The air was still.
The ground did not shake.
Yet the pressure.
It was felt in every corner.
Aurelia stood directly before the central figure.
The distance between them was no more than a few steps, yet it felt like two worlds holding their breath against one another.
The light on Aurelia's body pulsed slowly.
Not wild.
But controlled.
Focused on a single purpose.
Right in front of her.
The figure had no face.
It had no truly fixed form.
Yet one thing was clear.
It was stable.
More stable than anything they had faced before.
And that.
Made it far more dangerous.
"So… you are the one pulling all the strings."
Aurelia spoke softly.
The figure did not answer.
But the field around them shifted.
Subtly.
Yet enough to be felt.
As if its very existence was the answer.
Outside.
Ragnar paused his steps for a moment.
He glanced toward Aurelia.
"She has reached them."
Kael nodded.
But his eyes remained fixed on the ever-changing patterns.
"And now…"
He said.
