The Warden knelt, his breath fogging in the cooling air. Silence stretched out, not heavy—just full. Kael stood beside him, silent, watching the energy dissipate into the dawn.
Liyara stepped forward, the sigil in her hand now fading to a soft glow. "He's still in there," she whispered. "Just… quiet now."
Kael nodded. "Then we help him stay that way."
The Warden's voice, rough like gravel, broke the stillness. "I remember… the beginning. Before the Cycle. Before the Flame. I was just a man."
"You still are," Kael said. "That's enough."
A breeze stirred, warm now. Somewhere far off, the sun began to rise.
Liyara looked toward the horizon. "This isn't the end, is it?"
Kael shook his head. "No. But it's the first time we've had a choice."