
"Not missing."
He said softly.
"Changed."
Aurelia didn't move right away.
She stood where they had appeared.
The ground beneath her feet.
Was still the same.
Yet not entirely.
The red cracks that had once spread were now barely visible.
But that didn't mean they were gone.
Rather… subdued.
As if asleep.
